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‘I am thinking of quitting my job to chase my dream of becoming a criminal barrister’

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By Legal Cheek on

18

Career changer needs advice

Barrister's wig and gown on table
In the latest instalment of our Career Conundrums series, a prospective career changer contemplates pursuing their dream of becoming a criminal barrister.

“Hi Legal Cheek. I’ve got a question about potentially changing careers. I am in my early 30s and currently work for the police, although I have recently completed a law conversion course in my free time with a view to training as a barrister. I also have an undergraduate degree in management.”

“It’s been something I’ve been considering for several years now and feel it is now or never. I would like to become a criminal barrister but understand how challenging an area this is for a whole host of reasons! I’d like to know whether a) I stand a realistic chance of securing pupillage b) whether pinning my hopes on criminal law is crazy given the challenges currently facing this area of the bar?”

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18 Comments

Trusted advisor

It is definitely achievable but I would caution that your income as a criminal barrister can be intolerably poor.

Something to consider if money is a concern.

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(21)(1)

Patrick

I have now been a criminal.barrister for 40.years..its provided me with interesting work and stimulation.as well.as.a.good but.not.a.massive income..I consider it still allows.forma good income but it’s always hard.at the beginning to see whether you can make a living .it is a very rewarding career with some.great friends in the profession and solicitors colleagues.

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(2)(0)

New tenant

Be very, very honest with yourself about the challenges of the criminal Bar and if you’ve thought this through.

I’m in a common law set and my colleagues did criminal pupillages. The reality of the criminal Bar is: doing 5, 6 or 7 cases a day, in 3 different courts, getting briefed on those cases at 9pm the night before, saying goodbye to your social life (especially midweek), working 6 days a week, working from sunrise to midnight, doing incredibly stressful, unpredictable and often traumatic cases. The money actually isn’t that bad as a headline figure, but it’s still a terrible deal when you compare it to the amount of hours you have to work.

You have to totally, totally love criminal work and even then you’ll just scrape through the junior years.

The lifestyle might be different at the really top end criminal sets who do more appellate and paper-based work. But there will still be common features to any criminal pupillage.

If you really want to do it, then go all in and throw everything at it. But if you’re less than 100% sure, I would say no.

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(22)(5)

Older and (maybe) Wiser

I would say “No” under any circumstances it just isn’t worth it funky and interesting as it seems. The criminal bar is for those who can support themselves into several years of practice.Legal Aid cuts have simply made ot impossible for anyone one else to make a living and have any kind of life otherwise. A very a very few will make it to K.C. and even then better rewards elsewhere by that time.

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(6)(1)

Undeterred

So long as you don’t have a family or social life and understand that payment of cases is generally made upon completion of a case (which can take years save for some interim payments) then go for it.

Repeatedly adjourned hearings at last minute, last minute instructions which are prepped all in vein.

It is really a vocation more than anything else these days.

In terms of pupillage, you should be fine so long as you have decent grades and successfully passthe BPC (which is difficult). Your prior experience in police will stand you in good stead in terms of prospective chambers.

My opinion overall is ……. don’t bother. The whole CJS is terminally ill and joining at present is probably a bad move.

If none of the above deters you, then you clearly have the grit to succeed so go for it!

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(14)(3)

Dull I know but

The police pension is great. The criminal bar pension scheme is “what’s a pension”?

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(13)(0)

Barrister

Underrated response. I think anyone transferring to the Bar from full-time employment (especially full-time public sector employment) underestimates quite seriously the extent to which they will take a pay-cut. The headline salary figures might be the same, but it’s a whole other world when considering pension contributions, sick pay, parental leave, etc.

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(1)(0)

Tommy Crommy

Some terrible advice on this page. To solely attribute long working hours, last minute briefs and no midweek social life to the criminal bar is wholly misleading. Any barrister, whatever area of law they practice, is up to the neck in work. There is undeniable notoriety at the criminal bar for long hours but its problems largely boil down to underpaid work. If you’re at a good set, good quality work comes in quickly. And you are also self employed so if you are good at what you do, the money will come.

“Doing 5, 6 or 7 cases day” – again, misleading. You may have this many hearings such as bail apps, sentencing and/ or PTPHs but unless you’re talking about prosecuting lists in the mags as a pupil, you aren’t doing that number of trials in one day. Plus doing that many hearings results in a tidy sum of money being earned.

The criminal bar is very demanding and if you want to sit in a cushty room in chambers then crime isn’t for you. You really have to be able think on your feet and to be able to get to grips with last minute briefs quickly. But it is also exceptionally rewarding and criminal advocates are second to none. There is simply no comparable feeling having a jury return a unanimous acquittal for a client or securing a conviction for a grieving family. Wearing the wig and gown on a daily basis is also a great privilege – a feeling civil practitioners rarely experience. That may seem a trivial point but when you have a profession steeped in tradition, its uniform is a huge bonus.

Finally, robing rooms. Only those who have been in them will get it. There is great unity at the criminal bar and whilst there are challenges, there is also a tremendous number of individuals at the helm leading the way for a more prosperous future and it is inspiring to be a part of.

So, I would say absolutely go for it. Go head first and don’t hold back. Make sure you pace yourself. And remember, there have been criminal barristers before you and there will be many more after you. If they can do it, why can’t you? Good luck.

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(36)(1)

Older and (maybe) Wiser

All you say is true and I had many years experiencing what you eloquently describe. For these very few the career is good for them.

But but I have also seen the ‘walking wounded’ at the criminal bar.Those who didn’t make it and are still unhappy they weren’t seen as ‘up to it’.

And even worse those who did start prosecuting and defending but they were so indifferent or incompetent (in some cases) their name is still mud.Many end up in a bad way. I wish them well, I really do.

Very sad if you know people like that.
And no I don’t want to name names ..they know who are , only too well I think.

I worked for a legal firm specialising in criminal law for many years so I think I know what I am talking about.

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(0)(3)

Archibald O'Pomposity

“I worked at a legal firm for many years so I think I know what I’m talking about”.

On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.

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(5)(0)

Aspiring Lawyer

I wish there were more commentators like you – very motivating!

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(4)(0)

Tommy Crommy

Glad to have helped. There is a hyper – focus on pay and whilst that is an issue, I don’t think it is too the extent that you should not pursue the criminal bar. There are a shortage of criminal barristers at the moment, so the work should be coming in to make a good go of it. But yeah, get the grades (2.1 or above), get some legal work experience, be passionate and have a sense of humour.

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(2)(0)

Journeyman Barrister

If You’re going to do criminal law you have to be 100% committed. You must enjoy it intellectually and it must suit you temperementally.

Plus if you’re going to go all in, I suggest you only do it at the very best sets to make it worthwhile financially. Apply to sets which specialise in appellate work and also do fraud work as that’s where the money is. Also apply to sets which can give you another string to your bow like professional discipline, regulatory work and inquests as they can top-up your criminal practice.

The criminal Bar will do a number on your social life and health so make sure you’re ok doing all-nighters regularly and are ok with getting late instructions.

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(5)(0)

Another Career Changer

Having made your money elsewhere, if you see career change as a luxury you can afford, I’d say go for it.

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(0)(0)

Older and (maybe) Wiser

Surely one has made that kind of money elsewhere ?

Put it this way I knew several barristers who made money in soft ware houses and othe money makers but I don’t think they stayed for long in criminal law.

Life is long and money doesn’t last forever.

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(0)(0)

Older and (maybe) Wiser

I really do object to your censoring my replies And taking them off your comments section.

I was trying to give young lawyers a heads up cincerning the problems they meet with if they chose go down a certain route.

All too often law schools and professional bodies give an a roseate view of the criminal bar. Films and t.v. series portray it in a misleading way -in my opinion .

Too allow young people to go down this route without telling them the reality is wasteful of their time and also their hard earned money paticularly at this time. Please don’t allow this to happen any more.

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(3)(0)

Eric Hanson

You can always go to the criminal bar via a steady job at the CPS. It might not be what you had in mind, but it’s a decent pension and a good place to work. As far as I’m concerned, the pay isn’t bad either. I won’t go on unduly at length, but there are options apart from the independent criminal bar that you might want to consider too.

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(2)(0)

Tim

Worth noting that you currently work for the police, so your pay isn’t going to be great in your current career. Pay at the criminal bar might be better than your current income (minus pension etc).

Also if you can tolerate the incompetence in the police then some of the frustration that comes with the criminal bar is probably more tolerable to you.

The criminal justice system is crumbling. CPS and the police are barely functional. The courts are struggling. But none of this would be alien to you.

I say go for it. You should have decent prospects of securing pupillage. And you certainly wouldn’t be the first police officer joining the criminal bar.

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(0)(0)

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