EMPLOYED

8,700

PART-TIME SHARE

11%

FEMALE SHARE

41%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

N/A

MEDIAN AGE

42

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

-300

Barristers plead cases before civil, criminal and industrial courts and other tribunals.

  • Receiving written information in the form of briefs and verbal instructions concerning cases from Solicitors, other specialist Legal Professionals and clients
  • Providing advice and written opinions on points of law
  • Conferring with clients and witnesses in preparation for court proceedings
  • Drawing up pleadings, affidavits and other court documents
  • Researching statutes and previous court decisions relevant to cases
  • Outlining the facts to the court, calling and questioning witnesses, and making addresses to the court to argue a client's case
  • Providing opinion on complex legal issues
  • May draw up or settle documents
On this page

    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report. Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Barristers All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 89% 70%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 48 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week N/A $1,697
    Median hourly earnings N/A $43

    Industries

    Barristers work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    30.1%

    Victoria

    32.9%

    Queensland

    20.0%

    South Australia

    2.5%

    Tasmania

    1.7%

    Northern Territory

    1.5%

    Australian Capital Territory

    2.4%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, August 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Barristers All Occupations
    Median age 42 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 41% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Barristers
    15–19 5.2 0.4
    20–24 9.1 0.9
    25–34 22.7 18.8
    35–44 22.3 27.9
    45–54 20.4 23.7
    55–59 8.8 9.4
    60–64 6.5 7.2
    65 and Over 4.9 11.7

    Education

    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Barristers
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 37.3
    Bachelor degree 23.2 53.8
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 4.2
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 0.9
    Year 12 15.9 1.9
    Year 11 4.0 0.3
    Year 10 and below 9.7 0.3

    This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

    Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

    Occupation profiles data - August 2024.xlsx

    occupation_profiles_data_-_august_2024.xlsx9088333

    Download

    Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.