The Glasgow Bar Association have requisitioned a Special General Meeting of the Law Society to express concerns over the lack of new entrants to the criminal branch of the profession and the drop in the numbers of those registered to provide Criminal Legal Assistance.

Over the last few months the Firm has reported on what has now become a chronic problem within the practice of criminal law. Lower remuneration rates resulted in a drop in entrants to the criminal branch of the profession. Senior criminal practitioners have expressed doubts that the professioion has a future in its present form.  The future of criminal legal aid is also on the agenda for discussion.

The Law Society have stated that they intend to move to have a motion passed at the meeting backing representatives on the Summary Criminal Legal Assistance Monitoring and Evaluation Group in their negotiations with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Glasgow Bar Association, who have previously initiated strike action to express their frustrations, are urging as many of their members as possible to attend the meeting at the Society’s Offices in Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh at 3.00 p.m. on 22nd August.