QC Appointments donates to legal charities
updated on 29 April 2020
Queen’s Counsel Appointments (QC Appointments) has donated £200,000 to hardship funds to support struggling barristers and solicitors as the coronavirus crisis continues.
The Barristers’ Benevolent Association and the Solicitors’ Benevolent Association have received £100,000 each from QC Appointments after the company bowed to pressures. According to the Law Gazette, in an email to barristers the Bar Council has said that arrangements are still being finalised.
It was recently announced that QC Appointments had a £1.35 million cash pile, accumulated from silk application and appointment fees. The Bar Council was urged to claim its share of the cash pile earlier this month by the Public Access Bar Association in a bid to support lawyers in urgent need of financial aid throughout the pandemic.
Earlier this week, LCN reported that a £1 million emergency fund has been created by the Solicitors’ Benevolent Association, which will support solicitors through the crisis. Counsel in severe financial distress –particularly young barristers and those doing publicly funded work – are also being offered support from the Barristers’ Benevolent Association and the individuals Inns of Court.
The Access to Justice Foundation’s emergency advice appeal and the Law Centres Network’s emergency justice fund received donations of £75,000 and £25,000, respectively from the Law Society.
