The home secretary, Jack Straw, is at the centre of a row with the legal profession today, following a scathing attack on lawyers.

Straw condemned lawyers for money grabbing, a lack of social responsibility and protecting their "niche market with the local criminal fraternity".

"Lawyers never agree, except about taking money off clients", he said. "Very aggressive defence lawyers sometimes forget about their wider social responsibilities."

Straw expressed alarm that there would soon be more solicitors and barristers than police officers. The Bar Council has accused the home secretary of promoting "dangerous and reactionary attitudes".

Franklin Sinclair, chairman of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, said: "This is a an attempt to intimidate us into not trying for our clients so that Jack Straw can get more convictions."