25 Bedford Row supports 'no returns'

From the 11 April 2022, members of 25 Bedford Row will not accept returns in any publicly funded case.

As one of the country’s leading defence sets, we are under no illusions that refusing returns will cause our professional clients difficulties, and our lay clients distress. We have not taken this decision lightly.

The future of the criminal bar is at risk: 10% of barristers practicing criminal law have left in the past year. Without urgent action, more will leave and the administration of justice in England and Wales will suffer.

The futures of our instructing solicitors are also at risk. They too have suffered from chronic underfunding for too long. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

Every member of 25 Bedford Row is committed to an independent and high-quality criminal bar which can defend fearlessly the rights and interests of defendants. We urge the government to commit to proper funding of the criminal bar as called for by the Criminal Bar Association.