What are you looking for

£20,000 Starter

Average salary (a year)

£40,000 Experienced

Average salary (a year)

39 to 41 a week

Typical hours (a week)

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this job

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.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You may need to have A levels or equivalent qualifications.

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

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a higher apprenticeship in business administration or a law related higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

You could start as an admin assistant in a law office and train more on the job to work your way up.

You'll usually need:

  • 4 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, including maths and English
  • experience in administration, legal secretary work, accounting or management

Paid or unpaid work experience in barrister chambers may give you an advantage when you apply for jobs.

What it takes

Find out what skills you will use in this role

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

What you will do

Discover the day to day takes you'll do in this role

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • take books, documents and robes to and from court
  • prepare, collect and deliver documents by hand
  • photocopy, file and deal with letters, emails and phone calls
  • collect fees, handle accounts, invoices and petty cash
  • organise the law library
  • manage each barrister's diary and keep their case information up to date
  • deal with solicitors, clients and their barristers

Working environment

You could work at chambers, in an office or in a court.

Career path and profession

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities

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

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