Barristers have voted to go on an indefinite, uninterrupted strike in England and Wales starting in September.
The walkout by members of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) will begin on 5 September.
Until now, members have been striking on alternate weeks in a dispute with the government over pay, working conditions and legal aid funding.
The strikes are expected to delay thousands of cases, leaving victims and the accused waiting longer for justice.
Courts in England and Wales are already dealing with a large backlog of cases, due in large part to the pandemic – figures from HM Courts and Tribunal Service at the end of April show there were 58,271 cases waiting to go to trial.
The CBA is asking for a 25% rise in pay for legal aid work, when they represent defendants who could not otherwise afford lawyers.
Criminal barristers are due to receive a 15% fee rise from the end of September, with the MoJ saying the increase would see the average barrister earn about £7,000 more annually.
This offer has been rejected by the CBA as not sufficient enough.
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