UK Criminal Defence Barristers: Both Trial Readiness & Experience Vital
In December 2025, Justice Secretary David Lammy announced sweeping changes to the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The reforms will create new swift courts where cases carrying likely sentences of three years or less will be heard by a judge alone, without a jury. This marks a significant shift in how defendants facing charges such as fraud, robbery, and drug offences will be tried. The government claims these changes will deliver justice at least 20% faster than traditional jury trials, addressing a Crown Court backlog of nearly 80,000 cases projected to reach 100,000 by 2028. Serious offences, including rape, murder, manslaughter, and grievous bodily harm, will retain jury trials. The legal community has expressed concerns, with the Law Society describing the proposals as going too far in eroding the fundamental right to be judged by a jury of peers. These reforms underscore the importance of selecting a trial-ready barrister who understands both judge-only and jury tri...