Statement from the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, #MaryPrior KC, in response to the Ministry of Justice’s update on #criminallegal aid investment. @TheCriminalBar

The recent announcements by the Lord Chancellor, who inherited a broken and

severely underfunded criminal justice system, to increase sitting days by 2,000 and

to adequately fund Criminal Solicitors are welcomed.

We note the appreciation from the Lord Chancellor of the key role that Criminal Barristers

play in ensuring that swift and fair justice can be delivered.

We are committed to working with the Government to ensure that we play our part, together

with the Bar Council, in making the best use of available resources and in ensuring that

Criminal Barristers have the same percentage increase in our fees. This must be a priority at the start of 2025.

That way, we can retain the skilled and experienced professionals who prosecute and defend the most serious

criminal cases across England and Wales and recruit sufficient new Barristers to ensure that the criminal justice

system returns to its rightful place as the envy of the world.

Mary Prior KC

Source: @CBA