How long does it take to become a barrister in Australia?

Asked by: Giles Bayer  |  Last update: July 23, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (73 votes)

All in all, it takes almost 6 years of education and practice to become a lawyer in Australia. Note: If you want to be a barrister, you must first take and pass the bar exam and get admission into the Bar Readers' Course.

How long does it take to become a barrister?

Becoming a fully-fledged barrister takes five years - including three years for your law degree, one year for a Bar course and a one-year pupillage in chambers.

How many years does it take to be a lawyer in Australia?

Studying law in Australia or New Zealand

In Australia, you'll spend a minimum of four years studying to become a lawyer. You'll pursue one of two degrees: a 4-year Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) or a combined LLB (5+ years). In New Zealand, an LLB takes four years to complete, and a combined LLB takes five.

How much do barristers get paid in Australia?

Barristers, whose main duties are to represent clients in court, earn higher average pay than solicitors, who commonly do more behind-the-scenes work, usually of an advisory or administrative nature. The barrister salary in Australia averages at $168,766.

How much does a barrister earn per hour in Australia?

A lawyer or solicitor who has less than 2 years experience can charge approximately $300 per hour. A solicitor in Sydney with between 2-5 years experience can demand fees of $400 per hour. Senior lawyers with over 5 years experience can charge $500-$600 per hour.

Becoming A Barrister

29 related questions found

What is the highest paid job in Australia?

Which job has the highest salary in Australia? Neurosurgeons earn the highest annual salary in Australia at over $600,000.

What does a junior barrister earn?

Successful junior barristers doing work supported by legal aid – be that criminal or civil – can earn under £20,000 a year. Some juniors in this field may struggle to make enough money to live on, and certain chambers whose juniors have low earnings offer them interest-free loans to cover costs.

Are barristers rich?

Barristers in chambers do not have salaries; they are self employed. That means that they get paid for the work that they do, and if they are not working (for example, if they are on holiday) they do not get paid. So it is not the case that you will pick up a set monthly amount as a barrister.

Who is the best barrister in Australia?

Australian Financial Review 'Best Lawyers' List 2022 – 23 Barristers Listed
  • Scott McCleod QC.
  • Michael Trim.
  • Stewart Webster.
  • Shane Doyle QC -“Lawyer of the Year”
  • Matthew Hickey.
  • Michael May.
  • Claire Schneider.
  • Kristi Riedel.

What type of lawyer gets paid the most in Australia?

General-In-House Lawyers came first, at an average annual salary of $128,988. Constructions Lawyers came second highest, at an average annual salary of $124,041. Corporate & Commercial Lawyers come third highest, at an average annual salary of $118,558.

What type of lawyer gets paid the most?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:
  • Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ...
  • Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ...
  • Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ...
  • Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ...
  • Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.

How hard is a law degree Australia?

Law is a demanding area of study, but it's likely to be within your capability if you're willing to dedicate yourself. In terms of time, students typically spend 15 hours or more per week on coursework, depending on how advanced their law knowledge is, and familiarity with university-level study.

Is there a bar exam in Australia?

There is no bar exam in AUstralia. HOwever, you definitely must pass the so called "Priestley 11". These are 11 areas of law (e.g. contracts, torts, property etc.) which constitute the heart of the Australian legal system.

Is it harder to become a barrister or solicitor?

both are very very very very very very very very very very very competitive. but barrister is harder route to take.

Can I become a barrister without a law degree?

You don't need to have studied law to become a barrister – but it will mean an additional qualification if you did do a different subject. You will have to complete a conversion course or Graduate Diploma of Law (GDL) before you can complete the qualifications/stages outlined for law students.

Is it difficult to become a barrister?

The process of becoming a barrister is not complex to understand. Almost anyone can get into Bar School, provided you have a 2:2 and can pass a straightforward entrance exam. The tough part of landing yourself a pupillage and then tenancy. The Bar offers one of the most challenging career paths out there.

How many barristers are there in Australia?

Using the Australian Bar barrister search tool, it would seem there are around 6800 barristers Australia wide, of whom 1744 are women. That's a surprisingly low 25.65%.

How much does a barrister cost NSW?

Lawyers, money and ethics

Many barristers, for instance, charge between $1000 and $2000 a day. Senior barristers (QCs or SCs) can charge as much as $10,000 per day.

What is the best law firm in Australia?

Top tier law firms in Australia
  • Ashurst.
  • Clayton Utz.
  • Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
  • DLA Piper.
  • Gilbert + Tobin.
  • Herbert Smith Freehills.
  • King & Wood Mallesons.
  • MinterEllison.

Do barristers work long hours?

Meanwhile, 27% of criminal barristers and 33% of family barristers revealed they work in excess of 60 hours a week. This is compared to 17% of civil and 16% of commercial/chancery barristers. Across all practice areas, 22% of barristers said they clocked up more than 60 hours a week, up from 13% in 2013.

Is barrister higher than a lawyer?

Barristers can be distinguished from a solicitor because they wear a wig and gown in court. They work at higher levels of court than solicitors and their main role is to act as advocates in legal hearings, which means they stand in court and plead the case on behalf of their clients in front of a judge.

Can anyone become a barrister?

To become a barrister, you will need a degree (along with the Graduate Diploma in Law if it is a non-law degree). You will also need to complete the vocational component and pupillage/work-based component.

Is it too late to become a barrister?

No, you have not left it too late to become a barrister or get work experience. Age wise you're not old at all. Plenty of barristers have previous careers and are into their 40s or beyond when they secure pupillage. In terms of age it is very common for new pupils to be more towards 30 than their early twenties.

What does a criminal barrister earn?

While even junior barristers at top commercial chambers can earn in excess of £70,000, their counterparts at criminal and family sets can make £20,000 or less at the start of their careers – before deductions for chambers' rent, clerks' fees, tax and VAT, travel costs, insurance, and compulsory CPD programmes.

How much does a silk barrister earn?

The survey said that senior barristers working in commercial law with the rank of Queen's Counsel, of 'silk', are likely to earn up to £2,500 an hour. Even the most junior commercial barristers can expect to be paid at up to £125 an hour.