Barrister's Clerk
Job Description:Barristers' clerks help barristers to organise their workload, schedule meetings, and prepare for trial.
Job Category:What you will do:
Your day-to-day duties could include:
- preparing papers and taking books, documents and robes to and from court
- messenger work (collecting and delivering documents by hand)
- photocopying, filing and dealing with letters, emails and phone calls
- handling accounts, invoices and petty cash
- collecting fees
- organising the law library
- managing each barrister’s daily diary and keeping their case information up-to-date
- dealing with solicitors, clients, and their barristers
- reorganising barristers’ schedules when necessary
With experience, you might become a senior barristers’ clerk (chambers director or practice manager). In this role, your day-to-day duties could include:
- recruiting, training and supervising junior clerks
- bringing business into chambers
- allocating cases to barristers
- negotiating fees
- financial management of the chambers
Skills:
You’ll need:
- legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- excellent verbal communication skills
- excellent written communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to use your initiative (drive)
- administration & organisational skills
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork)
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
Some employers may expect you to have a university degree. A course in law or a related subject can be useful but is not essential.
College
This will vary according to where you would study. In the UK, subjects you could consider include:
- A level Law
- T level in Management and Administration
- level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
- level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Law or Applied Law
Apprenticeship
You could get into this job through a higher apprenticeship in business administration or a law related higher apprenticeship.
Work
You could start as an admin assistant in a law office and train more on the job to work your way up.
Working Hours and Environment:
You’ll usually work standard office hours Monday to Friday. You may need to work longer if your barristers are working on a complex case.
You’ll be based in an office in chambers, but spend some of your time visiting court, solicitors and other chambers.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could progress to senior clerk.