Law Society ‘reviewing options’ in response to barristers’ strike

In a bulletin sent to members this week, Law Society president Maura Derivan said the case for fee restoration “is indisputable” and highlighted the Society’s campaigning work on legal aid in recent years.

“You will be aware that the Bar of Ireland has announced a withdrawal of services on 3 October 2023 in response to the fees issue and we have received queries in this regard,” she wrote.

“I would like to assure you that it is a priority for the Law Society that criminal defence solicitors are compensated fairly for their critical and valuable service to the public to ensure access to justice for all.

“To that end, we are working with the Law Society’s criminal law committee and our legal advisors to review options and decide on our next steps.

“We will be in touch again as soon as we have an update on this situation.”

The Bar Council announced in July that it had been “left with no choice” but to call for a one-day withdrawal of services as a result of the government’s failure to restore fees for criminal barristers.

Dublin and Dundalk firm Mulholland Law said on Tuesday that it will also withdraw its services in District Court legal aid matters on 3 October “in solidarity with our colleagues” at the bar.

Meanwhile, the Bar of Northern Ireland last week hinted its members could also take strike action over unprecedented delays in legal aid payments. A number of solicitors joined a previous barristers’ strike in Northern Ireland in 2015–16.