Criminal practitioners “likely” to attend further protest
Another day of protest by criminal practitioners could take place in mid-February, subject to the relevant groups’ agreement.
Thousands of barristers and solicitors opted to stay out from court on the morning of 6 January, with counsel dressed in wigs and gowns waving placards on the steps outside instead.
Speaking after a meeting of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA) last week, Bill Waddington, chair of the CLSA, said the strong turnout may have caused the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to again postpone its response to the consultation—a delay which “can only give cause for optimism”.
He said it was “likely” that another protest day will take place, should the MoJ not change course, “ideally a couple of weeks after the government’s response to the consultation”, which is expected towards the end of January.
Meanwhile, ongoing meetings will take place between the CLSA, London Criminal Court Solicitors Association, Criminal Bar Association and Legal Aid Practitioners Group to decide what happens next.
Writing in his chairman’s blog, Waddington said: “Remember [the MoJ] were due to respond to the consultation by the 18 December.
“That slipped to the 7 January and it has slipped further again to what we are told is likely to be ‘towards the end of January’. That slippage can only be due to the fact that the MoJ has got plenty to think about. I am not going to criticise them for thinking carefully about what happens next.”
He said “strong financial arguments” were under discussion that might demonstrate the required £220m savings by 2018 are not required.
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