Why do barristers wear wigs and how much is the average salary?
The court system is at the heart of the UK – but, over the coming weeks, it’s being ground to a halt as barristers walk out on strikes over legal aid funding.
The action is set to cause legal chaos and pile-on to the white wig-wearing lawyers’ huge backlog of cases left in limbo when Covid-19 closed the courts.
But why do barristers wear the iconic toupees, and how much does the prestigious profession pay?
Here is everything you need to know.
Why do barristers wear wigs?
Wigs have been a key part of the uniform for those working in British courts since the late 1600s.
The introduction of the headgear wasn’t a new law created to dictate a dress code or an order from the monarch – it was for the sake of fashion.
According to the Judiciary – the official website for courts and tribunals in England and Wales – wigs first appeared in court ’purely and simply because that’s what was being worn outside’.
Until the seventeenth century, lawyers were expected to appear in court with clean, short hair and beards.
However, the reign of Charles II in the mid-1600s made wigs an essential part of dress for polite society, and it soon found its way into the courtroom.
Since being fully adopted in 1685, wearing wigs has been regarded as a symbol of power and respect for the law.
Today, refusing to wear a wig in the courtroom is seen as an insult to the courts and the history of the legal profession.
How much is the average salary of a barrister?
Barristers are walking out on strikes in June and July over a dispute about legal aid funding, which has been cut significantly over the past 10 years.
The CBA said its members ‘have been feeling mistreated, undervalued and overwhelmed for a decade or more’ – but how much are they paid to take on the high-stress role?
The average salary for a senior barrister in the UK is £40,300 per year – over 200% higher than the national average, according to a release from Jobted.
Top barristers with years of experience, however, can be paid up to £200,000.
This doesn’t include bonus payments and income from profit sharing, which can amount to thousands each year.
Pupil barristers are afforded a minimum wage of £12,000 for the year of pupillage – although most chambers pay competitive rates, with some paying in excess of £50,000 for the year of pupillage.
During the first year of qualification barristers can expect to bring in anything from £12,000 to £90,000 dependant on their line of work, according to The Lawyer Portal.
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