Dear Chris,

We write to you and the CBA executive as junior Criminal barristers of 0-12
years’ call, in the wake of the government’s consultation response to Amending
the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS 11), published on 10 December
2018.

We recognise the unenviable task the CBA executive faces in negotiating with the
MoJ, and do not write in an effort to sow discord. However, what follows is an
earnest and unapologetic attempt to convey to you and the CBA leadership the
strength and depth of our feeling against AGFS 11, even as amended.

The Monday Message sent on 10 December 2018 described the proposed

amendments as “tangible progress”, and sounded a note of optimism that “[w]e
are beginning to turn things around”.

Regrettably, we do not share this optimism. We are also underwhelmed by the

degree of progress. The fact that it is unprecedented does not of itself render it
acceptable or worthy of celebration; following, as it does, over two decades of
savage and dangerous cuts to the justice and Legal Aid budgets.

The 1% uplift and implementation of the newest statutory instrument with

investment of the “additional” £8 million was simply the fulfilment of a promise; a
promise on which the government had sought to renege. On any view, the
government’s reliance on out-of-date figures on which to base its offer of a £15
million “increase” was at best a mistake and at worst a conscious and cynical
misrepresentation.

We are angry. We believe that:

1. The current AGFS scheme is not fit for purpose;

2. Dramatic changes need to be made to the structure of how AGFS is paid;

3. There needs to be a significant increase in funding across the board (both

defence and CPS funding);

4. A delay of 18 months until renegotiation is unacceptable.

It would be wrong to think that we at the (junior) junior Bar are not equally
concerned with the destruction of PPE as those more senior. Its loss in paper-
heavy cases represents the dismantling of our future. Moreover, when senior
members inevitably begin to choose their cases more shrewdly, those of us lower
down will face the unenviable choice of taking on cases we fear are too complex
for our call or having gaps in our diaries. We are seeing many examples of this
happening already.
The current structure of payment, whereby guilty plea fees and cracked trial fees
do not reflect the work involved in preparing for guilty pleas and ineffective trials
(especially in cases that run to several thousand pages and beyond), is also
creating a real risk to the quality of representation. The lack of adequate
remuneration for work done out of court is greatly exacerbated (especially in the
case of junior juniors) by the ubiquitous use of warned lists, with their in-built
likelihood that counsel who prepares the case will not in fact do the trial
(notwithstanding advices on evidence, conferences, legal arguments, defence
statements, etc.). This has already begun to erode that quality of representation,
with individuals understandably finding it impossible to justify the preparation
time previously allocated to such cases, and to “go the extra mile”, as was
previously routine.

The fees report due in 2020 will be redundant by the time it is published. There
will either have been the dramatic change in funding that is needed by then or
many of us will already have left the profession. We are haemorrhaging talent.
The idea that we don’t yet have a clear enough picture of the effect that AGFS 11
is having, and will continue to have, is laughable. Whether the government likes
it or not, the experiences of individual barristers are telling, and taken together
they start to add up to irrefutable evidence.

Junior juniors are voting with their feet. They are either ceasing to conduct Legal
Aid work (whether by moving into other areas of practice or going on long-term
secondment) or they are leaving the self-employed Bar altogether.

We expect the MoJ to continue to listen and engage with the profession now, not
in 2020. What we want is a coherent and sustainable system of remuneration for
work done. This can and must be achieved without delay, through further
negotiation. Plainly, we can only speak on behalf of those who have signed this
letter, but for our part, we are in favour of direct action in the New Year, if needed
to bring the MoJ back to the table. We acknowledge this will require careful
planning and some creativity, with every effort made to protect those who would
be financially unable to participate in, for example, a return to ‘no returns’. We
envisage discussions to that end early in the New Year and are cognisant of the
need to prompt a meaningful response from government before March (n.b.
Brexit).

At the juniors’ meeting on 24th November 2018 the mood was plainly, and
strongly, in favour of further industrial action. It may be that the “additional”
funding for AGFS11 has placated all of those individuals, and those whose views
they conveyed to the meeting. All we ask is that the CBA does not simply assume
that this is the case. Certainly, in respect of those who have signed this letter, it is
not.

21 December 2018
Sent on behalf of:

1. Sam Elliot, 1 Pump Court [2014]

2. Natalie Bird, 2 Bedford Row [2015]
3. Sam Shurey, 2 Bedford Row [2015]
4. Emilie Morrison, 2 Harcourt Buildings [2013]
5. Imogen Nelson, 2 Harcourt Buildings [2014]
6. Sam Barker, 2 Harcourt Buildings [2014]
7. Amy Oliver, 2 Harcourt Buildings [2016]
8. Will Martin, 2 Hare Court [2010]
9. Charlotte Watts, 2 Hare Court [2012]
10. Joshua Scouller, 2 King’s Bench Walk [2012]
11. Matilda Robinson-Murphy, 2 Kings Bench Walk [2015]
12. Mohsin Zaidi, 6 KBW College Hill [2015]
13. Patrick D.Harte, 3 Temple Gardens [2006]
14. Charles Durrant, 3 Temple Gardens [2006]
15. Jodie-Jane Hitchcock, 3 Temple Gardens [2006]
16. Kate Chidgey, 3 Temple Gardens [2006]
17. Nick Whitehorn, 3 Temple Gardens [2006]
18. Andrew Horsell, 3 Temple Gardens [2009]
19. Carina Clare, 3 Temple Gardens [2012]
20. Will Glover, 3 Temple Gardens [2012]
21. Cameron Scott, 3 Temple Gardens [2012]
22. Nargees Choudhury, 3 Temple Gardens [2013]
23. Ruth Reid, 3 Temple Gardens [2013]
24. Karlia Lykourgou, 3 Temple Gardens [2013]
25. Beverley Da Costa, 3 Temple Gardens [2015]
26. Brad Lawlor, 3 Temple Gardens [2016]
27. Emily Lauchlan, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2012]
28. Ryan Brennan, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2012]
29. Rebecca Bax, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2012]
30. Ylenia Rosso, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2014]
31. Kiran Pourawal, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2014]
32. Alex Radley, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2015]
33. Syam Soni, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2015]
34. Rebecca Moss, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2016]
35. Christina Josephides, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2016]
36. Annahita Moradi, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2016]
37. Michael Cameron-Mowat, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2017]
38. Ciarán Smith, 4 Bream’s Buildings [2018]
39. Phoebe Bragg, 5 King’s Bench Walk [2015]
40. Carolina Bracken, 5 Paper Buildings [2012]
41. Aparna Rao, 5 Paper Buildings [2013]
42. Kate Parker, 5 Paper Buildings [2014]
43. Natalya Segrove, 5 Paper Buildings [2016]
44. John Oliver, 5 St Andrew’s Hill [2008]
45. Dave Williams, 5 St Andrew’s Hill [2009]
46. Karl Masi, 5 St Andrew’s Hill [2011]
47. Alexandra Davey, 5 St Andrew’s Hill [2013]
48. Nick Jones, 5 St Andrew’s Hill [2016]
49. Lennart Poulsen, 9 Bedford Row [2006]
50. Rebecca Nieto, 9 Bedford Row [2006]
51. Aneurin Brewer, 9 Bedford Row [2008]
52. Puneet Grewal, 9 Bedford Row [2010]
53. Charlotte Mitchell-Dunn, 9 Bedford Row [2012]
54. Alex Matthews, 9 Bedford Row [2012]
55. Dréa Becker, 9 Bedford Row [2012]
56. Katie Mustard, 9 Bedford Row [2014]
57. Richard Reynolds, 9 Bedford Row [2014]
58. Scott Smith, 9 Bedford Row [2015]
59. Leena Lakhani, 9 Bedford Row [2015]
60. Stefan Hyman, 9 Bedford Row [2015]
61. Aqeel Noorali, 9 Gough Square [2017]
62. Yvonne Kramo, 15 New Bridge Street [2008]
63. Helen Dawson, 15 New Bridge Street [2015]
64. Oliver Kavanagh, 15 New Bridge Street [2015]
65. Ellen Wright, 15 New Bridge Street [2017]
66. Tom Lord, 15 Winckley Square [2009]
67. Kimberley Obrusik, 15 Winckley Square [2010]
68. Lucy Wright, 15 Winckley Square [2011]
69. Jack Troup, 15 Winckley Square [2013]
70. Colette Renton, 15 Winckley Square [2015]
71. Sarah Magill, 15 Winckley Square [2016]
72. Holly Nelson, 15 Winckley Square [2017]
73. Patrick Duffy, 23 Essex Street [2007]
74. Nathan Rasiah, 23 Essex Street [2007]
75. Richard Saynor, 23 Essex Street [2009]
76. Daniel Lister, 23 Essex Street [2009]
77. Carolina Cabral, 23 Essex Street [2009]
78. Jeremy Rosenberg, 23 Essex Street [2009]
79. Elisabeth Acker, 23 Essex Street [2010]
80. Helena Duong, 23 Essex Street [2010]
81. Victoria Gainza, 23 Essex Street [2010]
82. Rupert Wheeler, 23 Essex Street [2010]
83. Sarah-Kate McIntyre, 23 Essex Street [2011]
84. Alex Mills, 23 Essex Street [2012]
85. Sam Trefgarne, 23 Essex Street [2012]
86. Daniel O’Donoghue, 23 Essex Street [2013]
87. David Dainty, 23 Essex Street [2013]
88. Sasha Queffurus, 23 Essex Street [2014]
89. Robert Smith, 23 Essex Street [2014]
90. Tom White, 23 Essex Street [2015]
91. Kelly Cyples, 23 Essex Street [2016]
92. Josephine Teale, 23 Essex Street [2016]
93. Amelia Clegg, 23 Essex Street [2017]
94. Sushil Kumar, 25 Bedford Row [2009]
95. Henry Dickson, 25 Bedford Row [2012]
96. Laura Collier, 25 Bedford Row [2013]
97. Natasha Lloyd-Owen, 25 Bedford Row [2013]
98. Tom Flavin, 25 Bedford Row [2013]
99. Joy Lewis, 25 Bedford Row [2014]
100. Vida Simpeh, 25 Bedford Row [2014]
101. Nick Murphy, 25 Bedford Row [2015]
102. Suzanne Payne, 30 Park Place [2014]
103. Andrew Kerr, 33 Bedford Row [2006]
104. Dudley Beal, 33 Bedford Row [2014]
105. Stephen Reynolds, 33 Bedford Row [2014]
106. Roxanne Aisthorpe, 36 Bedford Row [2011]
107. Catherine Rose, The 36 Group [2017]
108. Michael Hagger, The 36 Group [2017]
109. Dharmendra Toor, The 36 Group [2010]
110. Nadeem Holland, The 36 Group [2006]
111. Gerwyn Wise, 187 Fleet Street [2010]
112. Edward Duncan Smith, 187 Fleet Street [2011]
113. Daisy Monahan, 187 Fleet Street [2012]
114. Liam Edwards, 187 Fleet Street [2014]
115. Vakas Hussain, 187 Fleet Street [2014]
116. Gavin Capper, 187 Fleet Street [2015]
117. Tom Worden, 187 Fleet Street [2017]
118. Robert Levack, 187 Fleet Street [2017]
119. Sebastian Cox, 187 Fleet Street [2017]
120. Simon Cooper, Albion Chambers [2012]
121. Lucy Taylor, Albion Chambers [2016]
122. Ann Crighton, Ann Crighton Chambers [2015]
123. Becky Owen, Becky Owen Law [2007]
124. Mark Watson, Carmelite [2011]
125. Libby Anderson, Charter Chambers [2016]
126. Simon Elliott, Church Court Chambers [2007]
127. Alison Pryor, Church Court Chambers [2008]
128. Richard Mohabir, Church Court Chambers [2009]
129. Colin Witcher, Church Court Chambers [2010]
130. Tomas McGarvey, Church Court Chambers [2010]
131. Chiara Maddocks, Church Court Chambers [2011]
132. Fiona McAddy, Church Court Chambers [2011]
133. Anthony Eskander, Church Court Chambers [2012]
134. Estelle Thornber, Church Court Chambers [2012]
135. Michael Polak, Church Court Chambers [2012]
136. Gregory Wedge, Church Court Chambers [2014]
137. Holly Kilbey, Cornwall Street Barristers [2010]
138. Jeanette Stevenson, Cornwall Street Barristers [2012]
139. Andrew Parker, Cornwall Street Barristers [2016]
140. Rebecca Penfold, Drystone Chambers [2012]
141. Alexander James Cameron, Drystone Chambers [2012]
142. George Wills, Drystone Chambers [2013]
143. Georgia Luscombe, Drystone Chambers [2017]
144. Peter Killen, Exchange Chambers [2015]
145. Thomas Quinn, Farringdon Chambers [2006]
146. Nathaniel Wade, Farringdon Chambers [2009]
147. Maya Chopra, Farringdon Chambers [2014]
148. Tom Hoskins, Foundry Chambers [2007]
149. Jonathan Underhill, Foundry Chambers [2008]
150. Merry van Woodenberg, Foundry Chambers [2012]
151. Jessica Tate, Foundry Chambers [2012]
152. Christopher Harper, Foundry Chambers [2013]
153. Sophie Murray, Foundry Chambers [2013]
154. Sophie Stannard, Foundry Chambers [2015]
155. Bethany Condron, Foundry Chambers [2016]
156. Lisa Wilson-Taylor, Furnival Chambers [2006]
157. Yusuf Solley, Furnival Chambers [2009]
158. Lisa Bald, Furnival Chambers [2009]
159. Oliver Doherty, Furnival Chambers [2009]
160. Sophie O’Sullivan, Furnival Chambers [2011]
161. Selena Jones, Furnival Chamers [2011]
162. Emma Shafton, Furnival Chambers [2011]
163. Sam Stockwell, Furnival Chambers [2012]
164. Mandisa Knights, Furnival Chambers [2013]
165. Sophie Sharpe, Furnival Chambers [2014]
166. Tulay Hodge, Furnival Chambers [2014]
167. Sadaf Etemadi, Furnival Chambers [2014]
168. Shannon Revel, Furnival Chambers [2014]
169. Chris Waymont, Furnival Chambers [2014]
170. Hannah Burton, Furnival Chambers [2014]
171. Andrew Taylor, Furnival Chambers [2015]
172. Charlotte Bellamy, Furnival Chambers [2017]
173. Shahida Begum, Garden Court Chambers [2008]
174. Meredoc McMinn, Garden Court Chambers [2015]
175. Elizabeth Garcia, Garden Court Chambers [2016]
176. Brigid Baillie, Garden Court North Chambers [2007]
177. Richard Brigden, Garden Court North Chambers [2018]
178. Sarah Taylor, Goldsmith [2014]
179. Charlotte Bull, Goldsmith Chambers [2016]
180. Lynsey Knott, KCH Garden Square [2006]
181. Jasmine Kumar, KCH Garden Square [2009]
182. Hannah Whelan, KCH Garden Square [2010]
183. Priya Bakshi, KCH Garden Square [2012]
184. Elisabeth Evans, KCH Garden Square [2012]
185. Samuel Coe, KCH Garden Square [2012]
186. Daniel Harman, Kenworthy’s Chambers [2008]
187. Simon Blakebrough, Kenworthy’s Chambers [2011]
188. Robert Lassey, Kenworthy’s Chambers [2016]
189. Sarah Cook, Kenworthy’s Chambers [2016]
190. Michael Shilliday, Lamb Building [2012]
191. Hannah Hurley, Lamb Building [2012]
192. James Hay, Lamb Building [2012]
193. Simon Gurney, Lincoln House Chambers [2006]
194. Lee Hughes, Lincoln House Chambers [2012]
195. Isobel Thomas, Lincoln House Chambers [2012]
196. Marianne Alton, Lincoln House Chambers [2014]
197. Anna Chestnutt, Lincoln House Chambers [2016]
198. Matthew Bolt, Maidstone Chambers [2012]
199. Kate Smith, Maidstone Chambers [2013]
200. Emin Kandola, Maidstone Chambers [2015]
201. Anita Davies, Matrix Chambers [2011]
202. Margaret Morrissey, Morrissey’s Chambers [2015]
203. Katrina Wilson, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2007]
204. Lucky Thandi, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2011]
205. Abigail Hill, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2013]
206. Almas Ben-Aribia, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2013]
207. Rebecca Coleman, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2013]
208. Lucy Jones, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2014]
209. Helen Marley, No.1 High Pavement Chambers [2016]
210. Ramya Nagesh, No.5 [2008]
211. Philip Vollans, No.5 [2015]
212. Chloë Ashley, No.5 [2016]
213. Katherine Buckle, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2009]
214. Thomas Coke-Smith, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2011]
215. Arabella MacDonald, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2012]
216. Eloise Emanuel, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2012]
217. Kathryn Hughes, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2013]
218. Ruth Broadbent, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2016]
219. Kyan Pucks, QEB Hollis Whiteman [2016]
220. Lauren Sales, Red Lion Chambers [2010]
221. Timothy Kiely, Red Lion Chambers [2014]
222. Nathan Scott, Staple Inn [2012]
223. Marcus Harry, St Ives Chambers [2008]
224. Justin Jarmola, St Ives Chambers [2009]
225. Anthony Cartin, St Ives Chambers [2010]
226. William Douglas-Jones, St Ives Chambers [2011]
227. Lucinda Wilmott-Lascelles, St Ives Chambers [2014]
228. Aadhithya Anbahan, St Ives Chambers [2015]
229. Alexander Pritchard-Jones, St Ives Chambers [2015]
230. Gemma Maxwell, St John’s Buildings [2014]
231. Carl Templar-Vasey, St Philips Chambers [2006]
232. Jonathan Barker, St Philips Chambers [2006]
233. Ben Williams, St Philips Chambers [2006]
234. Lisa Hancox, St Philips Chambers [2006]
235. Ben Close, St Philips Chambers [2009]
236. Joseph Millington, St Philips Chambers [2009]
237. James Bruce, St Philips Chambers [2010]
238. Mohammed Hafeez, St Philips Chambers [2011]
239. Harinderpal Dhami, St Philips Chambers [2016]
240. Alexander Barbour, St Philips Chambers [2017]
241. Catherine Ravenscroft, St Philips Chambers [2017]
242. Stephanie Wookey, Thomas More Chambers [2010]
243. Genevieve Moss, Thomas More Chambers [2015]