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Law

Barrister

Barristers give advice to solicitors and represent people in disagreements, investigations and in court.

Annual Salary

£17,152 to £200,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

36 to 38 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends;

2.4%
Future employment

There will be 2.4% more Barrister jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • meet with clients and take on cases
  • research the law and cases similar to the one you're working on
  • read witness statements and reports
  • offer legal advice and your opinion
  • negotiate settlements out of court
  • prepare legal arguments and court briefs
  • question witnesses and present cases to the judge and jury

Working environment

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.

University

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:

  • the Bar Professional Training Course which takes one year
  • a year of practical training called a pupillage

To get into some universities you'll need to pass the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
Work

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.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Bar Council for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a barrister from:LawCAB; The Bar Council; All About Law; Law Careers.Net

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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.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • persuading skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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