Government guidance identifies those ‘essential to the running of the justice system’ as key workers.
The Ministry of Justice has provided more detail, clarifying
that the category covers ‘advocates, including solicitor advocates, required to
appear before a court or tribunal (remotely or in person), including
prosecutors; solicitors acting in connection with the execution of wills;
solicitors and barristers advising people living in institutions or deprived of
their liberty; and legal practitioners required to support the administration
of justice including duty solicitors (police station and court) and barristers,
solicitors, legal executives, paralegals and others who work on imminent or
ongoing court or tribunal hearings’.
Some legal practitioners may become key workers for the time
required to deliver urgent work, for example, to safeguard children or
vulnerable adults, or for a public safety matter.
All parents who are key workers are requested to keep their
children at home where possible.
Amanda Pinto QC, chair of the Bar, said: ‘Barristers should
decide for themselves whether they fall within the category of key worker and,
if so, whether they can nevertheless keep their children at home or need to
send them to school.
‘As the short government guidance states, it may be that you
don’t fall into the category of key worker all the time, but there comes a
point when you do, because of a change of workload.
‘We appreciate the very considerable challenges you face and
the changes you are all making to keep the justice system operating as best it
can.’
