Barrister
Barrister
An Overview of Life at the Bar
Following Call to the Bar and successful completion of pupillage, the next step is to apply for a tenancy,a permanent position within a chambers. In many cases, this is offered at the same set where the pupillage was completed, although this is not guaranteed.
For those who are not offered tenancy immediately, an alternative pathway is to undertake a “third six”, a fixed-term period of practice at another chambers. During this stage, pupils gain further experience and can then apply for tenancy either at the chambers hosting their third six or elsewhere.
This progression marks the transition from supervised training to independent professional practice, completing the formal qualification journey to becoming a barrister.
Types of barristers
Upon qualification, the majority of barristers practise as self-employed professionals. Most join a chambers, where they benefit from shared resources such as office space, clerking, and administrative support, while retaining their independence. Some choose to practise as sole practitioners, managing all aspects of their work independently.
Alternatively, a number of barristers pursue careers as employed barristers, working within organisations such as solicitors’ firms, private companies, or public sector bodies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Specialising as a Barrister
Once qualified, barristers typically choose to practise in one or more specialist areas of law, known as practice areas. The choice of specialism shapes the type of work undertaken, the nature of clients represented, and the balance between courtroom advocacy and advisory work.
Key Practice Areas
Commercial Barristers
Commercial barristers handle disputes arising from business and transactional matters. They are often instructed by large commercial law firms to provide specialist expertise on complex points of transactional law. This area of practice is highly specialised, attracting barristers with strong analytical skills and a flair for solving technical legal problems.
Work involves:
- Litigating disputes in the civil courts.
- Producing detailed written opinions and advisory work outside of litigation.
- Covering a wide range of sub-specialisms including commercial chancery, equity and trusts, wills, land law, and public law.
Criminal Barristers
Criminal barristers represent either the defence or the prosecution in criminal proceedings. Working from instructions provided by solicitors, they prepare and present cases in court. This area of practice is heavily courtroom-focused, making it well suited to those who thrive on advocacy and oral argument in front of judges and juries.
Family Barristers
Family (or matrimonial) barristers deal with legal issues relating to marriage, relationships, children, and family life. Their work spans disputes over custody, care proceedings, domestic violence, visitation rights, adoption, surrogacy, and financial settlements such as child maintenance. While some matters reach court, much of this practice area involves seeking resolution through mediation, negotiation, or arbitration, reflecting the sensitive and personal nature of the work.
This structure ensures that barristers can align their careers with their strengths and interests—whether that means tackling intricate commercial disputes, engaging in courtroom advocacy in criminal law, or supporting families through life’s most challenging situations.
Career progression
After completing pupillage, newly qualified barristers are referred to as “juniors.” At this stage, juniors have limited control over their caseload and typically take on work allocated to them by clerks within their chambers. This period provides essential experience and exposure across a range of matters.
After approximately six to ten years in practice, barristers may progress to the level often referred to as a “senior junior.” With greater experience, senior juniors generally handle more complex and higher-value cases, though the type of work and level of remuneration varies depending on their chosen specialism.
With around 15 to 20 years’ call, barristers may seek appointment as King’s Counsel (KC), a recognition of excellence at the Bar. Achieving KC status is highly prestigious and allows barristers to command higher fees and take on some of the most challenging cases. Selection is based entirely on merit rather than seniority. Candidates must apply to an independent committee, paying an application fee of £2,520, with successful applicants required to pay a further £4,320 upon appointment.
This structured pathway—Junior → Senior Junior → King’s Counsel—represents the traditional progression for barristers, with each stage reflecting increasing responsibility, complexity of work, and professional standing within the legal profession.
Barristers’ earnings
Throughout pupillage, pupils receive a financial “award” from their chambers. This fixed payment is made across both the first six (non-practising) and the second six (practising) stages.
- First Six – Pupils are funded entirely through the pupillage award, as they focus on shadowing and supervised training.
- Second Six – In addition to the award, pupils may begin to generate income by undertaking their own cases, allowing them to supplement their financial support with independent practice under supervision.
This staged approach ensures pupils have a secure financial foundation during training, while gradually transitioning towards earning through practice.
Following pupillage, a barrister’s income can vary widely depending on their practice area, location, and level of seniority. For instance, commercial barristers often command six- and even seven-figure earnings, whereas criminal barristers are well known to face significantly lower levels of remuneration.
As most barristers are self-employed, income is closely tied to the volume and nature of work undertaken. Case allocation is largely managed by the clerks within chambers, who liaise with instructing solicitors and assign cases according to a barrister’s expertise, experience, and availability. This system makes chambers membership particularly valuable, as it provides a structured flow of work and professional support.
To sustain this shared model, barristers contribute a portion of their earnings, typically around 20% to chambers. This contribution covers essential overheads such as office space, IT infrastructure, and clerking services, enabling barristers to focus on practice while benefiting from the collective resources of the chambers.