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I know this is very simplistic, but the settlement offer to put £15 million into increased counsel's fees for legally aided cases represents an uplift, on a basic average, of £3750.00 before taxation per member of the Criminal Bar Association, against a background of a reducing fee structure which has gone on for two decades. This increase would not get criminal barristers near to where they were when the Labour Government came in and accused legal aid lawyers of being fat cats, a wholly unwarranted and scurrilous description which has tarnished both sides of the profession ever since.

I say they should hold out for more, as should legal aid solicitors. It is time for them all, honourable and highly trained professionals, working in more difficult circumstances than any other branch of the law, to be treated with respect and to be properly remunerated for their service and dedication.

Members of the public may find the issue to be one that creates little interest...until they may have the need of a good defence themselves. If legal aid lawyers are driven to give up and do something else (flipping burgers in a fast food outlet may have its attractions) then we will all be the poorer for it.

Unfortunately legal aid lawyers have been their own worst enemies for too long and have persistently caved in to all governments since Blair's.
Although I took the decision to get out of legal aid some time ago I take my hat off to those who have stayed.. I wish them the best through what must be worrying time.