calling all barristers

a-ha

Sure there will be the odd unusual individual who will survive without connections. The question should not be is it possible because there will always be rare individuals who can overcome unbearable odds but rather is it likely? If it is next to impossible (highly unlikely) that a person without connections in the legal profession will survive their first five years of practice, then there is something wrong with the bar and the sole trader model to which no alternative has been allowed. What about freedom of contract? The rules say masters shall not exploit devils but also that they may not pay them. The bar council rules also forbid the formation of partnerships and chambers which work well in the uk (a near identical legal system from which our own evolved). In chambers devils are paid, the clerk chases up unpaid fees (late or non payment is a big problem for all barristers). Administrative tasks are not left to individual barristers(in Ireland junior sole traders do all their own secretarial work also. Why can't we have the freedom to choose our own business model, sole trader or otherwise?

johnnyskeleton

a-ha wrote: »

Sure there will be the odd unusual individual who will survive without connections. The question should not be is it possible because there will always be rare individuals who can overcome unbearable odds but rather is it likely? If it is next to impossible (highly unlikely) that a person without connections in the legal profession will survive their first five years of practice, then there is something wrong with the bar and the sole trader model to which no alternative has been allowed.

You have not demonstrated that it is either next to impossible or highly unlikely that a person without connections in the legal profession will survive. Perhaps I should clarify - when you say connections I take that to mean relatives in the legal profession who will help you out. But there are other kinds of contacts - the contacts that you build up for yourself. Obviously a barrister will not survive if no solicitors brief him or her, so in that sense contacts are necessary. But you do not need to come to the bar with contacts, they are something you acquire when there. You acquire them by impressing solicitors & other barristers.

a-ha wrote: »

What about freedom of contract? The rules say masters shall not exploit devils but also that they may not pay them.

Some masters give money to their devils or pay for their fees etc. Others will let their devils send out fee notes for work that they did. Finally, some masters will hand work over to their devil(s) after the deviling period. So in some cases some level of remuneration passes between the two.

a-ha wrote: »

The bar council rules also forbid the formation of partnerships and chambers which work well in the uk (a near identical legal system from which our own evolved). In chambers devils are paid, the clerk chases up unpaid fees (late or non payment is a big problem for all barristers). Administrative tasks are not left to individual barristers(in Ireland junior sole traders do all their own secretarial work also. Why can't we have the freedom to choose our own business model, sole trader or otherwise?

That's a matter for a different thread - there was a thread about whether barristers should have chambers in Ireland and if you want to discuss it you should resurrect that thread. Suffice it to say for the purposes of this thread, the introduction of chambers or partnerships would not automatically mean that devils would get paid, nor is it true to say that chambers/partnership is the only way in which devils could get paid.