SALARIES of criminal barristers in the UK vary widely, but they aren't as high as you might think.
Lawyers have been embroiled in a row with the government over pay and working conditions for over a decade, so how much do they actually get paid?
How much does a barrister earn in the UK?
Like many sectors, those at the top of the career ladder can make millions while those starting out earn much less.
According to The Lawyer, the top 2 per cent of barristers can earn over £1million per year.
Positions such as Queen's Counsel (QC) barrister command high pay as they are seen as leaders in the legal field.
By stark comparison, junior barristers may not even reach a £20k take home per year.
In 2020, 11.9 per cent of barristers earned under £30k and around a quarter of them were earning under £60k.
The Lawyer points out that this is the pay before deductions such as chambers’ rent, clerks’ fees, tax and VAT, travel costs, insurance, and compulsory CPD programmes.
That means many junior barristers cannot afford to continue in the bar, unless supported another income source.
How do I become a barrister?
It can take up to five years to become a fully trained barrister – that includes three years doing a university degree.
But you don't have to study law, most universities offer a year-long conversion course. This gives students the foundations of legal knowledge.
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Then you complete the bar – the vocational aspect of the training.
Finally to practise as a barrister there's the pupillage training which is typically done in chambers under the supervision of more experienced barristers.
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