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Jean-Yves Gilg

Editor, Solicitors Journal

Legal aid lawyers join mass anti-austerity demo

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Legal aid lawyers join mass anti-austerity demo

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Thousands march at demonstrations across the UK against Tory government cuts

Legal aid lawyers and human rights defenders joined thousands of people over the weekend in demonstrations against the government's austerity programme.

While exact figures of those in attendance have been difficult to confirm, organisers for the march claim 250,000 had converged on the City of London on Saturday.

Among the throngs of teachers, nurses, celebrities, MPs, and unions were several lawyer groups, including the Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Wilsons Solicitors, the Justice Alliance, and members of Garden Court Chambers, to name but a few.

 

The lawyers in attendance lent their voices to the chorus of calls demanding an end to austerity, including the severe cuts to criminal legal aid and fears that access to justice for many members of society have been hampered as a result of the implementation of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).

The sight of solicitors and barristers joining together in marches against the policies of the Conservative government will have been heartening for those within the legal profession who still harbour hope for unified industrial action.

The weekend's anti-austerity demonstration comes just days after the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) dismissed proposals for its members to join solicitors in direct action against a second round of legal aid fee cuts.

The announcement by the CBA has been widely condemned by both solicitors and the junior Bar - the majority of whom have called for such unified action to take place.

Members of the Garden Court Chambers crime team have since emphasised their solidarity with solicitors in the battle against further swingeing cuts to legal aid. A statement on the chambers website says:

'We remain dedicated to working together in the campaign against further cuts and against dual contracts. If these policies are implemented, the number of people unable to access justice will continue to grow as legal aid continues to be decimated.

'We are deeply disappointed that the Criminal Bar Association has backed away from supporting the action called for by its members and call on the leadership to re-evaluate the decision. Individually, we remain committed to further action.'