Most barristers want to stop prosecuting serious sex offence cases, report finds

[SerendipityJane]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/criminal-bar-association-england-wales-b2495527.html

I knew fees were low, but that's around minimum wage on average - and below mimumum for complex cases.

I imagine it's also bad for their careers. A lot of serious cases are either historic, with no forensic evidence, or "he said-she said" without any independent witnesses or reliable evidence.

When defendant's are found not guilty, which the majority are, it can't reflect well on the Barristers work.

And no, I am not advocating for easier prosecutions, if the evidence isn't there, it isn't there. There can't be a "right" number of convictions for any offence. Otherwise we have Totalitarianism.

They will receive more than £1875 though, as they are also paid a per-page rate for the pages of prosecution evidence they have to read, plus a daily rate of around £600 for each trial day. They will also get a fixed fee of £1000 if the case involves pre-recorded cross-examination of the complainant. A four-day trial which included pre-recorded evidence would come in around £5000 plus VAT.

It is fair to say though that fraud and murder cases are better remunerated both for prosecution and defence

@SydneyCarton but if I've understood it correctly, that £5k takes absolutely no account for the days and weeks of pre-trial work, evidence review, chasing the police for things, bundle preparation, additional hearings, agreeing evidence or strike outs, dealing with disclosure etc.

The trial is often the smallest part of the case.

@NCForQuestions Some additional hearings are remunerated separately, but yes, the £5K would be a whole case fee. Instructing solicitors will take on some of the work, and in a more serious case there may be a junior or a leader to share the workload. A KC on that hypothetical case would get around £9K plus VAT, but the junior is likely to have done most of the grunt work and be paid less