Solicitors in England and Wales are set to withdraw all criminal defence services beginning Monday, escalating a long-running dispute over legal aid funding. The decision follows a vote by members of the Law Society, highlighting severe concerns about the viability of providing criminal legal aid given current government funding levels. This means defendants across England and Wales facing criminal charges will struggle to secure representation, potentially leading to significant delays and disruptions in the court system. The Law Society argues the current scheme is unsustainable, leaving many unable to afford legal representation. The government maintains that it is committed to a functioning criminal justice system and has offered some increases in funding, but these have been deemed insufficient by legal professionals. The withdrawal impacts all areas of England and Wales, raising anxieties about access to justice for vulnerable individuals. The situation is described as a crisis point for the criminal justice system in England and Wales.