Barristers in Northern Ireland begin four-week strike over legal aid
updated on 07 January 2025
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Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland have started their withdrawal of services from all legally aided crown court cases in a dispute over legal aid that’ll take place between 6 and 31 January 2025.
The most recent strike action, which the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) announced in December, follows a previous one-day strike in November. The CBA has cited the strike as a “necessary response” to the legal aid crisis.
On the other side, the Minister of Justice of Northern Ireland Naomi Long expressed her disappointment in the industrial action, citing the victims and witnesses waiting to give evidence and receive justice as those who’ll be impacted “most acutely”. Long added that not only will the action “add further to the stress and anxiety” likely being experienced by victims and witnesses, but that it’ll also add to the existing pressures on the system, worsening the delays.
Long has said that she’s “committed to continuing regular engagement” with the Bar Council and CBA “to progress reform and to resolve the withdrawal of services”, including a “significant uplift in fees”, according to the BBC. She added: "However, there is a process to go through, not least in terms of delivering legislation and we need time to do this."
