CILEX Lawyers There are approximately 18,000 CILEX members.
Solicitors As of April 2025, there were 171,112 practising solicitors.
Barristers
In 2024, there were 18,141 practising barristers. Of those, 14,518 were self-employed. As of December 2024, 19.4% of barristers attended an independent/fee-paying school in the UK, compared to just 6.5% of school children in England. In 2024, people from ethnic minority backgrounds made up 16.1% of all practising barristers. Mostly self-employed, so receive irregular (but often substantial) fees.
More than 60% of solicitors attended a state school, while 20% attended independent/ fee-paying schools.
CILEX reports that 77% of its members attended a state school.
People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds make up 19% of all solicitors, and 17% at partner level. Mostly employed in private law firms or in-house, so receive a regular monthly salary.
People from ethnic minority backgrounds make up around 16% of all CILEX members.
Mostly employed in private law firms or in-house, so receive a regular monthly salary.
Work mainly with individuals, companies and barristers.
Work mainly with solicitors and other barristers.
Work mainly with solicitors and individuals.
Office-based, although have some rights of audience (ie, can appear in court like barristers). Engage more in ongoing advisory and one-to- one client work.
Chambers and court-based. Engage more in one-off advocacy (ie, court cases).
Office-based, although have some of the same rights of audience as solicitors. Engage more in ongoing advisory and one-to-one client work.
Some solicitors aspire to become partner – that is,
Aspire to become KC – a top barrister, normally instructed in serious and complex cases.
Should they choose to do so, they can go on to become coroners, judges or partners.
part ownership of a firm and entitlement to a percentage of its profits. Trainee salaries vary widely. A small firm could pay first-year trainees around £23,000. Trainees at regional firms earn around £27,000 to £37,000, while City firms pay from £35,000 to as much as £70,000 for second-year trainees.
In 2025, all pupil barristers must be paid a minimum of £22,019 (outside London) or £24,203 (in London). Many earn much more – upwards of £50,000 in some cases.
The average salary for a CILEX student is around £32,000, increasing to more than £58,000 for CILEX Lawyers, although this can be significantly higher if you progress to become a partner or senior legal professional.
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