Recommendation 25

In the UK, solicitors, barristers and advocates are members of a regulated legal profession with clear codes of conduct and ethical standards. Sometimes the client they represent could be the Government. Sometimes that client could be a member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, or a civilian who wishes to bring a claim against the MoD. It is wrong for public office holders such as Ministers to refer generally to lawyers as “ambulance-chasing lawyers” (or other politically charged and inaccurate terms) when they represent members of the Armed Forces, veterans and civilians in their claims against the MoD—many of which claims have been very well founded claims against the MoD. The calculated and repeated use of such derogatory language by Ministers towards legal professionals is unbecoming and undermines democracy and the rule of law.