Barrister's clerk

Career path and progression

With experience, you might become a senior barrister's clerk, chambers director or practice manager.

As a senior clerk, you'll:

• recruit, train and supervise junior clerks
• bring business into chambers
• allocate cases to barristers
• manage finances and negotiate fees

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• excellent written communication skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• administration skills
• the ability to work well with others
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Law - Barrister's clerks work at the heart of the legal profession, managing barristers' caseloads and dealing with court procedures daily. They need to understand legal terminology, how the court system works, and the different types of cases barristers handle in order to organise work effectively.
• Business - Barrister's clerks run the day-to-day operations of a chambers, which functions much like a small business. They handle finances, negotiate fees with solicitors, bring in new work, and manage the overall administration – all of which require strong business awareness.
• English Language - Barrister's clerks communicate constantly with solicitors, clients, and barristers, both in writing and on the phone. They need to draft clear, professional correspondence and handle sensitive information with precision, so strong written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Mathematics - Barrister's clerks handle accounts, invoices, petty cash, and fee negotiations on a regular basis. They need to be confident with numbers to manage the financial side of chambers, including tracking payments and ensuring barristers are paid correctly.

Also relevant

• Accounting - Barrister's clerks collect fees, manage invoices, and oversee the financial accounts of chambers. Understanding bookkeeping, billing, and basic accounting principles helps them keep the finances running smoothly and spot any discrepancies.
• Economics - Barrister's clerks negotiate fees and need to understand how the legal services market works, including how supply and demand affect pricing. Senior clerks in particular are responsible for bringing business into chambers and making strategic decisions about which work to pursue.
• Politics - Barrister's clerks benefit from understanding how government regulations and the wider political system shape the legal profession. Changes in legislation or court procedures directly affect the types of cases barristers take on and how chambers operate.