The government has finally put numbers to a promise it made last Christmas to ensure the country has enough criminal barristers to help clear the Crown court backlog - £1.5m annually for up to 100 extra pupillages every year. The Law Society has urged the government to provide similar funding to train up criminal legal aid solicitors.

The Ministry of Justice announced on Saturday a ‘landmark scheme’ that would widen access to ‘one of the country’s most prestigious professions’ and develop a strong pipeline of talent to support the criminal justice system 'at a critical time’. To receive the cash, chambers would have to 'incorporate equal opportunity measures into their recruitment practices through targeted outreach and steps to increase representation in the profession.

Courts minister Sarah Sackman said: ‘I’ll never forget the day I was called to the bar. It was a privilege to enter a profession that can help individuals in times of crisis and support the delivery of justice in this country. I want those opportunities open to the brightest people from all over the country and every background. This major initiative will help train the next generation of criminal barristers who are essential to upholding the rule of law and delivering swifter justice for victims.’

The ministry's decision to match-fund pupillages was announced last December as part of then justice secretary David Lammy's response to a 'courts emegency'.

The ministry said on Saturday that its scheme builds on the Council of the Inns of Court pupillage match-funding programme and contributes to the government’s wider ambition of increasing youth employment through The Job Guarantee and reforms to the apprenticeship system.

Welcoming the news, Criminal Bar Association chair Riel Karmy-Jones and vice-chair Andrew Thomas said pupil barristers receive training by unpaid volunteers who give up their time to provide education, supervision and mentoring. ‘This additional funding from the government will support that work and also the bar’s initiatives to ensure that we recruit from the widest possible pool of candidates. We welcome this and look forward to working alongside the lord chancellor, the Courts minister and chambers across England and Wales on this promised investment plan,' they added.

Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow said: ‘We welcome the implementation of this initiative, the result of joint working between the Ministry of Justice, the Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association and the Inns of Courts. It has been championed by the Bar Council since 2024 where it featured in our “Manifesto for justice”.

‘The funding of additional criminal pupillages is a necessary step towards fortifying the long-term pipeline of junior criminal barristers. This, in turn, supports the criminal justice system which, in turn, supports complainants, witnesses and defendants by helping to reduce delays caused by a depleted criminal barrister workforce.’

The Law Society also welcomed the scheme - but urged the government to fund a similar scheme for solicitors.

Society president Mark Evans said: ‘While welcoming this funding, we urge the government to similarly invest in the future pipeline of criminal legal aid solicitors, who are integral to a functioning criminal justice system. Criminal defence solicitors on the front line provide immediate assistance when people are arrested, detained or facing prosecution. The government needs to ensure the future workforce of all parts of the criminal justice system, to safeguard this crucial public service.’