Barristers

Since Farrar Levin began operating in 2011, we have seen an increasing number of Barristers making this type of move and they can be potentially utilised in a number of different ways.

Firstly, private practice law firms may take on a Barrister to become an in-house (‘Employed’) Barrister for that law firm and they continue to operate in a very similar way as they did in Chambers, advocating in court on behalf of the firms’ clients.

Secondly, a Barrister may make the move to a Litigation or Regulatory department in a given law firm to undertake a mixed role whereby they operate as both Solicitor and, when required, also as an Advocate.

Finally, a Barrister might secure a role at a law firm, consciously moving away from advocacy completely and securing a role which involves operating in a way more akin to that of a solicitor. In such instances, many go on to undertake the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination), in order to become admitted to the Law Society of England & Wales as a qualified solicitor.

We assist Barristers at all levels of experience, from those who have only recently completed Pupillage right through to those who have spent decades at the Bar.

We can provide advice and guidance on everything relating to the recruitment process. This can include anything from providing practical information relating to any or all of the law firms you might wish to consider during your job search through to imparting advice at offer stage and conducting package and salary negotiations on your behalf.

Working offshore

In addition to considering opportunities in the England & Wales jurisdiction, you may also wish to consider opportunities based offshore, either in the Channel Islands or, further afield, in Bermuda or the Caribbean.

In Jersey and Guernsey, you would need to re-qualify as a Jersey or Guernsey lawyer in order to be able to advocate in the courts (the law firm you join would support you in doing this both in organising the required tuition and enabling study leave when required prior to sitting the exams). However, no re-qualification is required if you were happy to move to a Solicitor role.

In Bermuda, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman Islands, the requirements to become qualified in these jurisdictions are all slightly different but all relatively straight forward and no study or sitting of examinations is required. Once qualification is obtained (through one sort of administrative process or another) then the Barrister in question is free to advocate in the courts. Again, non-Advocacy, Solicitor-type roles are also open to Barristers in these jurisdictions.