England and Wales: Duty criminal defence solicitors heading for extinction

The map shows that duty solicitors in several parts of England and Wales are over 50 and that few young people are choosing the specialism.

The map shows that at least six in 10 criminal law practitioners across Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, West Wales and mid Wales are over 50.

In Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall and Worcestershire there are no specialists under 35.

Only two cover Berwick and Alnwick in Northumberland, while only three serve Hinckley in Leicestershire.

Four serve High Peak in Derbyshire and in Swansea, while five serve Newark in Nottinghamshire.

Law Society president Joe Egan said: “The justice system is facing a cliff-edge scenario. Criminal duty solicitors are part of an increasingly ageing profession, and government cuts mean there are not enough young lawyers entering the field of criminal defence work. If this trend continues, in five to 10 years’ time there could be insufficient criminal defence solicitors in many regions, leaving people in need of legal advice unable to access their rights.”

The Law Society is urging the UK government to review the viability of the criminal legal aid system and to guarantee an increase in fees in line with inflation.

Mr Egan added: “Twenty years without any increases in fees, and a series of drastic cuts, have pushed the criminal justice system to the point where lawyers can no longer see a viable career doing this work.

“Access to independent, expert legal advice is an important right which ensures fair access to justice. If a suspect cannot access free advice and representation, a fair trial would be jeopardised, and cases would collapse.”