LONDON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Thousands of trial lawyers plan to go on "strike" Monday in England and Wales to protest government attempts to cut barristers pay.
The disruption could throw the criminal justice system into chaos, the London Telegraph reported.
Large numbers of defense practitioners plan to refuse to accept any work that involves trials lasting between two and six weeks.
The newspaper said the widespread revolt would have the same impact as industrial action, though is not technically a strike because barristers are self-employed.
Their decision comes after repeated demands from the Criminal Bar in July to raise rates of pay for legal aid work that have remained frozen since 1997.
Among barristers' chief complaints has been a move, officially implemented Saturday, to cut defense barristers' fees for 11- to 40-day trials by up to 46 percent.
The cost-cutting measures are part of a government attempt to rectify a $229 million spending deficit.
