Barrister
What is the work like?
Barristers give specialist legal advice to solicitors and other professional clients, and represent individuals and organisations in court, at tribunals or public enquiries.
As a barrister, your work would typically involve:
- meeting solicitors and other professionals who are consulting you on behalf of their clients
- taking on cases (known as 'briefs')
- researching points of law from previous similar cases
- providing written opinions on cases and legal matters
- advising solicitors and other professionals
- preparing cases for court, by reading witness statements and reports
- preparing legal arguments to use in court or at tribunals
- representing clients in court – presenting the case to the judge and jury, cross-examining witnesses and summing up.
You would specialise in one particular area of law, which would determine the amount of time you spent in court. For example, as a criminal law specialist in private practice or for the Crown Prosecution Service, you would spend most of your time preparing for cases and presenting in court.
Alternatively, if you specialised in civil law (family law, property and torts) or chancery law (company law, tax, wills, trusts, and estates), you would mainly do office-based advisory work.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To become a barrister, you must complete two stages of training – academic and vocational.
You can complete the academic stage by gaining either one of the following:
- an approved law degree at class 2:2 or above
- a degree at 2:2 or above in any other subject, followed by a postgraduate Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
See the Bar Council website for more information about law degrees and postgraduate courses.
To get onto a qualifying law degree, you normally need three A levels with good grades, plus at least five GCSEs (A-C). Alternative qualifications such as an Access to Higher Education course may be accepted. You may also need to pass the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) for a law degree at some universities. You should check exact entry requirements with individual course providers.
Most barristers begin training straight after getting their law degree, but this is not essential.
Competition is strong for all stages of barrister training, so any relevant work experience can improve your chances. In particular, you may have an advantage if you can find a mini-pupillage, a short period of work experience and shadowing in chambers.
What further training and development can I do?
After you have completed the academic stage, you must pass further vocational training to qualify to practise as a barrister. This involves:
- joining one of the four Inns of Court
- completing a one-year full-time or two-year part-time Bar Vocational Course (BVC), and 12 qualifying sessions (educational activities) with your Inn. After this you will qualify, which is known as being ‘called to bar’
- spending 12 months in ‘pupillage’, which is practical training with an experienced barrister. You will spend six months shadowing and six months on supervised practice, and take formal training courses in advocacy and advice to counsel.
You must also take a forensic accountancy course, either during pupillage or in your first three years of practice. See the Bar Standards Board website for full information about the vocational stage and pupillage.
Once you have qualified, you should also take part in regular continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career. See the Bar Council website for more information about CPD requirements.
After at least ten years of practice, you could apply to 'take silk' and become a Queen's Counsel (senior barrister), or become a judge.
Where can I go for more information?
London
WC1V 7HZ
Tel: 020 7242 0082
http://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Salaries during pupillage are at least £10,000 a year.
- In the first few years of practice, earnings can be anywhere between £25,000 and £200,000 a year, depending on specialism and reputation.
- Salaries in the Crown Prosecution Service are between £28,000 and £60,000.
- Top earnings in private practice can reach £750,000 a year or more.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your working hours would often be long and include evenings and weekends, particularly at the start of your career.
In private practice, you would share offices known as 'chambers' with other barristers, and divide your time between chambers and court. As an employed barrister, you would be based at your employer's offices with occasional travel to meetings, court or tribunals as necessary.
When in court you would wear formal dress including a wig and gown, otherwise smart business dress is expected.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent communication and advocacy skills
- good research and writing skills
- confidence at public speaking
- the ability to analyse large amounts of information
- a logical approach and a high degree of attention to detail
- the ability to work well under pressure
- discretion, for working with confidential information
- the ability to avoid becoming emotionally involved in cases.
What opportunities are there?
Most barristers (around 80%) work from chambers in private practice and are self-employed.
Alternatively, you could choose the 'employed Bar' – either practising full-time for one employer such as the Government Legal Service or Crown Prosecution Service, or working as a legal adviser in companies or magistrates’ courts.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
Online Pupillages Application Scheme
The Lawyer
Legal Week
LawCareers.net
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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