Latest ABS data on legal services shows barristers in the black for FY2007-08

24/06/2009

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a report on the state of the legal services industry for 2007-2008. According to ABS 8667.0, at the end of June 2008 there were 3,869 barristers operating businesses in Australia, generating income of $1.4b during the 2007-08 financial year, and incurred incurred expenses of $388.1m for the same period. Barristers derived the majority of their fee income from commercial law, which accounted for 27.3 per cent of total fee income (or $377.7m), and whilst crime doesn't pay as much (11.8 per cent of fee income, or $162.6m), it seems to do better than environmental law or wills and probate (each less than five per cent of fee income).

**24 June 2009 **