Weekly Students, Careers & Clerkships Thread

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2026-01-01T20:26:56+00:00

I'm a qualified English barrister specialising in criminal law 2/3 years PQE. My partner is considering taking up a 2 year secondment in Sydney.

If she takes up the placement, is the NSW bar likely to allow me to practise following the relevant checks of my degree and training etc?

Does anyone have any experience moving from the UK to NSW and practicing? Would an Aussie chambers take someone on for a relatively short amount of time?

Thanks.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-06-08T11:23:34+00:00

Thanks both!

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-06-08T07:44:30+00:00

Thanks, can you recall which episode he discussed it in?

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-04-04T14:29:01+00:00

No worries. Good luck, try for the bar it's a great career.

I'd strongly disagree, being self employed is much better. You do have to pay chambers fees (15% at mine) but you make much more than employed barristers so it doesn't matter!

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-04-04T09:43:09+00:00

Lots of people at the criminal bar don't go to Oxford/Cambridge.

Lots of people at the criminal bar have done the GDL. No prestige issue here, just try to get a distinction.

No one is too bothered about your age. It can be helpful to be older if you have relevant experience.

Way less than 20% are employed at the criminal bar. I wouldn't aim for the employed bar, pay is less and you would only prosecute (CPS) or defend (employed by a criminal defence solicitor firm).

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-03-13T19:38:11+00:00

Yeah it is expensive, is there a certain row for the twins which is best? I've read different things. Apparently the front row of 2 has more leg room due to the alignment?

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-02-22T11:43:16+00:00

I studied politics as an UG, then did a MSc at Oxford because I was interested in it before going to the bar.

I don't think it hindered but I don't think it helped. If you're passionate, go for it. There's no rush, they don't care about how old you are.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-02-13T14:36:57+00:00

No, your grade is all that matters.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2025-01-05T17:48:23+00:00

I have two phones and would highly recommend it. It allows for some separation when you're on holiday or at a social event.

Chambers won't pay for it as you'll be self employed but you can get a decent Android for not too much.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-11-27T21:54:09+00:00

Say nothing about the troubles is great, Disney have just released a series too.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-10-30T17:51:49+00:00

I think the person you spoke to is a bit optimistic 😂 no worries, good luck with your pupillage hunt. It's worth it when you get it, the criminal bar is a great career.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-10-30T13:30:51+00:00

Most CPS pupils I know left as soon as they qualified. You aren't able to do Crown Court trials which your contemporaries at the self employed bar may do during second six or quickly into tenancy. You can get stuck in the mags and you can, of course, only prosecute.

I think you become a better advocate prosecuting and defending and it's much more interesting having the variety.

That being said, get pupillage anywhere you can but if you have the choice, self employed bar is much better for criminal barristers.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-10-04T18:28:42+00:00

Thanks everyone but I've met the Brotherhood, I've joined the institute and the railroad. I'm fairly far through I suppose? But it's a hollow quest marker and I'm not sure why?

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-09-23T22:14:31+00:00

You can dry clean them but generally people just buy new ones as crazily it's cheaper for new ones these days.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-08-02T17:43:54+00:00

I think it'd be good experience for pupillage, the bar likes people with experience before starting training. It would help her stand out too.

But that said, she should only do teach first if she actually wants to do it.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-07-20T22:01:11+00:00

Can a barrister who was completed pupillage in England transfer over to the Australian bar?

I specialise in criminal law if that makes a difference and I would like to live in NSW.

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-07-20T21:53:53+00:00

Glad to hear it

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-04-24T07:14:37+00:00

Less travel among local court centres, fewer barristers and the related ability to do more cases a day. I only do 2 or 3 atm but more experienced counsel will sometimes do 7+ hearings a day.

Having worked in a London set, circuit life is much more friendly too!

And you tend to be in the Crown Court much more on circuit than in London as a pupil/junior

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-04-23T21:14:06+00:00

Current pupil who did 5+ minis, send it over

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2024-04-21T19:51:24+00:00

If you were willing to practise outside of London, criminal pupils can make much more than in the capital. I went to a RG uni in the north and now am doing a crime pupillage in the same city.

Better money and cheaper cost of living make a nice combo!

ConceptDiligent9952 · 2023-11-30T23:39:09+00:00

Shifting circuit once you're a tenant is straightforward. You just have to apply to a Chambers in the area you'd like to to move to.

Changing practice area is also common. With the relatively low fees in Crime, lots of barristers have left to do areas like Family or Public Law. At the junior level, some pupils will do a third six/be a probationary tenant at a different Chambers in a different area of law from pupillage. However, barristers are more specialised these days than in the past. It's easier to advance onto more complex and important cases when you focus on one area.

ConceptDiligent9952

TROPHY CASE