Manchester's crown courts ground to a halt after barristers went out on strike in a row over pay. About 100 lawyers picketed outside Manchester Crown Court in Spinningfields, holding placards with slogans including 'crime doesn't pay', 'no legal aid cuts' and 'save British justice'.
Barristers say they have had a real terms wage decrease of 28 per cent since 2006, and that droves of criminal lawyers are leaving the profession. One junior barrister told the M.E.N. she earns less than minimum wage while working as a criminal barrister for cases funded by legal aid.
And another recalled how she didn't have enough money to pay for a train fare to attend court. The Criminal Bar Association, which represents barristers, said junior lawyers in their first three years of work earn a median income of £12,200, which is below minimum wage.
READ MORE : Barrister blasts 'broken' criminal justice system in strike outside Manchester Crown Court
Many cases at Manchester Crown Court were halted due to a lack of defence barristers. Jurors in a number of trials were told to return on Wednesday, as barristers are due to walk out again tomorrow.
Manchester's most senior judge, the Honorary Recorder Nicholas Dean QC, told jurors that there was 'industrial action' taking place which meant the trial could not 'realistically carry on'. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the strikes were 'regrettable' and that a 15 per cent pay rise had been proposed.
But Kirsty Brimelow QC, vice chair of the Criminal Bar Association, which represents barristers, said this will not take effect until the end of next year. She described the justice system as 'broken', with criminal lawyers increasingly seeking work elsewhere.
The CBA has called for an increase of 25 per cent to legal aid fees. Ms Brimelow told the M.E.N.: "There are not enough barristers to actually carry out the work, because it is so badly paid, the hours are terrible, and people are considering 'why should I give my life to this profession?'"
Rosalind Burgin, from Levenshulme, became a barrister in 2019 and is based at Garden Court North Chambers. She said she believes barristers have an 'ethical obligation' to strike.
"We are absolutely in a crisis at the moment," she said. "I've got a client whose trial might get disrupted by the strike action, but their trial has already been adjourned twice, due to problems with court listings, unavailability of court buildings and various different issues.
"We didn't create the crisis, we're striking because we need change. The justice system needs us, that's why when we walk out there's chaos.
"They need to pay us. At the moment, I'm on less than minimum wage."
She told how she would be 'lucky to break even' while working on some criminal cases, which can involve long hours of preparatory work outside of court. "I'm already doing an increasing amount of civil work, just so that I can survive," Ms Burgin said.
"It's impossible to stay unless you are independently wealthy. The crisis is deepening, that's why we have to take action today."
Rebecca Filletti, also of Garden Court North chambers, said it was he first day in her 13 year career she had not attended court. "I feel something has to change now," she said. "The system is absolutely at breaking point.
"None of the women who I started off with remain in the profession. They have all gone to employed posts, or just left, because it isn't compatible with their lives anymore.
"I've passed the most difficult years, the junior, junior years. One of my worst days was I was at a train station and I couldn't afford to get to court, and a member of the public had to come and pay for my train ticket.
"That wasn't because I wasn't working every hour of the day, it was because I wasn't being paid for the work that I was doing." Speaking of more junior barristers, she added: "I'm surprised that any of them are still going into crime if I'm honest."
Dominic Raab said the strikes will 'only delay justice for victims'. In a statement released ahead of the first day of strikes, the Justice Secretary said: "It’s regrettable that the Criminal Bar Association is striking, given only 43.5 per cent of their members voted for this particular, most disruptive, option.
"I encourage them to agree the proposed 15 per cent pay rise which would see a typical barrister earn around £7,000 more a year. Their actions will only delay justice for victims."
The strikes are set to continue tomorrow, and further walk outs are planned for following weeks. Barristers are set to walk out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week, from Monday to Thursday the week after and from Monday to Friday the week after that.
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