Garden Court North Chambers’ deep concern over latest MoJ Criminal Legal Aid cuts announcement.

11 June 2015

Garden Court North Chambers’ Crime Team note the disastrous announcement yesterday by the Ministry of Justice that there is to be a second 8.75% crime litigator fee cut from July and that the two-tier duty tender is to go ahead.

“The effect of announcing no cut to advocate fees appears to be a conscious step to ‘divide and rule’ the two professions” said Head of Chambers Mark George QC. “But no one should be in any doubt that this is as big a threat to the Bar as to solicitors.  As we have said before, we fight the same fight – to protect the integrity, efficiency and fairness of our Criminal Justice System and to preserve access to justice for all. It is vital now that the CBA liaises with our colleagues in the CLSA and LCCSA about further direct action to stop the destruction of the criminal justice system”.