Criminal barristers and criminal barristers in Northern Ireland are taking part in a one-day strike as part of a dispute over legal aid fees.

The Criminal Bar Association said legal aid rates for lawyers had fallen between 47 percent and 58 percent since 2005 when adjusted for inflation.

The organization added that strike action was a “last resort” as the criminal aid system had reached “crisis point” and called on the Minister of Justice to urgently rectify the situation.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) said it was “surprised and disappointed” by the move as it continues to push for more funding.

Legal aid in criminal cases allows for representation in criminal cases.

These cases are usually heard in Magistrates’ Courts or Crown Courts.

Monday’s strike action will see barristers reject orders in Category A crown court cases such as murder and manslaughter.

They will also deny orders for new trials in any cases arising from hung juries or appeals.

There are warnings that more strike action could be coming unless there is an immediate increase in criminal legal aid fees.

The Law Society of Northern Ireland, the lawyers’ professional body, has warned that the criminal justice system will collapse unless urgent action is taken.

He added that lawyers would no longer be able to undertake criminal legal aid cases at current fee levels.

“The Law Society… is aware of the growing frustration of criminal defense lawyers with the failure to increase legal aid fees and delays in payments for work already completed,” a statement said.

The body called on Justice Minister Naomi Long to take action.

A statement from the Ministry of Justice said: “It is well known that the Department of Justice has been consistently underfunded and the consequences of such underfunding are now being realised.

“The Bar Association is aware that the Department is working to deliver a more sustainable budget and that additional funding has been made available this year to meet current pressures.”

The department added that pressures were at an “all-time high” in 2023/2024, when the Legal Services Agency, the Ministry of Justice’s executive agency, paid out nearly £114 million to legal professionals.

It was stated that this was “the highest level of payment in the history of legal aid”.

“The Ministry will continue to press for more funding to address underfunding problems in justice,” the statement said.