Barrister - Pay and progression

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Pay

Salaries vary, but barristers usually earn between $42,000 and $130,000 a year, depending on experience, the success of their practice and the amount of money they charge clients.

Salaries for barristers in New Zealand (2008)
Number of years' experienceAverage remuneration package
One year post-admission$42,000 – $55,000
Two years post-admission$53,000 – $68,000
Three years post-admission$60,000 – $85,000
Four years post-admission$70,000 – $105,000
Five years post-admission$80,000 – $120,000
Six years post-admission$90,000 – $130,000
Source: Hays Accountancy & Finance Sector Commentary, Legal.

According to the 2006 Census, barristers earned an average of $88,000 a year and worked an average of 44 hours per week. This includes full and part-time workers.

This information is provided as a guide only

Career Progression

Barristers may go on to work in international courts or as legal representatives overseas.

One example of how you may progress through this job is shown in the table below.


 

Graduate barrister

Type of training or experience

  • A Bachelor of Laws
  • Acceptance to the roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand.

Barrister

Type of training or experience

  • Postgraduate Professional Legal Studies qualification
  • Continuing legal training through the New Zealand Law Society

Judge or Queen's Counsel

Type of training or experience

  • At least seven years' experience as a barrister and/or solicitor

Key tasks or responsibilities

Graduates provide support to barristers.

Key tasks or responsibilities

Barristers give legal advice to solicitors and solicitors' clients. They also prepare and present cases in courts, tribunals and to committees.

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Meet people

Key tasks or responsibilities

Queen's Counsels perform barristers' tasks for the Crown.

Judges listen to evidence and legal arguments, guide juries, and decide legal cases or receive juries' decisions. They also pass sentence on people who are convicted.

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Updated May 2009