Barristers are now joining the nationwide strikes over pay and working conditions.

The strikes are expected to continue for four weeks. There will be walkouts on Monday and Tuesday of this week and day will be added each week until there is a five-day streak commences on Monday 18th July to Friday 22 July.

Kirsty Brimelow QC who is deputy chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said that barristers have continued working on "good will" for a long time, particularly through the pandemic where junior barristers were working "ridiculous" hours. This was after Justice Secretary Dominic Raab desperately encouraged barristers to agree to "the proposed 15% pay rise which would see a typical barrister earn around £7,000 more a year".

However, this pay rise will not be expected until the end of 2023 which the CBA deem as too little and too late.Junior barristers in their first three years of practice earn an average income of £12,200 which is a figure below the minimum wage.According to barrister Chris Daw, Junior barristers sometimes work for no money at all if cases are adjourned and states that a 15% pay rise would translate to nothing due to inflation and when the rise would come into effect.

The issue has been "caused by government, not by barristers", Ms Brimelow affirmed.According to the CBA, over 1,000 cases will be impacted per day as a result of the strikes.Reports state that the number of lawyers in the criminal justice system has significantly decreased in the last 10 years as many confirm that they find it difficult to make a living from the rates paid to them, especially from cases funded by legal aid. CBA chairman Jo Sidhu QC spoke on the impact that the decrease of barristers in the UK has had on the justice system, stating that the shortage is causing an "increasing misery to victims and those accused".

There has reportedly been a 28% average fall in barristers' earnings since 2006. CBA provided statistics showing that 40% of junior criminal barristers left the career path just one year into working and around 300 specialist criminal barristers have quit in the last five years.

Now, barristers across the country are gathering around high-profile court buildings such as Birmingham and Manchester crown courts to protest.The most senior judge in England and Wales, The Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett has warned those joining the movement that they could face disciplinary action for misconduct if they do not return to their posts.Despite this, spokesperson Ms Brimelow made clear that there "has to be pressure for long-term gain."