Chairman of the Bar, Peter Lodder QC, said referral fees had "no place in a fair and open justice system".
BBC: Injury claim referral fees to be banned
2.
Mr Lodder said a barrister would receive only about half the fee, after deductions such as overheads, expenses and tax.
BBC: Legal fees row 'could hit trials'
3.
Mr Lodder, chairman-elect of the Bar Council, said there were fears prisoners could face a "Kafkaesque" situation where they had no idea when they would be released.