Disruption is expected at Chester courts today (Friday) as lawyers refuse to turn up for the second time this year.
Solicitors and barristers across England and Wales practising criminal law will be absent from courtrooms today in protest at proposals to change the legal aid system.
The lawyers will instead attend a training day.
This is the second time this year both Chester Magistrates and Crown Courts have been faced with the mass non-attendance as members of the Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association (CSLA) take part in the day of action.
The non-attendance is a reaction to a Government decision to reduce 1,600 current providers of round the clock duty solicitors at police stations to 525 – 210 of which will be based in London.
This follows a second consultation on Transforming Criminal Legal Aid, and will see an immediate cut of 8.75% in what solicitors are paid to represent duty cases in court.
There will be another 8.75% reduction in 12 months time.
In a statement, chairman of the CSLA Bill Waddington said: “From the smallest to the largest firm of solicitors, the effect of this first round of fee cuts will be redundancies for staff and lawyers as margins will not survive even the first round of cuts.
“Within months high street firms will begin laying off staff and reducing the service they are able to provide to those subject to a police investigation or charged with or summoned for a criminal offence.”
In a statement on the Ministry of Justice’s website, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Legal aid is a vital part of our justice system but we must ensure it is sustainable for those who need it, for those who provide legal services as part of it and for the taxpayer, who ultimately pays for it.
“I have genuine respect for the quality services provided by the independent criminal Bar and solicitors. I have spoken at length with solicitors and barristers about these reforms and listened closely to their views.”
