A ballot has confirmed that action will be escalated over the government's refusal to meet legal aid demands. Back in April, barristers decided they would not take on returned cases after the government refused to increase their fees by 25 per cent. They were balloted on...

Barristers have started industrial action in a feud over legal aid funding today. Almost 2,500 barristers have now said they will refuse to step in at the last minute to pick up court appearances or preparatory work for colleagues whose cases are over-running. It stems from...