Barrister’s clerk

Barrister’s clerks work within the legal system of England and Wales. They are responsible for the administration of chambers.

Also known as:

Clerk to chambers

Work activities

Barrister’s clerks negotiate with solicitors on issues such as barrister’s fees and decide which legal cases to accept on their behalf. They negotiate with court officials to arrange court dates, check court listings of cases to be heard, and make sure barristers know when they are due in court. Barrister’s clerks are responsible for recruiting and training staff, and often have a financial role in planning and monitoring the chamber’s budget.

Day-to-day, barrister’s clerks (such as assistant senior clerks/first junior clerks) keep a diary of each barrister’s engagements, the cases they are involved in and the solicitors who are instructing them. They deputise for the senior clerk when they are away from chambers. Assistant senior clerks/first junior clerks help the senior clerk to negotiate with solicitors and may also help in training junior clerks. Junior clerks are responsible for routine administrative duties such as photocopying and filing legal documents, answering the telephone, opening the post and operating computer systems. They also prepare the papers and books the barrister will need in court each day, and carry messages, documents and robes to and from court. With experience, junior clerks may have the opportunity to negotiate with court staff and help to calculate barrister’s fees. Sometimes, clerks must arrange and prepare a barrister to attend court at short notice, for example, when a clash of court dates makes the original barrister assigned to the case unavailable.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

To pay close attention to detail to make sure that appointments are correctly and efficiently made.
IT skills.
Good communication skills to negotiate with solicitors and court staff.
Financial knowledge of rates and fees to negotiate barrister’s services.
A professional telephone manner.
Good organisational skills.
The ability to manage people.
Good decision-making skills, e.g., when choosing which cases to accept.
The ability to understand and interpret legal documents, especially if you help to prepare a barrister’s case.

Junior clerks should be physically fit, as they might have to carry large document files and robes to and from court. It’s also important to be of smart appearance.

Pay and opportunities

Barrister’s clerks are paid either a percentage of barrister’s earnings or (now more common) a fixed salary. Barrister’s clerks earn in the range £20,000, rising to £40,000 with experience.

Barrister’s clerks usually work a 39-41-hour week. However, long hours, including evening and weekend work, may be required.

Demand for barrister’s clerks is steady. However, competition for vacancies is strong, as there is little movement of senior clerks.

Employers are barrister’s chambers. Most opportunities are in central London, which has the largest concentration of barrister’s chambers. However, there are some career opportunities for clerks in regional chambers in towns and cities throughout England and Wales.

Clerks who receive a percentage of barrister’s earnings are self-employed. However, direct employment is now more common.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in newspapers and on the Institute of Barrister’s Clerks website. Vacancies are also advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Most junior clerks start work in chambers after completing GCSEs or A-levels and receive initial training on-the-job. City & Guilds runs level 2 awards, certificates and diplomas in legal studies. These courses prepare people for a variety of legal careers.

Junior clerks (already employed in chambers) may be able to apply through the Institute of Barrister’s Clerks to attend a two-year part-time course of further education leading to an Edexcel (BTEC) National certificate. Having completed the course and served five years as a barrister’s clerk, you can apply for qualified membership of the Institute of Barrister’s Clerks.

Progression is to deputy senior clerk and senior clerk positions.

Qualifications

The usual minimum entry requirements are 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) in academic subjects at grades 9-4. Many applicants have more GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent), and some have degrees. There are some employers who expect applicants for junior clerk positions to have typing skills.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Most entrants are school leavers or graduates. Exceptionally, those with relevant skills and experience in administration posts are sometimes able to enter.

Junior clerks who are already employed in chambers can apply through the Institute of barrister’s clerks to study for the Edexcel (BTEC) advanced award in chambers administration. This must be completed in one year and is available by distance learning, with workplace mentor support.

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