Barristers consider withdrawing services over legal aid payment delays
Lawyers said they were having to wait up to six months for payment in legal aid cases
Lawyers said they were having to wait up to six months for payment in legal aid cases
(Katie Collins/PA)
By Jonathan McCambridge, PAToday
Criminal barristers are being balloted over withdrawing services as part of a protest over delays in receiving payment for publicly funded legal aid work.
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said it would hold a day of action in November.
The CBA said lawyers were having to wait up to six months for payment in legal aid cases.
The bar has highlighted that the public policy of speeding up justice and increasing throughput requires an increased budgetCriminal Bar Association
A spokesperson said: “The Bar of Northern Ireland has over many months called for urgent action from the Department of Justice (DoJ) to avoid such action taking place.
“The bar has highlighted that the public policy of speeding up justice and increasing throughput requires an increased budget.
“However, to date, no tangible solutions have been offered by the DoJ.
“The department’s policy of delaying payment for work done means that dedicated and skilled lawyers are having to wait for up to six months for payment after completing their work.
“These delays are exacerbating the difficulties caused by reductions in legal aid rates which, when adjusting for inflation, have plummeted by between 47% and 58% since 2005.”
The barristers who provide these legal services in Northern Ireland are often facing intolerable cash-flow pressures that their counterparts in other UK regions do not have to endureCriminal Bar Association
The spokesperson added: “Criminal barristers are committed professionals who work on the most serious and difficult of cases.
“The criminal justice system depends on these lawyers to apply their time and skill in the best interests of their clients and broader society.
“The barristers who provide these legal services in Northern Ireland are often facing intolerable cash-flow pressures that their counterparts in other UK regions do not have to endure.
“It is a matter of regret that, as part of a range of measures to be taken in response to this crisis in our legal aid system, criminal barristers have felt compelled to consider a withdrawal of their services.”
The Department of Justice has been contacted for a response.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PAToday
Criminal barristers are being balloted over withdrawing services as part of a protest over delays in receiving payment for publicly funded legal aid work.
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said it would hold a day of action in November.
The CBA said lawyers were having to wait up to six months for payment in legal aid cases.
The bar has highlighted that the public policy of speeding up justice and increasing throughput requires an increased budgetCriminal Bar Association
A spokesperson said: “The Bar of Northern Ireland has over many months called for urgent action from the Department of Justice (DoJ) to avoid such action taking place.
“The bar has highlighted that the public policy of speeding up justice and increasing throughput requires an increased budget.
“However, to date, no tangible solutions have been offered by the DoJ.
“The department’s policy of delaying payment for work done means that dedicated and skilled lawyers are having to wait for up to six months for payment after completing their work.
“These delays are exacerbating the difficulties caused by reductions in legal aid rates which, when adjusting for inflation, have plummeted by between 47% and 58% since 2005.”
The barristers who provide these legal services in Northern Ireland are often facing intolerable cash-flow pressures that their counterparts in other UK regions do not have to endureCriminal Bar Association
The spokesperson added: “Criminal barristers are committed professionals who work on the most serious and difficult of cases.
“The criminal justice system depends on these lawyers to apply their time and skill in the best interests of their clients and broader society.
“The barristers who provide these legal services in Northern Ireland are often facing intolerable cash-flow pressures that their counterparts in other UK regions do not have to endure.
“It is a matter of regret that, as part of a range of measures to be taken in response to this crisis in our legal aid system, criminal barristers have felt compelled to consider a withdrawal of their services.”
The Department of Justice has been contacted for a response.
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