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There is a lot, but I think the biggest injustice is the Innocence Tax. This means that if you're accused of a crime, the govtcan refuse you legal aid, force you to pay privately and then refuse to reimburse your costs when you are acquitted. #klssecret
It's a travesty. Half of all magistrates' courts have now been closed since 2010, meaning that in parts of the country defendants, victims and witnesses have to travel several hours to get to their nearest court. It is the disintegration of local justice.
Oh gosh. Loads. I could have wittered on for volumes. Youth Justice is a big issue. Young people are tried for incredibly serious offences in Youth Courts - much more serious than adults in magistrates' courts - and there are major problems with it.
I'd say neither. Or both equally. You have to learn to put a distance between your own feelings and the subject matter of the cases you are dealing with. Otherwise, particularly in crime, you just wouldn't survive. But more importantly...
...there's an assumption in that question - which is common to the public at large - that there's something "immoral" about defending people who are accused of, or who have committed, criminal offences.
There's not.
Justice relies on everybody getting fair treatment in court.
There's not.
Justice relies on everybody getting fair treatment in court.
Criminal barristers are often asked, "How can you defend somebody you think is guilty?"
I am never asked, "How can you prosecute somebody you think is innocent?"
The latter, let me tell you, would cause me far more sleepless nights.
I am never asked, "How can you prosecute somebody you think is innocent?"
The latter, let me tell you, would cause me far more sleepless nights.
The reality is that a one-off £85m is not even going to touch the sides. The CPS annual budget has been cut by £250m in real terms since 2010. The CPS needs an influx of caseworkers and lawyers so that they all have the time they need to devote to cases.
Everybody is rushed off their feet. Caseloads are through the roof. It creates a sausage-factory approach to prosecuting, where nobody has the time or brain space to concentrate on their cases. This is why important things - like disclosure - get missed.
As a teen, I loved Jake Brigance in A Time To Kill. His devotion to his client's cause and his bravery in court were inspirational.
20 years on, it strikes me that Jake was guilty of some serious breaches of professional ethics and would prob be disbarred
20 years on, it strikes me that Jake was guilty of some serious breaches of professional ethics and would prob be disbarred
No, not really. Everybody loses. The important thing is that I've done all I can for my client, whether prosecution or defendant. The verdict is ultimately out of my hands.
Things are better than they were - social mobility is on the radar of the legal profession in a way that was unthinkable a generation ago. But there is a long way to go. People with my background - state school, non-Oxbridge - are still a rarity.
Fortunately there are a lot of brilliant programmes designed to break the stranglehold of the Old Guard on the legal profession. In fact, there was a great thread on this very subject yesterday. I'd urge you to check it out:
A good question from @jaimerh354 (who you should all definitely be following, as he actually knows what he's talking about).
"Rarity" is perhaps putting it too starkly. In some areas of law, such as crime, I think there's more diversity.
"Rarity" is perhaps putting it too starkly. In some areas of law, such as crime, I think there's more diversity.
@jaimerh354 But in other areas of law, and for self-styled "traditional" chambers and firms, there still persists a tendency to select candidates from certain backgrounds. That much can be seen from the websites of certain chambers.
@jaimerh354 That all said, the key headline is that things ARE getting better. Much better. And absolutely nobody should feel deterred because of their background. If you are good enough and willing to work for it, the odds are that you will make it.
@jaimerh354 Sometimes. The govt tries to make our working lives as intolerable as possible, from cutting our pay to making us work in courts where you can't get a glass of water and there's no working toilet. But the good outweighs the bad. It's a great job.
@jaimerh354 And on that note, I think we've reached our finale.
Thank you all for your questions. I hope there has been something vaguely useful in amongst all the guff.
And very best of luck. Being a lawyer rocks. You're making good choices.
Have a great night x
Thank you all for your questions. I hope there has been something vaguely useful in amongst all the guff.
And very best of luck. Being a lawyer rocks. You're making good choices.
Have a great night x
