THE “destruction” of the criminal justice system must be treated as a “national emergency,” striking criminal barristers said today.

Hundreds of lawyers walked out across England and Wales in a dispute over legal aid funding, amid anger at the government’s 15 per cent pay offer, which the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said would not take effect until late 2023.

By then, the uplift will have been cancelled out by rising inflation and failed to prevent an exodus of junior barristers, who are paid just £12,200 a year after expenses — less than minimum wage — the association said. 

It added that incomes have fallen by nearly 30 per cent over the last 20 years due to crippling cuts in legal aid funding. 

Today’s walkouts were the first of 14 days of strikes due to take place in the next four weeks. 

CBA vice-chairwoman Kirsty Brimelow accused the government of ignoring lawyers’ concerns.

“They have no solution to saving the criminal justice system,” she said.

“This is a national crisis which is of government making and it must be dealt with as a national emergency.”

Barristers on picket lines spoke of struggling to survive and spending their own savings in order to continue working.

Alejandra Llorente Tascon, speaking at a rally outside the Old Bailey, said: “We are on our knees. We cannot survive on below minimum wage.”

Jonathan Reuben warned that low pay meant the profession was “losing lots and lots of young talent,” calling this “extremely sad.”

He said: “I did a commercial job beforehand, so I came to the job, I had savings, but over the years I’ve been doing the job those savings have massively depleted, so essentially I’ve been holding up the criminal justice system.”

Outside Manchester Crown Court, barrister Rebecca Filletti said she was taking action because barristers “just cannot cope any more.” 

She added: “Today is the first day in my entire career I have not gone to court.

“I attend if I’m sick, I attend if I have got family commitments, and I would not have taken this decision lightly.”

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has urged the CBA to accept the 15 per cent offer, which he said would increase barristers’ pay by an average of £7,000 a year. 

“Their actions will only delay justice for victims,” he claimed.