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Criminal exodus

20 March 2025
Issue: 8109 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
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One in three criminal barristers are actively seeking to leave the Bar, according to Criminal Bar Association (CBA) research

Only 44% of 1717 CBA members surveyed remain committed to practising primarily publicly funded law.

Reasons given were that barristers are working flat out but not being paid enough. 20% work more than 70 hours per week, and 80% worked at least a 50-hour week.

CBA chair, Mary Prior KC said: ‘The profession is in crisis.’

Nearly all (97%) want the same rights as the judiciary, civil service and other public sector workers, with fees being set by an independent national pay review body. Nine out of ten want parity in fees for prosecution and defence acting in the same case. Some 87% want a one-off rise to bring remuneration up to date. 

Issue: 8109 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

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Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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