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<p>The Government is continuing to engage with the Bar Council to understand the concerns
and what support we can provide. The Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
(SEISS) covers most people who receive most of their income from self-employment.
In addition, for criminal legal aid practitioners, we have provided greater access
to hardship payments from the Legal Aid Agency to allow practitioners to claim one
month after they were first instructed instead of six, and to lower the threshold
for work done on a case from £5,000 to £450. We also note that the four Inns of Court
have created a package of measures to assist junior barristers and that an emergency
fund by the Barristers’ Benevolent Association and hardship funds from the inns are
being introduced. We continue to keep the situation under review in the light of developing
recovery plans.</p>
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