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Wigs are upwards of £500. Gowns are pricey too, but the real problem is working in a different location every day. These things tend to wear out quicker than you'd think when stuffed into a bag every day. Also barristers on the whole are not very wealthy. A small minority do very well, but the majority of purely criminal barristers are on criminally low incomes. It's a do it for the love, not the money job. Trust me!
I can't give you a direct answer, but I can pose the question: If you were on trial would you prefer to see jurors who look like they are serious about where they are and what they are doing and have dressed accordingly, or would you prefer to see people in tracksuits looking scruffy? A man can never be overdressed!
fossilfuelled said:
I can't give you a direct answer, but I can pose the question: If you were on trial would you prefer to see jurors who look like they are serious about where they are and what they are doing and have dressed accordingly, or would you prefer to see people in tracksuits looking scruffy? A man can never be overdressed!
I suspect for the majority of people in the dock they would be horrified to look to a jury and see a "suit" that they cannot identify with at all.prand said:
Interesting.
I'm due on jury duty next week. Not quite sure what to wear. I was just going to be in cmfy clothes (smart casual) rather than really dress up (suit/shirt/tie). Any thoughts?
Smart casual is fine.I'm due on jury duty next week. Not quite sure what to wear. I was just going to be in cmfy clothes (smart casual) rather than really dress up (suit/shirt/tie). Any thoughts?
Also take a book/something to occupy your time ( you may not be selected)
fossilfuelled said:
Wigs are upwards of £500. Gowns are pricey too, but the real problem is working in a different location every day. These things tend to wear out quicker than you'd think when stuffed into a bag every day. Also barristers on the whole are not very wealthy. A small minority do very well, but the majority of purely criminal barristers are on criminally low incomes. It's a do it for the love, not the money job. Trust me!
prand said:
Interesting.
I'm due on jury duty next week. Not quite sure what to wear. I was just going to be in cmfy clothes (smart casual) rather than really dress up (suit/shirt/tie). Any thoughts?
something comfortable as you'll end up sitting in a waiting room for frickin ages! I'm due on jury duty next week. Not quite sure what to wear. I was just going to be in cmfy clothes (smart casual) rather than really dress up (suit/shirt/tie). Any thoughts?
jeans / casual shirt or polo seemed the general dress code for when I done it - we had one older gentleman turn up in a full 3 piece suit and tie
Shnozz said:
And its an interesting (rhetorical) question.. can a man be overdressed? Outside of Kingsman, is it really the case in the real world? I do think you can alienate people by dressing too up as much as you can too down, as much in business as in personal lives.
I think a man can be, but the corollary is "if in doubt dress up not down". I'm not sure you can get done for contempt of court for rocking up in your best PH Tshirt (https://www.shotdeadinthehead.com/wasnt-me-t-shirt.html), never mind a Judge Dredd cosplay, for jury service but I wouldn't push it.When I worked in the courts my normal attire was a dark lounge suit with a (work supplied) gown. The clerks in the Court of Session however had to wear a wig. Few liked this.
On special occasions (jury trials & fatal accident inquiries) I wore a morning suit (grey & black pinstripe trousers, black waistcoat, black jacket and a white shirt with a silver grey tie. I actually looked quite smart for a change...normally I was/am one who isn't that bothered about fashion!
The suit was a good buy - only £70 from Slaters.
On special occasions (jury trials & fatal accident inquiries) I wore a morning suit (grey & black pinstripe trousers, black waistcoat, black jacket and a white shirt with a silver grey tie. I actually looked quite smart for a change...normally I was/am one who isn't that bothered about fashion!
The suit was a good buy - only £70 from Slaters.
sparkythecat said:
fossilfuelled said:
Wigs are upwards of £500. Gowns are pricey too, but the real problem is working in a different location every day. These things tend to wear out quicker than you'd think when stuffed into a bag every day. Also barristers on the whole are not very wealthy. A small minority do very well, but the majority of purely criminal barristers are on criminally low incomes. It's a do it for the love, not the money job. Trust me!
This table shows earnings in 1st and 2nd year, gathered from a number of leading law firms. Doesn't seem too bad for beginners.
Earnings (Year 1) Earnings (Year 2)
Commercial £40,000 - £100,000 £70,000 - £200,000
Public £20,000 - £80,000 £40,000 - £100,000
Crime £10,000 - £40,000 £40,000 - £70,000
Family £20,000 - £50,000 £40,000 - £90,000
General Civil £20,000 - £50,000 £40,000 - £100,000
Chancery £30,000 - £100,000 £60,000 - £200,000
(Last updated: December 2016)
REALIST123 said:
sparkythecat said:
fossilfuelled said:
Wigs are upwards of £500. Gowns are pricey too, but the real problem is working in a different location every day. These things tend to wear out quicker than you'd think when stuffed into a bag every day. Also barristers on the whole are not very wealthy. A small minority do very well, but the majority of purely criminal barristers are on criminally low incomes. It's a do it for the love, not the money job. Trust me!
This table shows earnings in 1st and 2nd year, gathered from a number of leading law firms. Doesn't seem too bad for beginners.
Earnings (Year 1) Earnings (Year 2)
Commercial £40,000 - £100,000 £70,000 - £200,000
Public £20,000 - £80,000 £40,000 - £100,000
Crime £10,000 - £40,000 £40,000 - £70,000
Family £20,000 - £50,000 £40,000 - £90,000
General Civil £20,000 - £50,000 £40,000 - £100,000
Chancery £30,000 - £100,000 £60,000 - £200,000
(Last updated: December 2016)
jm doc said:
REALIST123 said:
sparkythecat said:
fossilfuelled said:
Wigs are upwards of £500. Gowns are pricey too, but the real problem is working in a different location every day. These things tend to wear out quicker than you'd think when stuffed into a bag every day. Also barristers on the whole are not very wealthy. A small minority do very well, but the majority of purely criminal barristers are on criminally low incomes. It's a do it for the love, not the money job. Trust me!
This table shows earnings in 1st and 2nd year, gathered from a number of leading law firms. Doesn't seem too bad for beginners.
Earnings (Year 1) Earnings (Year 2)
Commercial £40,000 - £100,000 £70,000 - £200,000
Public £20,000 - £80,000 £40,000 - £100,000
Crime £10,000 - £40,000 £40,000 - £70,000
Family £20,000 - £50,000 £40,000 - £90,000
General Civil £20,000 - £50,000 £40,000 - £100,000
Chancery £30,000 - £100,000 £60,000 - £200,000
(Last updated: December 2016)
This is more realistic I would say for the bar with the median earnings of £56k - which after deduction of fees nets a salary (pre tax) of £28k.
https://www.legalcheek.com/2015/12/crime-doesnt-pa...
And that is the median salary, so many will earn below that as a criminal barrister.
Shnozz said:
No idea where those figures were lifted from but "leading law firms" suggest its for solicitors and not barristers anyway.
This is more realistic I would say for the bar with the median earnings of £56k - which after deduction of fees nets a salary (pre tax) of £28k.
https://www.legalcheek.com/2015/12/crime-doesnt-pa...
And that is the median salary, so many will earn below that as a criminal barrister.
Yeah I ignored the little violin as amusing as it is, because whilst some people are happy to rely on bullsThis is more realistic I would say for the bar with the median earnings of £56k - which after deduction of fees nets a salary (pre tax) of £28k.
https://www.legalcheek.com/2015/12/crime-doesnt-pa...
And that is the median salary, so many will earn below that as a criminal barrister.
t gleaned from the Net, I'm able to rely on the experiences and first hand observations of dozens of friends who are at earlier stages of their careers in criminal law. £12k- £20k isn't unusual for the first few years. Forget the earnings, the real issue is most have aged debt far beyond what a normal business would tolerate. Some solicitors are terrible at paying! Friends have cases from 8+ months ago that are yet to be paid. Yet all travel expenses have to come out of their pockets in advanced! Train companies don't accept payment on account! Try taking a train from central London to somewhere like Leeds one day, then Norwich the next, then Exeter etc. The costs add up, and when the money isn't reimbursed quickly, things get dire. I'm not complaining, I'm not a barrister! My wife however...Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff