BARRISTERS, solicitors and clerks held a moment of silence “for the death of justice” outside Winchester Crown Court.

About 30 members of the legal profession took part in a protest to mark the end of a 40-day public consultation on controversial cost-cutting proposals.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling aims to save £220m by getting organisations to compete for legal aid work by offering the lowest price.

Defence barrister Adrienne Knight, who took part in the protest, said that defendants would be denied the right to choose their own local solicitor, and that the quality of representation would be greatly reduced.

She said: “The Government says this is about money – it is not. It is about justice and in a democratic country, it means people won’t get the defence they deserve.”

The Bar Council says that the changes would destroy many smaller firms of solicitors.

Other changes mean that defendants with a disposable household income of £37,500 or more would be stopped from receiving legal aid.

Mr Grayling has said that the proposals represent best value for taxpayers and has denied that it would affect someone’s right to a fair trial.

The Ministry of Justice has revealed that one London-based legal firm raked in almost £15million in legal aid in one year dealing with immigration and other cases.

And 20 individual barristers each made more than £300,000.