Barrister's Clerk

Job Description:

Barristers' clerks help barristers to organise their workload, schedule meetings, and prepare for trial.

Job Category:
Legal

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
Illustration of employee looking at workspace

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.