New Research: Impact of COVID-19 on the Bar

A survey of members of the independent Bar conducted in April 2020 shows that the Covid-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on the legal and justice system.

The Bar’s survey, responded to by over 60% of members, reveals that Covid-19 is creating significant financial uncertainty for the foreseeable future with the potential for a devastating effect on the profession’s sustainability due to the major drop off in court hearings and other work. This comes despite efforts by the legal profession, judiciary and NICTS to deliver justice via remote hearings, and where necessary, conduct urgent court hearings.

Key Findings:

• There has been a stark drop in the work being undertaken by members right across the Bar - 24% of members say are doing 0% of their normal work volume with a further 53% saying they are doing less than 10% of their normal volumes.

• Payment delay - 55% of members say that they are experiencing more than 4 week delays in receiving payment.

• 43% of members are not eligible for Government assistance of any form with just 22% of members eligible for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme.

• Without further support or an increase in Court business 86% of members predict the pandemic will have a detrimental impact on the viability of their practices.

• 53% of members say that if all remains the same by September 2020 their practices will fail or become unsustainable and 34% of those who might survive say they expect to have significant financial difficulty.

• Strong support from members for making a return to work in the courts as soon as the conditions permit.

Facing an Uncertain Future

Work and the ability to earn money has disappeared for barristers, with many fearing for their future in the profession. Without further Government assistance, 86% are concerned that the current situation will have a detrimental impact on the viability of their practices by September 2020. In particular the young and the publicly funded Bar will become unsustainable without financial assistance from the Government, even in the short term.

Chair of the Bar Council Sarah Ramsey QC commented: “These findings make for stark and concerning reading about the future for many self-employed barristers. Policymakers must not ignore the ramifications that this virus has for the future of justice which affects the public in a very direct and real way. There is a real risk that if we continue to delay court hearings, the backlog of cases will only continue to grow which will result in work being taken away from those whose livelihoods depend on it and we might find there are no barristers left to help ensure the functioning of the justice system after the crisis recedes”.