Straw attacks 'selfish' lawyers

Jack Straw is accused of disparaging lawyers

Home Secretary Jack Straw has plunged into a row with lawyers after he accused some of lacking "social responsibility".

Mr Straw - himself a lawyer - told a crime reduction conference in Cambridgeshire that some lawyers were too concerned with the success of their practices and too little with the interests of society.

The Law Society refute Jack Straw's accusation

He said their responsibilities were forgotten in an eagerness to "protect their niche markets with the local criminal fraternity".

But Michael Napier, president of the Law Society, said he was "astonished by the inaccurate picture Mr Straw has given of the solicitors' profession".

Mr Straw, who is a qualified barrister, told his audience that he feared lawyers would soon outnumber police officers.

'Wide range'

"The reason why there are so many lawyers in our society - and the numbers have quadrupled in the last 25 years - is because lawyers never agree, except about taking money off clients," he said.

Very aggressive defence lawyers sometimes forget about their wider social responsibilities, and their responsibilities to the court

Jack Straw

The Home Secretary was at the conference to launch a consultation paper detailing proposals for a new Charter of Victims' Rights and a Victims' Ombudsman.

Mr Napier said there were only about 11,300 solicitors who represented people accused of crimes, compared with 125,000 police officers.

He said: "Mr Straw's comments totally misrepresent the work of the legal profession, who undertake a wide range of work, from dedicated lawyers working within the Community Legal Service to international lawyers helping the country's exports.

"It is extraordinary that Jack Straw, a lawyer himself, should disparage the profession in such a way."

'More weight'

Mr Straw confirmed that the government was to consult on whether victims' rights should be formally enshrined in law.

It is extraordinary that Jack Straw should disparage the profession in such a way

Michael Napier, Law Society

Mr Straw said: "Victims' rights must be given more weight."

The consultation period will end on 15 June.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said the plans were nothing new.

She said: "We have heard it all before. Tony Blair and Jack Straw have been promising to put victims at the heart of their policy for years, but so far there has been no action."