Report comment

While I appreciate the AGFS is the focus of discussion, getting to the point at the junior bar where the AGFS applies is already financially inviable.

Prior to crown court work, the pay for a pupil/newly qualified barrister is about £60 a day. This is appalling for a working week that can stretch to 70+ hours and includes working on Saturdays (working week includes travel and preparation time). It works out to be about £4 an hour.

The incentive to stay in the profession is purely on the basis of intellectual stimulation and personal interest in the work. On a financial level, there is no incentive to stay, and every incentive to leave. I could earn more working in Lidl...part-time.

I know I won't be staying at the criminal bar when my pupillage ends. There are things I want to do in my life and being a criminal barrister is a barrier to most of them...buying a home, starting a family, enjoying a work/life balance, none of this is possible while being a criminal barrister and while I love the job and enjoy the work, it is not enough to give up all of those things.