Annual Salary
£21,000 to £200,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Swap to Government or Politics or go back to all job sectors
Barristers give advice to solicitors and represent people in disagreements, investigations and in court.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends;
There will be
2.4% more Barrister jobs in 2027.
In your day-to-day duties you could:
You could work in a court, at chambers or in an office.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through a university course or by working towards this role.
You could do a degree in law to become a barrister. You also have the option to do a degree in any subject and complete a Graduate Diploma in Law afterwards.
Once you've graduated, you need to complete:
To get into some universities you'll need to pass the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT).
You'll usually need:
You could start your career by working in a law firm or the law department of an organisation.
With support from your employer, you could complete a qualification like the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law through the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
Solicitors
If you're a solicitor, you can apply to become a barrister if you get approval from the Bar Standards Board and sit a Bar Transfer Test.
You'll need to:
You could join the Bar Council for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about becoming a barrister from:LawCAB; The Bar Council; All About Law; Law Careers.Net
With experience you could:lead a team; become a manager; apply to become a King's Counsel (KC); become a judge; become an ombudsman
Pathways to law course at Bristol University
Complete University Guide - routes into law
How to become a barrister from all about law
The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law looks at how lawyers recruit, what they look for in candidates, what candidates need to do when, and how they can maximise their chances, both immediately and as time goes by.
The Law Apprenticeships Guide focuses on the different types of law apprenticeship available, the key skills required, and the pros and cons of undertaking an apprenticeship or going to university, with case studies from those who have done it.
You'll need: