Why we all lose when lawyers are targeted for doing their jobs

Sarah Henry29/01/2026

In democracies, the rule of law is more than a legal principle -  it’s a guarantee that every person, regardless of power or status, has access to justice and fair treatment. At its core, this depends on a free, independent and respected legal profession. When lawyers are able to represent their clients, challenge the state, and speak truth to power without fear of reprisal, the legal system works as it should. When they are undermined, attacked or demonised, the rule of law erodes inch by inch and case by case (as we are all currently witness to).

Demonising Lawyers IS a Threat to Justice

In recent years, political rhetoric in the United Kingdom has shifted. Both the media and senior politicians have publicly criticised ‘activist lawyers’  and in particular, those representing migrants and asylum seekers, arguing that they are delaying deportations or ‘playing politics’ with the legal system. Such commentary isn’t just a semantic dispute, it corrodes public confidence in lawyers and suggests that legal defenders are somehow illegitimate or obstructive when they fulfil their professional duty – a dangerous route to go down. 

As Home Secretary,  Priti Patel used language targeting lawyers involved in immigration and asylum cases, suggesting they were part of a ‘do-gooder’ culture or an industry exploiting the system also claiming that ‘activist lawyers’ were frustrating government attempts to deport. 

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson didn’t shy away from critiquing the profession invoking a similar tone.  He publicly criticised certain lawyers, especially those involved in immigration, human rights or criminal defence, using terms like ‘left-wing criminal justice lawyers’ and ‘lefty human rights lawyers’. He suggested that these lawyers were acting ‘against the public interest’ and ‘hamstrung’ efforts to reform the justice system or support law enforcement.  (It’s not all bad news – it’s with special  thanks to Patel and co., the Activist Lawyer platform was born)!

However, the consequences of demonising language and public attacks are real. At the highest levels of the legal profession, respected figures have warned that attacks on lawyers undermine trust in justice and weaken the protections that law provides. When lawyers are publicly cast as political actors rather than independent officers of the court, it creates a climate where threats, intimidation and harassment become more likely, and more tolerated.

Lawyers at Risk: An International Problem

This is not just a theoretical danger. Lawyers around the world face threats because of their work. On the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer (observed each year on 24 January), legal organisations and experts highlight the extreme risks faced by those often targeted simply for doing their jobs.

Originally established to remember lawyers who were murdered defending human rights, this day draws attention to lawyers imprisoned, harassed or intimidated by states for representing dissidents, minorities or protesters. In Belarus, for example, lawyers defending political opposition figures have faced arbitrary detention and loss of professional status. And within the UK, international human rights lawyers have reported increasing incidents of cyber-harassment, hacking attempts and threatening messages linked to their high-profile work.  The examples are endless.

These realities underscore why we cannot take legal independence for granted.  If lawyers are silenced or threatened, the most vulnerable lose their advocates and often, their only voice.

Why Protecting Lawyers Matters for Everyone

When we talk about protecting lawyers, we’re not talking about protecting a profession- we’re talking about safeguarding justice, fairness and access to rights for all people.

Lawyers don’t endorse their clients’ views - their work is separate ensuring that everyone’s rights are respected, regardless of who the client is.

Representation is a right, not a favour - denying or discouraging lawyers from taking certain cases weakens fundamental legal principles.

Attacks on lawyers hampers legal challenge - when lawyers fear reprisal, fewer will step forward to challenge abuses of power.

Without lawyers willing and able to defend the unpopular, the vulnerable or the marginalised, powerful interests go unchecked and ordinary people are left without any recourse.

Voices from the Frontline: The Activist Lawyer Podcast

One place this conversation is happening loud and clear is on this platform.   The Activist Lawyer podcast, rather than retreating from the ‘activist lawyer’ label (or attempted slur), we embrace it, featuring conversations with legal professionals who combine legal expertise with a passion for justice.

Guests discuss their journeys into law, the cases that shaped them, and the systemic challenges they confront - whether it’s public inquiries, human rights litigation or grassroots legal activism. Episodes highlight the human side of lawyering: the ethical tensions, the personal sacrifices, and the determination to use law as a tool for liberation and accountability. The breadth of voices, from immigration specialists to human rights defenders, reminds us that lawyers serve as society’s safety net when rights are at risk.

Protecting all lawyers, including those whose work is politically sensitive or socially contentious, is not a luxury but rather a prerequisite for a functioning democracy. Criticism of legal tactics and open debate are part of democratic life. But when criticism slides into demonisation, when lawyers are targeted for doing their jobs, we all lose.

About Sarah Henry

Sarah is a solicitor based in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, and the host of the Activist Lawyer Podcast. She is passionate about spotlighting the work of lawyers and legal workers who are using the law as a tool for social change, justice and equality. Alongside her legal practice, she is engaged in campaigns tackling violence against women and girls and has worked as an immigration and human rights lawyer across both Ireland and the UK.