To ask a barrister how much they earn?

[Cheesebomble]

Of course I'm being unreasonable

But I reaaaallllly want to know!

I work in the legal industry but amongst solicitors mainly. We deal with barristers regularly and there seems to be such a variation in lifestyle. I know other factors can play a part, obviously, and I know the longer qualified you are the more money you can demand.

So how much (roughly) does a barrister 0 - 5 years PQE working in civil/family earn?

I will add to that sum for anyone who answers.

This is all so interesting, thank you.

I'm at a bit of crossroads. I had always planned on going down the barrister route (I have a law degree and llm) and have been working as a paralegal amongst solicitors for a couple of years gaining experience.

I've been very lucky with my firm as they're the dominant firm in the area so have an enormous work flow yet they're small enough for me to handle all areas of a file. The work I most enjoy doing is always the stuff that gets passed onto the barristers - the legal research, independent thinking, meticulous drafting, advocacy (although I've only experienced this on a very low level).

The work my qualified colleagues (solicitors) do, however, I just can't see myself doing and enjoying for the rest of my life and it feels quite suffocating. It may seem silly but I don't want to go to the same building everyday with the same people 9-7 for the next 30 years. Although, from what I'm seeing on this thread I could probably earn more if I stuck with my firm and I know I have a training contract and career sorted whereas becoming a barrister is so risky and, unless your QC/niche/top commercial, it doesn't earn you that much more.

Thanks for the honesty, it is most refreshing!