Who is the highest paid barrister in the UK right now?
Asked by: Dale Lemke | Last update: August 17, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (60 votes)
Graham Aaronson QC, Michael Flesch QC and David Goldberg QC, are, according to this year's Legal 500 of leading barristers and solicitors, the highest earners at the Bar. They are closely followed by three commercial silks, led by the Labour peer Lord Grabiner QC, who are each estimated to have earned £1.25m last year.
Who are the top paid barristers in the UK?
The annual Bar Council report from November 2023 states that the top earning self-employed barristers made up to £1.8-£1.9 million last year. Lord Pannick KC and Graham Aaronson KC are two of the barristers who frequently appear in the lists of the most successful and top earning barristers.
What is the richest type of lawyer in the UK?
You'll find the highest salaries in areas such as commercial and corporate law, while family and personal injury law are less likely to draw big-figure salaries.
What is the average salary for a barrister in the UK?
An average barrister salary in London is anything from £50,000 to £200,000 based on five years' experience, but as there are many areas of law, this can vary. For those with over ten years' experience, earnings can range from £65,000 to £1,000,000. Those based in London and bigger cities will often earn more too.
What country pays barristers the most?
- Australia – Average Annual Salary (AUD 119,278) ...
- New Zealand – Average Annual Salary (NZD 84,047) ...
- Netherlands – Average Annual Salary (EUR 65,000) ...
- Ireland – Average Annual Salary (EUR 77,148) ...
- Switzerland – Average Annual Salary (CHF 140,000)
This Is How Much UK Lawyers Make - Solicitor And Barrister Salaries REVEALED!!
How long is a law degree UK barrister?
Becoming a barrister takes five years - including three years for your law degree, one year for a Bar course and a one-year pupillage in chambers. Again, add an extra year for a law conversion course if your degree wasn't in law.
What is the difference between a barrister and a solicitor?
Barristers are specialists in advocacy, wearing wigs and gowns whilst representing clients in higher courts. Whilst solicitors handle day-to-day legal work, barristers are typically brought in for complex court proceedings and specialist opinions.
Do lawyers earn more in the UK or US?
Remuneration. It is no secret that US firms pay more than UK firms, both in terms of annual salary and in bonuses. This is because legal professionals working in US firms are considerably more accountable than their peers in UK firms.
How much do top commercial barristers earn?
The Legal Cheek Chambers Most List shows that high flyers at South Square, a commercial set with a focus on insolvency, can expect to earn an average of £150,000 in their first year, on par with associates at Magic Circle law firms, before rising to £250,000 in their second year, and in excess of £300,000 by year three ...
What is the equivalent of a barrister in America?
Barristers are involved in and litigation , similar to “trial lawyers” or “ litigators ” in the United States, except such lawyers in America may perform tasks beyond courtroom advocacy, unlike barristers.
Who is the best family barrister in the UK?
- Nkumbe Ekaney KC. Call: 1990 Silk: 2011.
- Janet Bazley KC, MCIArb. Call: 1980 Silk: 2006.
- Charles Geekie KC, MCIArb. Call: 1985 Silk: 2006.
- Andrew Bagchi KC. Call: 1989 Silk: 2015.
- Sam Momtaz KC. ...
- Pamela Warner. ...
- Rachel Gillman. ...
- Catherine Jenkins.
Who is the youngest barrister in England?
An 18 year-old has become the youngest person in the history of the English and Welsh legal system to be called to the Bar. New barrister Gabrielle Turnquest, of Florida, US, attended the ceremony at Lincoln's Inn this week.
Who is the best criminal barrister in the UK?
Top serious crime barrister
Stephen Vullo KC is regularly identified as the counsel of first choice when it comes to defending clients accused of serious crime, and his clients include celebrities as well as defendants whose cases attract widespread media attention.
How much do silk barristers make in London?
Earnings by sex – whole self-employed Bar
The figure for KCs shows that the typical range of gross earnings for female silks (the box) sits between around £200k and £600k. For male silks, the range starts higher at around £250k and extends to £900k.
What is the most prestigious chamber in London?
Blackstone Chambers, Barristers, London.
Who gets paid more US or UK?
The US is a richer society, thus wages are higher. The US economy is lower tax, less regulated, than the British.
Can a US lawyer work in UK?
From September 2021, lawyers from abroad and overseas students who wish to qualify in England and Wales can sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE allows you to qualify as a solicitor by taking the same exam as domestic candidates.
Who earns more doctors or lawyers UK?
Lawyers are earning an average of £92,606 each year; they are the second highest earners and beaten only by chief executives, who earn an average of £130,734, according to the ONS' 2021 data. By contrast, doctors took home £74,588 this year and dentists £59,669.
Do barristers still wear wigs?
Wigs are still commonplace in the courtroom, almost thought of as a uniform, to maintain the long tradition and formality of the legal system. However, the wigs have undergone some changes.
Can a barrister be an attorney?
A barrister is a lawyer who represents a litigant as an advocate before a court. A barrister speaks in court and presents the case before a judge, with or without a jury. In some jurisdictions, a barrister receives additional training in evidence law, ethics, and court practice and procedure.
How much do barristers get paid in Ireland?
How much does a Barrister make in Ireland? The estimated salary for a Barrister is €70,000 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
How difficult is the bar exam in the UK?
BUT it was quite a bit harder than I had imagined. It's not intellectually stretching in the sense the BCL was, nor are the pass marks particularly high (so you can afford to drop quite a few marks and make quite a few mistakes). It's just a slog. There is lots to get through and not necessarily loads of shortcuts.
How long is law school in UK?
Length of Study
Gaining a practicing Law degree can take seven years in Canada, but just three years in the UK. A quicker qualification means lower total costs for your degree and a quicker route into paid work. Students who have already completed a first degree can do an undergraduate Law degree in just two years.
What happens after you pass the bar?
Bar Dues and CLE Courses
Additionally, your days of law school studying aren't over either. In some states, after you are sworn into the bar, you have to complete several hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits targeted towards newer attorneys transitioning into the actual practice of law.