The case for the defence

Who would be a criminal defence lawyer? It is an embattled sector, and the reasons are familiar: low pay, low morale, recruitment problems, contracting, the threat of the Public Defender Service and so on.

Yet still practitioners do an excellent job under these trying circumstances.

But, as this week's headlines have shown, they provide an ideal punchbag in the perennial game of lawyer-bashing.

Two paragraphs in an 84-page Audit Commission report on the criminal justice system suggested that the fee structure is open to abuse by defence lawyers stringing out cases.

And the new criminal justice minister, Lord Falconer QC, was then more than happy to throw several gallons of oil onto the fire.

The papers have run with the idea that it is all the lawyers' fault with predictable gusto - 'How the justice system falls victim to the greed of lawyers', ran an Express editorial - but it is laughable to lay the blame for the many problems of the system at the door of defence lawyers.

Even if there is merit in the commission's claim, the other criminal justice agencies surely have more soul-searching to do about their role in the crisis.

By sharp and depressing contrast, there was a distinct absence of coverage for last week's successful national pro bono week.

Hundreds of lawyers attended events and linked up with needy voluntary groups.

But when it comes to lawyers, sadly, good news is no news.