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Barrister: Salary and conditions

• Typical earnings/receipts for self-employed barristers vary considerably and depend on many factors, particularly their field of work. Before deduction of tax and chambers' charges, earnings range from £10,000 to £90,000 in the first year and £40,000 - £200,000 after five years (salary data collected June 2008, The Bar Council ).
• Typical earnings/receipts at senior levels and before deduction of tax and chambers' charges, range from £65,000 to £1,000,000 after ten or more years of call (salary data collected Jan 09).
• A top Queen's Counsel (QC) can earn £1,000,000+ per year (salary data collected Jan 09).
• There are huge disparities in annual earnings at the Bar with some criminal law junior barristers earning under £50 per day whilst some top commercial sets offer their pupils over £40,000 a year. All pupillages are funded unless, in exceptional circumstances, a waiver is granted. Earnings for barristers starting out are sometimes extremely low and there may be a considerable delay between doing the work and receiving remuneration.
• Salaries for employed barristers again vary widely, ranging from £25,000 to £130,000.
• Most barristers are self-employed and have to contribute towards the running/overheads of chambers from their income, as well as covering their own tax and pension arrangements. They do not receive holiday pay.
• The ratio of self-employed to employed barristers is currently around 4:1.
• While courts tend to sit at regular hours during the day, barristers frequently have to work long, unsocial hours involving evenings and weekends, particularly early on in their career.
• This is a demanding and intellectually challenging role, but there is a very supportive professional community.
• Most opportunities are in London and the main provincial centres.
• 68% of practising barristers are men but the balance at call to the Bar and in pupillage is roughly 50/50 male/female.
• Barristers are expected to conform to high standards of dress, ethics and professional conduct.
• While it is relatively rare to travel or work overseas, travel within a working day is a common feature.

AGCAS

Written by Jonathan Bainbridge, Thames Valley University

Last updated:

January 2009

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