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In terms of the numerous barristers I've dealt with over the years, most have been very down to earth and not remotely precious about what they do, other than wanting to ensure that they have plenty of work coming in! Also, many are former solicitors, surveyors, doctors and the like. Moving forwards, that is surely going to be increasingly common as the bar's overall workload contracts.

As an aside, how many of us know solicitors who couldn't obtain pupillage after their bar course and then simply qualified as solicitors without any formal training or extra qualifications by working on the job? I appreciate that this gaping loophole has now closed, but it speaks of the culture of subtle snobbery that has clearly existed for eons in the professions in this country which, judging by this article, is still around.