Justice Secretary Dominic Raab says criminal barrister strikes are 'regrettable' as walkout begins
However, a CBA spokesperson said the pay rise offered would not land immediately as it would not apply to backlogged cases, adding:"The existing rates will remain on all of the cases stuck on this record backlog until they conclude which may be many years away."
This is before deductions from chambers' rent, clerks' fees, tax, VAT, travel costs, insurance and compulsory Continuing Professional Development programmes are taken into account. The mounting costs and low pay in the criminal bar, as well as the long hours and strenuous work, has led to a rising attrition rate among junior barristers.Jo Sidhu QC, chair of the CBA, said the action is not merely about pay but"redressing the shortfall in the supply of criminal barristers to help deal with the crisis in our courts".
Mr Sidhu said almost 40% of junior criminal barristers left the profession in one year and more than 25% of specialist criminal barristers have quit in the last five years.