Law Weblog

Nice money, if you can get it

Since April, barristers have refused to sign contracts with the Legal Services Commission in very high cost criminal cases (those which last 11-28 days, including murder, drug trafficking, fraud and terrorism cases); they have effectively been on strike.
If the deal had not been reached, defendants would have been released on bail.
The government has agreed to increase defence barristers’ fees under a new scheme (thought to cost £15m). Daily rates will be £600 a day for a QC and £300 a day for a junior barrister putting annual earnings for a QC at £240,000 and a junior barrister £80,000.
This does not mean that all barristers will earn these figures; a newly qualified barrister is only guaranteed £10,000 a year in his/her first year.