Interested in a future career as a lawyer? Use The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law to get started
Find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer and browse vacancies with The Law Apprenticeships Guide
Information on qualifying through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, including preparation courses, study resources, QWE and more
Discover everything you need to know about developing your knowledge of the business world and its impact on the law
The latest news and updates on the actions being taken to improve diversity and inclusion in the legal profession
Discover advice to help you prepare for and ace your vacation scheme, training contract and pupillage applications
Your first-year guide to a career in law – find out how to kickstart your legal career at this early stage
Your non-law guide to a career in law – everything you need to know about converting to law
updated on 26 June 2015
Some solicitors and barristers have said they will refuse to take on new criminal cases in protest at the government's decision to cut legal aid fees for criminal cases by a further 8.75%.
At present the protest is localised to Liverpool, where The Guardian reports that approximately 100 criminal solicitors and barristers have agreed to take direct action against the second fees reduction in a year, following a sweeping17.5% cut in 2014. However, the paper also reports that lawyers across the country will be meeting next week to discuss the possibility of similar action, including in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Durham, Northampton and Newcastle. For many criminal practitioners, the situation is becoming desperate.
At their meeting, the Merseyside lawyers resolved: "The government recognises that the profession is fragile and yet continues to take grave risks with the stability of the criminal justice system. Every chambers in the city and the vast majority of solicitors were represented … similar meetings are being held around the country."