Support Lawyers Now Or They May Not Be There When Justice Is Needed
We are all reflecting on the impact of Covid-19, and with that in mind the Commons Justice Committee’s recent report on the impact of coronavirus on lawyers must be highlighted:
Read the full report, summary and conclusion here.
The report documents how, due to social distancing and other safety measures, fewer cases have come to court, trials have been suspended and the incomes of legal services providers dramatically cut. The income effect has been hardest on young solicitors and barristers, and on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic lawyers – all of whom tend to be disproportionately represented in the publicly-funded Legal Aid sector already cash-starved before Covid-19 hit.
The Chair of the Justice Committee, Sir Robert Neill, said:
“Let’s be honest about this. I know some people won’t have a lot of sympathy for lawyers who dress up in fancy gowns and speak a language of their own. People are under the misapprehension they are all on comfortable incomes. Some are, but very many, especially given their recent big drop in workload, are not…. Self-employed lawyers and those working in publicly-funded areas are of great concern in these financially-strapped times. But I would go further. During the crisis, it is especially important that the legal professions properly represent the society they serve. The Ministry of Justice should set out how it will make sure that this pandemic does not disproportionately affect the incomes of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or state-educated, legal professionals.”
The cost of this crisis to parts of the Bar has been huge. As Amanda Pinto QC, chairwoman of the Bar Council, sets out so starkly:
“The lawyers I am talking about grew up grafting: they anxiously worry if the fee they are paid for a court hearing will cover the train fare to get there; they are taking second jobs in supermarkets to stay afloat. The clubs they frequent are the breakfast and after-school clubs, not the Garrick.”
The Divorce Surgery has pioneered a service which enables separating couples to get joint advice, together, directly from a barrister of their choice. The impact of Covid on the Bar, and Solicitors, is alarming, particularly for those families who need legal aid. Now, more than ever, we must support the legal profession as a crucial public service, to ensure access to justice for every family.
Author Name: Editor
Published content by The Divorce Surgery Editorial Team.
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