Barrister : Employers and vacancy sources

The majority of barristers are self-employed and typically become tenants in a set of chambers. They are independent practitioners gaining work through the offices of the clerk to chambers or through personal contacts with solicitors. Their clients are primarily solicitors.

Over 12,000 barristers work in England and Wales. Around one quarter of all barristers in practice are those working in employed practice. They work for a wide range of employers and organisations including:

• the Government Legal Service (GLS)
• the armed forces legal services;
• the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

Barristers are also employed on a non-practising basis within industry and commerce, as well as in solicitors' firms (in which they must make it clear that they are non-practising).

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Pupillage Portal
• The Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook lists chambers with pupillages - the paper version of Pupillages.com.
• LawCareers.Net
• The Times - Tuesdays.
• The Lawyer
• The Barrister

Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.

All sets of chambers who recruit must now advertise on the Pupillage Portal , which provides a common application form and timetable for recruiters wanting to participate in this scheme. Currently around 40% of pupillages are filled through this scheme and approximately 560 pupillage vacancies are available annually.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.