In recent years the employed Bar has increased in both size and significance. The Access to Justice Act 1999 has created vast new opportunities for barristers employed by firms of solicitors, in Government Departments or in private industry. All practising barristers can now enjoy full rights of audience. The vast majority of barristers called each year do not pursue careers within chambers. Curiously though, many freshly qualified barristers, particularly those who have not yet experienced life outside academia, have only a vague notion of what it is like to be an in-house counsel. That is not to say that the role is easily defined. Indeed the role is often as wide as the barrister is prepared to make it. Upon qualification as a barrister an informed choice needs to be made between practising as a self-employed barrister in chambers and practising as an employed barrister within commerce, finance and industry or within the Crown Prosecution Service or the Government Legal Service. The main five options for barristers tend to be working with the CPS, the GLS, commercial in-house legal teams or solicitors' firms or as justices' clerks. Other options available at the employed bar are with other government areas like the Foreign Office or local authorities, insurance companies, non-governmental organisation lawyers, international organisation lawyers or law centres. In contrast to the independent Bar, employed practice offers financial security in the form of a salary - particularly in the early years. Most overheads at the employed Bar are met by employers, thus relieving personal financial pressure. Other benefits include pension contributions, sick pay, paid holidays, career breaks, part-time working, company car and so on. Unlike barristers in private practice an employed barrister will seldom be short of work. He is likely to complain that there is too much work to do! Whilst the high workload is not the function of reward it does enable employed barristers to gain invaluable experience at an early stage in their career in a wide range of areas and often leads to them finding more lucrative positions elsewhere within the employed Bar market. The employed Bar provides an excellent opportunity for barristers to gain more concentrated legal experience. The scope for employed pupillage is beginning to expand and will in future be the hallmark of the employed Bar. Employed pupillage is salaried - an attractive benefit compared to the independent Bar at present. Susan Ward and Clifford Allison: Chairman and vice-chairman of the Employed Barristers' Committee of the Bar Council. | 
