Solicitor vs. barrister

wannabesolicitor

Which is more competitive? Which is paid better? What are the main tasks you do for each? I've always wanted to be a solicitor, but being a barrister looks quite cool too! Love the sound of arguing in court! Lol. Do you need different types of work experience for each?

The bar is the most competitive by a long way. Although top-end firms including magic circle firms are also very competitive.

Loving the sound of arguing in court suggests that you could do well as a barrister although there is a lot more to be done before being able to argue in court EFFECTIVELY, and even when the going gets tough you should have the ability to think on your feet. Skills of inovation and originality also come in handy, the BVC is a very enjoyable courtse and teaches all of this.

For becoming a solicitor you should do a vacation scheme. Barristers either do a mini-pupillage or other general things in a court room like shadowing a barrister or even a judge (as I'm sure Dreama will point out to you).

You become a trainee solicitor for 2 years (4 x 6mth seats) after you have been offered a training contract. Barristers do a pupillage (lasting a year). In order to do a pupillage at some chambers it is essential that you have done their assessed mini-pupillage so be wary of this.

Reply 2

ellewoods

10

Some firms offers 6 seats of 4 months duration now as well :smile:

Solicitors can apply for higher rights of audience now, bringing the theoretical chasm between them in relation to arguing in court slightly closer together.

However in reality, I've been told by solicitors that clients still prefer to go with barristers who are on their feet in court all day every day, rather than a solicitor who may only be on their feet a couple of times a month, or even a year. So higher rights are a bit academic at this stage....

Reply 3

wannabesolicitor

OP

I really can't decide which one to go for anymore! The risk of being a barrister seems higher though.

I've arranged a mini-pupilage and some work for some high-street solicitors, so hopefully that'll help me decide!

Reply 4

Purple

18

I want to be a barrister, simply because of the arguing in court :p:

but it seems too competitive and being a solicitor would probably be the safer option :redface:

Reply 5

superdillon

kirstinx

I want to be a barrister, simply because of the arguing in court :p:

but it seems too competitive and being a solicitor would probably be the safer option :redface:

If you enjoy the thought of "arguing in court" then you should capitalise on the opportunities that are available to you through your study in law and where appropraite gain good academic grades and some good experience (mini-pupillages etc). If you do this, you could be a good competitor when it comes to applying for pupillage.

Also, there are opportunities available as a solicitor to argue in court, you should explore these and find good opportunities.

Reply 6

manthi

Hi, how do wages compare between the two? :smile:

Reply 7

superdillon

manthi

Hi, how do wages compare between the two? :smile:

We in TSR do not like to talk about wages as a way of distinguishing between solicitors and barristers.

But it really depends on how good/successful you are.

Reply 8

poltroon

manthi

Hi, how do wages compare between the two? :smile:

Speaking generally (since you asked a very open question) a barrister usually has the potential to earn more. However, their financial security is not, as it is with solicitors, secured. The successful barrister will earn according to his case load which willl depend in turn upon his prominence in the legal world. A solicitor will earn a fixed salary that does not usually, I think, depend in any way upon performance (unless maybe you missed your allotted 'billing hours' target for the year). Really, though, it is useless to speculate since there are so many variables that must be taken into account which you haven't specified (where and for who you work are very important). So, in conclusion, one cannot really say. :p:

Reply 9

Lewisy-boy

11

Some firms will give performance bonuses and stuff like that. But yea you are right, barristers have the potential to earn more, but osme partners get a cut of profits in law firms, the very top ones! So if ur that good you can make a mint either way.

Reply 10

Lewis-HuStuJCR

But yea you are right, barristers have the potential to earn more,

No. Not really.

but osme partners get a cut of profits in law firms, the very top ones!

Depends on the firm - some firms have salaried partners - others have only equity... regardless - most get paid on a basis of profits.

Reply 11

poltroon

a barrister usually has the potential to earn more.

Again - that really isnt true for the upper levels of the profession. Indeed many people go into the solicitor route due to the greater earning potential.

Reply 12

Nana_Julia

9

Really? Solicitors have greater earning power? I've never heard of solicitors earning £3 million in a year!

That said it is bloody hard to get a pupillage, especially in London at a well-regarded set...I know people with advocacy experience, Oxbridge firsts and straight As at A level who have been rejected from everywhere...

Reply 13

Fluffy

15

Lawz-

Again - that really isnt true for the upper levels of the profession. Indeed many people go into the solicitor route due to the greater earning potential.

Same for the lower end. As a trainee solicitor you can get £35-50K pa. As a junior barrister, having to cover your tax, chambers fees etc, you would need to be earning £65-80k to take home a comparative salary...

Reply 14

Lewisy-boy

11

Trainee solicitors in London get about 29-31k then upon qualif about 50. I actually have no idea what barristers earn to start with, just thats its very very hard and if you dont have time to persevere and money to start out with then you will struggle to get by. To build up the rep and relations with the clerks to get work handed your way takes time, everything goes to experience so although you really have to struggle if you stick it the rewards should be great at the end. And once ur a QC, well work will be flying your way lol.

Reply 15

Julia Whittaker

Really? Solicitors have greater earning power? I've never heard of solicitors earning £3 million in a year!

And you'd be hard pushed to list 5 QCs with that sort of income as well.

There are a few anomolies with barristers who earn that - but very very few - there are hundreds of Solicitors who make more than 99% of QCs.

And if you look at the top people at WRLK they may well be on 5-6m USD.

That said it is bloody hard to get a pupillage, especially in London at a well-regarded set...I know people with advocacy experience, Oxbridge firsts and straight As at A level who have been rejected from everywhere...

Happens all the time. I have a number of friends who went through that - but in reality - it's not the pupillage you ahve to worry about - it's the tennancy.

Reply 16

Lewis-HuStuJCR

Trainee solicitors in London get about 29-31k then upon qualif about 50. I actually have no idea what barristers earn to start with, just thats its very very hard and if you dont have time to persevere and money to start out with then you will struggle to get by. To build up the rep and relations with the clerks to get work handed your way takes time, everything goes to experience so although you really have to struggle if you stick it the rewards should be great at the end. And once ur a QC, well work will be flying your way lol.

That's not really how it works at the start - clerks dont generally give the junior people their first work - they get it by working as a junior barrister to a more senior person on a case, and as such dont need the clerk to designate the work for them.

Reply 17

wannabesolicitor

OP

Tbh, it's not really the money that bothers me. You can get a decent wage from either, and I don't need a massive salary to make me happy. Being a barrister sounds a bit more fun (the wig, the arguing in court etc, lol), but also more risky... harder to get pupillage, and tenancy, and surely your salry's a bit more variable? I really don't know which way to go, but I've just applied for loads of mini-pupillages/working at solicitors/courts/CAB/CPS/legal depts, and hopefully some of them will get back to me, and it'll shed a bit more light on things and help me decide! I'm getting a bit scared about the whole process in all honesty! Daunting interviews, expensive CPEs, and LPC/BVCs, delaying work for 2 more years after graduation, when I could find that I end up without a TC/pupillage!

Reply 18

Fluffy

15

That said, recent changes in regulations allow qualified barristers to transfer over to the dark side without having to give up their barrister status (although obviously you can only practice as either or at any one time), so you can flit backwards and forwards... And, probably the main reason so many peeps are doing it: You can become partner in a firm of solicitors as a barrister... You also retain your advocacy rights...

Reply 19

lilzoldier