Criminal barristers in the UK are set to join a mass industrial action in support of solicitors who have been protesting for almost a month against cuts to legal aid in the country.

The UK has two groups of lawyers; barristers who argue in court, and are traditionally seen in a gown and wig, and solicitors who usually work outside of court.

Since July 1, solicitors have been refusing to take on new legal aid work, to protest against an 8.75% cut to their fees.

This is part of ongoing actions against the government cuts to legal aid.

Some barristers had already been striking in solidarity with solicitors since the beginning of the month, but it was not until the 15 of July when the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) voted to officially join the strike.

However, legal professionals have accused Justice Secretary Michael Gove of using divide-and-rule tactics to wedge a gap between the two legal professions in an attempt to derail the strike.

While CBA leadership is said to be against the strike, rank and file members are in favour of it.

Last week, after meeting with Gove, solicitors scaled back their action. This has left barristers to decide whether to join the scaled-back effort or not.

The CBA is due to meet on Monday night to discuss whether to continue with its action, although it is said to be likely to go ahead.

Francis FitzGibbon, who will soon become vice chairman of the CBA has said, "We feel that the sector is being cut to the bone and there's no fat left on it… The decision to take action had not been taken lightly, he said, but barristers felt it was in the public interest.”

"This isn't about barristers wanting more pay. This is about them supporting action which is designed to show the government that it's in danger of going too far with its cuts,” he added.