Barrister

Barristers give specialist legal advice and represent individuals or organisations in court.

Barristers tend to specialise in an area of law. Whichever type of law they choose, a barrister's work is likely to include:

• taking instructions from clients and their solicitors
• talking to members of other professions such as accountants, surveyors and architects
• giving written legal opinions and researching similar cases
• representing clients in court.

The amount of time they spend in court depends on their specialist area.

Barristers generally work long hours including evenings and weekends. They may have to prepare a case or a written opinion at short notice.

Most barristers work in offices called chambers. They may have their own office or share one with other barristers. In London most chambers are in the Inns of Court. In other towns and cities they are near to court buildings. For some court cases barristers wear a wig and gown.

Salaries range from around £10,000 a year during training (pupillage) to £300,000 a year or more for a very experienced barrister.

A barrister should:

• have a high level of academic ability
• be an excellent communicator in speech and writing
• be confident
• be able to think logically
• have an interest in law and research.

There are more than 12,700 barristers practising. Most are self-employed. Around 3,000 barristers are employed by specialist commercial law firms and other companies, and about 1,300 work in government departments and agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service and the Government Legal Service. Others may work for voluntary organisations or charities.

Although most are based in London, barristers practice in most large towns and cities which have a court.

Entrants need to complete an approved law degree, or a non-approved degree followed by a postgraduate conversion course for the academic stage of training.

The vocational stage of training involves completing a Bar Vocational Course (BVC) followed by a year of pupillage, spent working and training with an experienced barrister. Trainees spend time shadowing and observing their pupil supervisor, gradually taking on cases as they gain experience.

Training to become a barrister is a very competitive and often costly process. At each stage there are more applicants than places. Once qualified, it may be hard to secure a permanent place (known as a tenancy) in a set of chambers.

With experience, a barrister may apply to become a Queen's Counsel (QC) taking on more serious or complex cases. Some may become a High Court judge. Barristers may also become legal advisers in magistrates' courts. Some barristers move into senior positions in industry or commerce.

Further details