Report comment

Criminal defence work can be very profitable, for those firms who act for business and professionals who either pay privately or have the benefit of LEI and/or D&O policies. Commercial firms are increasingly targeting this area so it's not correct to suggest that defence lawyers are endangered.

However, it is clear that long term, an effective defence will only be available to those who can afford to pay privately or who are insured against this risk. Duty solicitors are endangered.

Those without means will be in an even more precarious position than they are presently.

It seems that successive governments have paved the way to an American style two-tier justice system. We're now seeing the end-game.