I have no idea whether this pay rise is justified or not, but what I do know is that the criminal justice system has been chronically underfunded for years. My daughter is a barrister who passed out 2nd on her course at bar school about 30 years ago, she was at the criminal bar with a good set of chambers for 7 years, yet, although she enjoyed the work and was always busy, she had to give it up as the fee income she received, mostly legal aid, was such that she was always broke, and some months could not afford to run her car or pay her mortgage. Since then I know that legal aid has been cut again and again, and the situation must be absolutely dire for junior criminal barristers. Fortunately my daughter is now a Company Secretary and Legal Director of a major financial company in the City. My next door neighbour who is 'comfortably' off, also has a barrister daughter who had to leave the criminal bar for the same reason, even with family financial support.
It seems the criminal bar is now a career only affordable by the rich, and it bodes ill for the future of our justice system.