Alex Brown

MTSP is proud to work alongside Citizens Advice in our hospitals to provide our patients and families with important advice and guidance as they go through what can be a difficult and confusing time. #citizensadvice #majortrauma #NHS

As someone who represents mothers struggling post birth of their child, I see this only too acutely. Thankfully some of my client's can access treatment privately via their claim but the irony being it is funded by the NHS and costing more longer term. theguardian.com/society/2023/d…

This was my Glastonbury highlight - bbc.co.uk/news/entertain…

Those in the SCI community hopefully are already aware but if not @spinalinjuries are running a free prize draw for those with an SCI to win equipment and experiences as part of #EverydayMountains - more info at spinal.co.uk/everydaymounta…

@JohnHyde1982 @itsdavegreen We have had a judge turn down a request for remote hearing despite Counsel being unable to travel. Thankfully they opted to adjourn rather than proceed but still makes no sense, especially as it was just an approval hearing.

@itsdavegreen After what was shown to be possible in 20/21, would be amazed if such requests are turned down now.

The train strikes must be a huge issue for lawyers trying to get to hearings this week. Keen to hear if any have had to be postponed.

A maddening case where the NHS & those advising them cost themselves tens of thousands by not engaging early in proper settlement discussions. Thank you to Perrin Gibbons of @DekaChambers for her assistance too! deanwilson.co.uk/successful-cla…

A rewarding settlement for good people in this case. Thanks also to Cyrus Katrak of @DekaChambers for his help nailing down quantum which was trickier than at first blush. deanwilson.co.uk/dean-wilson-su…

@LoisAlexnorth That level of disparity in PI is mind blowing. Is this something Chambers should be looking at internally and reporting to members? I personally don't see disparity in the fees being charge to sols, unless I am being naïve.

This is a huge moment for all contact sports. This means that sporting bodies will need to do all they can to minimise the risk of CTE in their sports and failure to do so will likely lead to complex ramifications. theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct…

This is an important point. The offer that @DominicRaab falsely said was “unlawful” and “technically impossible” was made without fuss by his successor @BrandonLewis. Raab chose to bring the system to a halt out of spite and vanity. The worst Lord Chancellor of modern times.

@JohnHyde1982 In turn criticising the Tory government of her formative years. In keeping with her current criticism of the last 12 years I guess.

Is it me or does Truss talk down Leeds a bit *too* much? Every time she mentions her upbringing it's always about what a horrible place it was. #CPC22

@Stayathomemum6 Panic! At The Conference

@ColinHindmarsh @fduffy123 @MAMBarLife @BarristerSecret @TheCriminalBar Not sure blaming a judge for the interpretation of legislation drafted by government is quite the point at play here. I have no view on whether the ruling was right or wrong but doesn't seem to merit knocking the justice system on the head in defeat.

The government are calling @TheCriminalBar “irresponsible” ? Can we ask where they are now during a cost of living crisis? Can we ask where they were when we asked to talk to them in March? Were we irresponsible when we went to court in a Pandemic & they partied?

@s_charlene @swanage123 @MissWimpey @statingfact I don’t disagree, but establishing the nuance is difficult when it’s either misunderstood or misleading. Besides telling people they are wrong never helps change minds, no matter how frustrating it can be.

@SpinalInjurySol @swanage123 @MissWimpey @statingfact Agree. But it would be odd in a mixed set to have a single lone wolf criminal specialist. And if he is then it isn’t a fair comparison with proper mixed or indeed specialist sets who all do legal aid

Some barristers say the earn less than the minimum wage. Not very good barristers then are they. The ones I know earn an absolute fortune (including one of my nephews and his wife).

@s_charlene @swanage123 @MissWimpey @statingfact I think there is probably confusion between the chambers doing other types of work which aren’t legal aid and aren’t criminal.

@swanage123 @SpinalInjurySol @MissWimpey @statingfact Name the chambers. We are all on twitter. We can ask them because this simply isn’t true. One set does zero all the other that are pure crime sets survive on legal aid. If he isn’t at a set doing crime it isn’t a suitable comparison.

@swanage123 @MissWimpey @statingfact The only criminal barrister to do legal aid work in his chambers? There are around 2,400 barristers at the criminal bar and I would be pretty certain “most” of them do legal aid work. Legal aid is very limited in areas outside of criminal law.

@MissWimpey @SpinalInjurySol @statingfact The word ‘most’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. ‘Some’ would be more appropriate I believe. My nephew is the only senior in his chambers to take on legal aid work.

@ClimateFirst2 @cherryivyorson @KayBurley @TheCriminalBar 12.5k is roughly take home pay after travel, expenses and deductions for junior barristers 0-2 years qualified who do criminal legal aid work. I am not 100% certain but I don’t believe barristers are allowed to set up limited companies (but I could be wrong on that point)

@SpinalInjurySol @cherryivyorson @KayBurley @TheCriminalBar Is the £12.5k their total earnings or just what they get doing legal aid work?I just don’t see how anyone especially those in London can survive. Are they set up as Limited Companies and receiving dividends on top of this income ? They clearly need more, like so many others.

I’m all for the lower paid barristers getting paid more but @KayBurley just showed a graph that after 7 years they’re on £97k a year. Will these highly paid people also get the 25% pay rise they’re demanding?

@Hirst6Mike It may not work Mike, but at the end of it all, we will either have a system that works or will no longer exist. I know which I would prefer.

@SpinalInjurySol It’s not going to work - the backlash against the general strike nonsense has only just stated - your claims are justified by it doesn’t help that the revolutionary fantasists are promoting this dispute as part of their revolutionary fight back - it’s quite surreal tbh

Do you know how much Barristers earn - much more than a train driver or MP - asking for a 25% raise is taking the piss - the vast majority of workers (80% of whom arent unionised) are getting pissed off with the general strike fatasies from those who can afford to strike

@Hirst6Mike I would say a government refusing to address the funding of your industry probably meets the criteria of an industrial dispute. Especially when the government are the only paymaster for legal aid and are ignoring their own recommendations.

@SpinalInjurySol Then it’s not an industrial dispute - it should be addressed politically

@Hirst6Mike assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

@Hirst6Mike Hi Mike, it is not a request for a pay rise, it is a request for extra funding into the legal aid system. This follows from an independent report commissioned by the government. Obviously this would lead to a pay rise to some extent but please read the report.