Garden Court North Chambers will not take any criminal work under representation orders dated from 1st April 2018

1 March 2018

We believe the latest version of the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme, which is due to be introduced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on 1st  April 2018, will result in a significant overall cut in fees.

This is the latest indication that the MoJ is prepared to treat with contempt the legal professionals without whose hard work and dedication the Criminal Justice System would not be able to function.

Continual government cuts threaten the existence of chambers like Garden Court North Chambers and many others. Under the new scheme we believe we would no longer have the resources to carry out properly the work that would be expected of us in defending people charged with serious criminal offences.

In our view, the future of the publicly funded criminal bar is at stake.

In the wake of today’s announcement by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and in order to concentrate the minds at the MoJ on the proposals made by the CBA for the implementation of new scheme to be halted, Garden Court North Chambers will not be undertaking any publicly funded criminal work with legal aid certificates dated from 1st April 2018.

We trust that our colleagues at the criminal bar will take a similar position.  We are fully committed to supporting the CBA and will consider implementing further action as and when that appears to us to be appropriate.

Chambers news

Chambers news

Child defendant indicted for the attempted murder of her friend is sentenced to a Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Nina Grahame KC represented a 14-year old girl committed to Minshull Street Crown Court for the attempted murder of her 14-year old friend, possession of...

Chambers news

Court of Appeal dismisses Secretary of State’s appeal in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Versnick and Jarvis-Wingate [2024] EWCA Civ 1454 (29 November 2024)

This case concerned whether an EU national with pre-settled status could rely on benefits paid to his wife, a British citizen, to be entitled to...

Chambers news

Court of Appeal hands down judgment in Secretary of State for the Home Department v William George [2024] EWCA Civ 1192

On 14 October 2024, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Secretary of State for the Home Department v William George [2024] EWCA...

Chambers news

GCN welcomes new pupils Bethany Currie and Misha Nayak-Oliver

Chambers is delighted to announce that Bethany Currie and Misha Nayak-Oliver commenced their pupillage on Tuesday 1 October 2024. Beth and Misha will be supervised...

Sign up to our mailing list

Our mailing list is dedicated to professionals with an interest in our work.

Sign up