Barrister
Shortage Now
JSA currently reports no national or state/territory shortage signal for this occupation.
Snapshot
Median salary
Not available
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Pleads cases before civil, criminal and industrial courts and other tribunals.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Receives briefs and verbal instructions concerning cases from solicitors, other specialist legal professionals, and clients
- Provides advice and written opinions on points of law
- Confers with clients and witnesses in preparation for court proceedings
- Draws up pleadings, affidavits and other court documents
- Researches statutes and previous court decisions relevant to cases
- Outlines the facts to the court, calls and questions witnesses, and makes addresses to the court to argue a client's case
- May draw up or settle documents
Credentials & Pathway
OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing is required.
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
6
ACT · May 2026
4
VIC · May 2026
13
NT · May 2026
1
SA · May 2026
1
NSW · May 2026
23
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+12%
1,021 projected jobs
to 2035
+21%
1,826 projected jobs
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Barrister.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Brisbane Inner City
767 estimated employed
- 1
Brisbane Inner City
767 employed
QLD
+0.39%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - Eastern Suburbs
734 employed
NSW
+22.13%
year on year
- 3
Melbourne - Inner
733 employed
VIC
-17.64%
year on year
- 4
Sydney - City and Inner South
647 employed
NSW
+12.13%
year on year
- 5
Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
614 employed
NSW
+18.53%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
1,315
Moved in from another occupation
310
Moved to another occupation
395
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 281131
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List matched via ABS OSCA 2024 v1.0 correspondence Table 2
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
Data confidence: official-profile-and-csol.