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News

Criminal courts at risk as barristers opt for corporate roles

updated on 22 January 2025

Reading time: one minute

The number of barristers leaving the criminal court for higher paying corporate positions poses a risk of further crisis to the court system, according to Criminal Bar Association Chair Mary Prior KC.

As court backlogs continue to grow to 73,000 cases, criminal barristers are more needed than ever. However, Prior explained: “The number of defendants and victims of crime who need legal representation grows by the week and the number of cases which have to be adjourned because we cannot find a barrister to conduct a trial is growing.”

Prior added: “The problem is that the enthusiasm and desire for public service wears off within a couple of years. At that stage, our young criminal barristers move into better paying and less traumatic work, which enables them to maintain some form of work-life balance.”

Recently, many barristers have expressed dissatisfaction with pay and legal aid funding. For example, in Northen Ireland, criminal barristers are currently taking part in industrial action over legal aid pay.