England: More than a third of criminal barristers considering other careers

Almost 50 per cent of those thinking about leaving cite funding as their main concern.

The one third of the criminal bar thinking of dropping out compares to 24 per cent of barristers across the profession thinking of quitting, researchers at the Bar Council found.

Family lawyers are also unhappy, with 28 per cent pointing to legal aid and funding problems and 49 per cent citing stress and excessive workloads, while 54 per cent gave poor work-life balance as their reasons for considering leaving the profession.

Barristers also said they were emotionally drained, with almost 60 per cent declaring their work was too stressful. Sixty-six per cent of the family bar cited unsustainable work pressure.

Andrew Walker, QC, chairman of the Bar Council, said: “There is a notable difference between those practising in crime — and, to a degree, in family work — and the rest of the Bar.

“The evidence in this report will be used widely, both by the Bar Council and others, to inform debate and policy making and to support the long-term health of the profession and the interests of the public and of the clients we serve.”