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1/ I'm not sure the gravity of the situation with regards to crime firms not having any crown court trial income now for 3 months is really hitting home with those making policy decisions. It's quickly becoming a case of not that solicitors "won't" but they will not be able to
2/ keep jumping through the hoops being expected of us. We do not have the admin resources to make applications for live link for *every* case listed. We also cannot justify employing more staff with no crown court income coming in and no idea when it will start to
3/ Yet several of our staff will not be able to attend court in person for health and personal reasons. So what do we do? How much longer can this go on for? Justice collapsing before our eyes.
4/ I for one have no shame in admitting that working 14 hour days, 7 days a week plus police station overnights from home with no prospect of any holiday and reduced income is starting to take it's toll. Why is nobody talking about that? We're not robots.
5/ We're doing our best to keep the system going but there will come a point where good will, determination and belief in what you do alone will not be enough. I'm now spending my Saturday writing to the courts in all my trial cases to confirm I'm not trial ready in any of them
6/ Despite not having a day off since lockdown began and despite working all the hours. I can't magic up a prison video link or more hours in the day. Time to be frank. I hope others follow suit & start telling the courts exactly how it is out here for solicitors on the coalface
