2411 Barristers and judges

In short

• ONS unit group 2411, in minor group 241 (Legal professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 1, Table 2.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £59,400 (£30.46 per hour)
  • Table 2, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £37,000 (£18.97 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

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 entry routes

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.

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

Related job titles

• Advocate
• Barrister
• Chairman (appeals tribunal, inquiry)
• Coroner
• Crown prosecutor
• District judge
• Legal advocate
• Sherriff (Scottish Courts)

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2411 Barristers and judges

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Barristers and advocates
• Judges
• Barristers and judges not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£59,400 (£30.46 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

£53,500 (£27.44 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

£47,500 (£24.36 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£41,600 (£21.33 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Table 2: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on 25th percentile Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2411 Barristers and judges

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2412

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Barristers and advocates
• Judges
• Barristers and judges not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£37,000 (£18.97 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

£33,300 (£17.08 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

£29,600 (£15.18 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,900 (£13.28 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Other unit groups in minor group 241

• 2412 Solicitors and lawyers
• 2419 Legal professionals n.e.c.

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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