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Barristers are entitled to hold a practising certificate upon their successful completion of pupillage. This is renewed annually and grants barristers the right to practice as barristers. All barristers with practising certificates may work as self employed or employed. The majority are self employed.
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
Total barristers in practice
14,623
14,890
15,030
15,182
15,270
All practising barristers by gender
Male
9,809
9,920
9,924
9,999
10,011
Female
4,814
4,970
5,106
5,183
5,259
All practising barristers by ethnicity
BME
1,379
1,432
1,466
1,493
1,545
White
11,155
11,347
11,421
11,580
11,721
No data
2,089
2,111
2,143
2,109
2,004
Self employed barristers
Self-employed barristers work in chambers (which employ administrative and management staff funded by members' 'rent') or work alone as sole practitioners.
All self employed barristers This includes sole practitioners and barristers practising in chambers
All self employed barristers
11,818
12,034
12,058
12,136
12,241
Sole Practitioners
Sole practitioners
281
298
309
351
391
All self employed barristers by gender
8,275
8,381
8,327
8,364
3,543
3,653
3,731
3,772
3,860
All self employed barristers by ethnicity
1,059
1,098
1,109
1,132
1,175
9,322
9,474
9,489
9,573
9,724
1,437
1,462
1,460
1,431
1,342
Employed barristers
Employed barristers are practising barristers who are employed by a 'Recognised Body', either under a contract of employment (e.g with a private company) or by virtue of an office under the Crown (such as the Crown Prosecution Service) or the institutions of the European Communities.
2,805
2,856
2,972
3,046
3,029
Employed barristers by gender
1,534
1,539
1,597
1,635
1,630
1,271
1,317
1,375
1,411
1,399
Employed barristers by ethnicity
320
334
357
361
370
1,833
1,873
1,932
2,007
1,997
652
649
683
678
662
