The Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) have warned that the Government's proposed legal aid reforms could do "irreparable damage" to the UK justice system and potentially destroy the criminal Bar, in their responses to the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ's) consultation on the controversial plans.

In a 150-page document published today (4 June), the Bar Council argues that the proposals for reform, set out in the 'Transforming Legal Aid' consultation – will "destroy the livelihoods of many smaller solicitors' firms and rapidly destroy the criminal defence Bar", with the introduction of price competitive tendering (PCT) for criminal legal aid work described as "fundamentally flawed".

The Bar Council's response also challenges the assertion that these proposals are a way of achieving sustainable savings and questions their legitimacy, saying that the plans will "obliterate client choice", "thwart efforts to improve diversity across the legal profession" and "set back the steps taken to increase diversity in the judiciary for many years".

Meanwhile, the BSB cautions that plans to pay legal aid lawyers the same amount for a 'guilty' or 'not guilty' plea could lead to defendants being pressurised into pleading guilty, leading to a a "crisis of public confidence" in the justice system.

Further, by introducing PCT contracts the Bar Council claims the MoJ is "ignoring fundamental human rights" and contradicting the Government's White Paper on 'Open Public Services', which was published in July 2011.

Academic analysis commissioned by the Council and carried out by the University of York describes the MoJ's thinking as "muddled", suggesting that savings are already being made and such intervention is not needed.

The BSB has also expressed concerned that plans to reduce the number of legal aid contracts and agree contracts based on price rather than quality could lead to wrongful convictions, longer or ineffective trials and a rise in the number of appeals.

Maura McGowan QC, chairman of the Bar, said: "There is no avoiding the simple fact that these proposals would move us from having a justice system which is admired all over the world, to a system where price trumps all. PCT may look as though it achieves short-term savings, but it is a blunt instrument that will leave deep scars on our justice system for far longer. Further cuts to the scope of civil legal aid will limit access to justice for some of the most vulnerable. That is a legacy of which no Government should be proud."

"The Secretary of State for Justice cannot fail to have registered the strength and breadth of opposition to these proposals. The concerns are being voiced not just by the legal profession but by many other groups and individuals.

"We want to achieve and maintain a legal aid system which works in the public interest. We invite the Lord Chancellor to engage with the profession in a proper, considered review of legal aid to achieve that system and any required reforms without destroying a world-renowned institution. It is not too late for the Government to think again."

Sam Stein QC, the chair of the BSB's quality assurance committee, added: "These reforms represent a significant upheaval in our justice system. If we put in place financial incentives that could lead to some advocates telling clients to plead guilty when they're not, this will do irreparable damage not only to people's lives but to a justice system that has been world-renowned for centuries."

The Bar Council's full consultation response and an executive summary will be published this afternoon (4 June).

The responses follow the publication of a letter in The Daily Telegraph last week, signed by a group of around 90 QCs, which criticised proposals to limit legal aid for judicial review, claiming that such a move would "seriously undermine the rule of law".

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling (pictured) announced earlier this year that applications for judicial review – the process by which judges are asked to examine the legality of government decisions – will only receive legal aid funding once a judge has agreed the case is strong enough to proceed to a full hearing.

The news comes after the MoJ last week denied reports that it is considering a "wholesale privatisation" of the courts system as it weighs up propsals to cut costs and make the current system more efficient.

Grayling, who was appointed justice secretary last September, has upset many within the legal profession with his cost-cutting plans, with legal aid cuts in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill expected to save roughly £350m a year, while the closure of around 100 courts is expected to be announced shortly.