When Peter Lodder QC – chairman of the Bar Council and leading criminal and regulatory QC at 2 Bedford Row – started his career in the early 80s, there were 4,000 barristers at the Bar and various social barriers to graduates entering the profession. Now the profession has grown to 15,500 practitioners and many of those barriers have been brought down.
However, there are signs that the size of the profession is shrinking. The number of registered pupillages has fallen in the past few years from 562 in 2007–08 to 460 in 2009–10 for the first six-months of a pupillage and from 567 in 2005-06 to 495 last year for the final six months, known as the second six.
When asked about changes to the Bar, Peter is keen to set the context: ‘There has always been talk of change at the Bar; we are an anxious profession. What fuels a lot of barristers is a sense of doubt and nervousness. In many ways, a nervous advocate is a good advocate; it’s fair to say that you’re only as good as your last case.’
Government cuts
Now, Peter argues, there’s a real cause for concern – the government’s cuts to public funding, affecting access to legal aid in some family, education, debt, housing and immigration matters. ‘I understand why the cuts are proposed, but the average barrister undertaking publicly funded work is not wealthy. Given the demands that are made of you at the Bar – eg, long, unpredictable hours – it’s difficult to sustain the level of commitment needed when earning an average income while being coupled with hefty student debts of £60, 000.’ He worries that chambers who previously relied exclusively on publicly funded work will find it more and more difficult to accommodate pupils and tenants in their sets, leaving fewer opportunities for the junior Bar.
Now, Peter argues, there’s a real cause for concern – the government’s cuts to public funding, affecting access to legal aid in some family, education, debt, housing and immigration matters. ‘I understand why the cuts are proposed, but the average barrister undertaking publicly funded work is not wealthy. Given the demands that are made of you at the Bar – eg, long, unpredictable hours – it’s difficult to sustain the level of commitment needed when earning an average income while being coupled with hefty student debts of £60, 000.’ He worries that chambers who previously relied exclusively on publicly funded work will find it more and more difficult to accommodate pupils and tenants in their sets, leaving fewer opportunities for the junior Bar.
Diversity and determination
‘An important part of my role at the Bar Council is about encouraging diversity at the Bar, but my advice on entering the profession comes with a substantial caveat: only come to the Bar if you are <i>really<i> good. The profession is shrinking, largely due to the substantial government cuts in public spending, and it’s likely that only those with strong talent, skills and determination will be able to make a decent enough living to justify the long hours and hefty student debts in the future.’
‘An important part of my role at the Bar Council is about encouraging diversity at the Bar, but my advice on entering the profession comes with a substantial caveat: only come to the Bar if you are <i>really<i> good. The profession is shrinking, largely due to the substantial government cuts in public spending, and it’s likely that only those with strong talent, skills and determination will be able to make a decent enough living to justify the long hours and hefty student debts in the future.’
Source: Target Jobs Law Editor, 8th April 2011
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