SOC 2020 · 2411
Barristers and judges
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Eligible
This occupation appears on Appendix Skilled Occupations.
Salary floor
£59,400
The going rate, £59,400, is the higher of the two.
Shortage lists
Not listed
This code is on neither the Immigration Salary List nor the Temporary Shortage List.
Salary the job must pay
A Skilled Worker job must pay at least the higher of the general threshold and the going rate for its occupation code.
Going rate (standard)
£59,400
General threshold
£41,700
Visa thresholds from
Minimum for this role
£59,400
Home Office going rates from
New entrants and some other cases can use 70% of the going rate, £41,600, subject to the lower general threshold of £33,400.
What this occupation actually pays
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, full-time gross annual pay.
- UK pay for this occupation
- Going rate£59,400
- General threshold£41,700
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 25th | £30,085 |
| 50th | £50,915 |
| Going rate | £59,400 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | — | £30,085 | £50,915 | — | — |
| West Midlands 2025 | — | — | £73,570 | — | — |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Barristers and judges prepare and conduct court cases on behalf of clients, preside over judicial proceedings, and pronounce judgements within a variety of court settings and tribunals.
Typical tasks
becomes acquainted with the facts of a case through reading statements, law reports, and consulting with clients or other professionals
advises client on the basis of legal knowledge, research and past precedent as to whether to proceed with legal action
drafts pleadings and questions in preparation for court cases, appears in court to present evidence to the judge and jury, cross examines witnesses and sums up why the court should decide in their client’s favour
hears, reads and evaluates evidence, and instructs or advises the jury on points of law or procedure
conducts trials according to rules of procedure, announces the verdict and passes sentence and/or awards costs and damages
Entry routes and qualifications
Entry to training requires a qualifying law degree or postgraduate diploma. Entrants then undertake a one year Bar Professional Training Course followed by pupillage in one of the Inns of Court. The system for training of advocates in Scotland requires a postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, followed by two years’ training as a solicitor and period of professional training lasting several months. The position of judge is obtained by appointment of those who have substantial post-qualifying experience in legal practice.