BECOMING A

01
 The Bar Council
Supported by the Council of the Inns of Court

INTRODUCTION
Choosing to become a barrister
opens up the possibility of embarking
upon one of the most dynamic and
challenging careers available.

This brochure will introduce you to life as a barrister.

It will provide you with the information you need to
help you decide whether or not a career at ‘the Bar’
(as the profession is commonly known) would be
the right choice for you. It will explain the necessary
steps towards this career path, how and when you
need to take them, and where you can find support
along the way.

On the Bar Council website you can download an

electronic version of this brochure and see profiles of
a range of barristers, who explain why they decided to
join the profession. You can find all this information at
www.barcouncil.org.uk/careers. If you have any further
questions you can email [email protected].

Alternatively, if you want to get a better idea of the

career path ‘at a glance’, you will find a short helpful
reference guide at the back of this brochure.

02 03
 WHAT IS A In England and Wales, the legal
profession is split into two main
groups: barristers and solicitors,
Many barristers specialise in just one
area, or a small number of areas, of law.
Others have more general practices and

BARRISTER?
with legal executives making an will provide advice and advocacy across a
increasingly important contribution. wide range of areas of law.
There are over 16,000 practising
barristers, but over 136,000 solicitors. Although most barristers are self-
Whilst there is some overlap between employed, they don’t work in isolation, but
the work of barristers and solicitors, tend to group together in offices known
barristers still mainly undertake work as ‘chambers’, to which they pay ‘rent’
which has been referred to them to cover the cost of the building and its
by solicitors. staff. Chambers’ colleagues and staff can
be a key source of professional support
Barristers are specialist legal advisers and friendship for barristers at all levels
and advocates who, providing they have of their career.
undertaken the necessary training, can
appear in all courts, including the High There are also around 3,000 employed
Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme barristers, who work for organisations,
Court. They play an extremely important rather than for themselves. Employers
role in helping individuals and institutions of barristers include the Government
understand, pursue and defend their Legal Department, the Crown Prosecution
legal rights. Service, financial services institutions,
industry and commerce and the Armed
Barristers are probably best known for Forces, where they work as in-house
wearing wigs and gowns and presenting advocates or advisers. The type of work
legal arguments in court. But there is they do depends on their employer, but
much more than that to a career as requires them to possess the same
barrister. Many barristers hardly ever abilities in specialist legal advice and
appear in court and, in some courts, wigs advocacy as any other barrister.
and gowns are no longer worn. As well as
court work, many barristers specialise in Traditionally, barristers had to be instructed
advising individuals, companies and a wide by solicitors, and most of the Bar’s work
“It is wonderful to be able to stand up variety of institutions on legal documents, still comes from this source, although
and represent someone in court using company structures and broader business since 2004, members of the public have
your skills, to win a case for them.” issues relating to the law. been able to instruct barristers directly

Simon O’Toole, through the Public Access Scheme.

5 Pump Court chambers

04 05
 WHO IS THE BAR Despite popular misconceptions
and stereotypes, there is no such
thing as a ‘typical’ barrister.
The Bar Council and the Inns of Court are
committed to widening access, and to
creating a diverse and inclusive profession.

LOOKING FOR?
Barristers come from a wide The Bar Council runs a number of
range of social, academic and initiatives, such as the Bar Placement
professional backgrounds. There Week, a work experience opportunity
are, however, certain skills aimed at Year 12 and 13 students who
and abilities common to most of meet social mobility criteria. There is also
those who succeed at the Bar. an e-mentoring platform, designed for
Academic ability and strong Year 12, 13 and undergraduate students
communication skills are vital. from non-traditional backgrounds who
are interested in pursuing a career at the
You don’t need a first class degree from Bar. For more information on these, visit
Oxford or Cambridge to become a barrister. www.barcouncil.org.uk/careers.
However, you will need to apply yourself
to your studies and gain good marks, The Inns of Court offer many opportunities
wherever you study. to learn more about careers at the Bar. For
programmes and events offered by Lincoln’s
You should also possess strong Inn, please see www.lincolnsinn.org.uk. For
communication skills. Over the course of programmes and events offered by Gray’s
your studies, you should develop the ability Inn, please visit www.graysinn.org.uk.
to express arguments and ideas clearly in
writing, with attention to detail. Whilst many The Pegasus Access and Support Scheme
barristers appear in court only rarely, you (PASS), run by the Inner Temple, is aimed
should be confident at speaking in public. at high achieving university students
You should also be able to communicate and graduates from non-traditional
effectively with a wide variety of people - backgrounds. It provides work experience
from judges to members of the public. and skills development. In particular it
provides access to and funding for mini-
The Bar is looking for trustworthy, pupillages. For more information, visit
independent-minded and flexible problem www.innertemple.org.uk.
“I thought I had to hide my background
solvers who are always open to new
to fit in with other barristers. I now see it challenges, ready to adapt to changing A similar scheme (Access to the Bar
as a strength and wear it with pride.” circumstances and who will maintain high Awards) is run by Middle Temple, which
Natasha Shotunde, 5 St Andrew’s Hill standards of ethics and integrity. invites nominations from individual law
schools. For further information, see
www.middletemple.org.uk.

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 WHY SHOULD The Bar can offer one of the most
stimulating, varied, challenging
and exciting careers available.
The issues concerned may vary vastly
between different areas of the law, but
the core challenges are alike. A career

YOU BECOME A
Whether delivering a closing at the Bar is focused primarily on solving
speech to a silent courtroom, problems and resolving disputes, so if
negotiating the terms of a new you relish winning an argument, reaching
contract, cross-examining a logical and reasoned conclusions, and

BARRISTER? witness, mediating a divorcing

couple, arguing against the
removal of a client’s welfare
producing solutions to difficult issues, then
you should thrive at the Bar.

benefits or delivering complex Due in part to its small size, the Bar is a very
legal arguments to a High Court sociable and close-knit profession. Many
Judge, no two days as a barrister value the camaraderie of chambers, the
are the same. social events run by the Inns of Court and
other organisations and the friendships
Whilst the criminal Bar is arguably which they form through shared challenges
most visible to the general public, many and interests.
barristers gain as much satisfaction from
a complex business negotiation as others
do from a successful criminal prosecution.

“Being a self-employed
barrister has allowed me,
with the support of my clerks,
to choose exactly how and
when I want to work. This
enables me to work full time
during term time and take off
the school holidays.”
Kama Melly QC,
Park Square Barristers chambers

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 HOW DO YOU BECOME A BARRISTER might equip you with some of the skills you
would require at the Bar, such as the ability
after completing your undergraduate
degree. This conversion course will add
AND WHEN DO YOU NEED TO MAKE to argue a point in a logical, reasoned and additional costs so it is important to factor
articulate manner. this into your decision.
THE KEY DECISIONS? You do not have to study law at university
Your A-Level years are a good time to in order to become a barrister. It is very
If you are interested in becoming a experience with a local firm of solicitors start to gain some experience of public common for barristers to complete degrees
barrister, it is never too early to start or with a local court, to give you a closer speaking, such as debating, and to in other subjects and then ‘convert’ to law
thinking about what qualifications insight into a career in the law. consider applying for short periods of afterwards. For the right person, this can
and experience you might need in work experience, known as mini-pupillages be a very helpful step in choosing a career,
order to succeed. As well as concentrating on achieving with sets of chambers. There are a limited as it allows them to defer their decision
good grades, it is important to remember number of chambers which offer these to on whether or not to go into the law whilst
The Bar is a small profession and there is that sets of chambers will be looking for under-18s and you will need to check their studying a subject in which they have a
very high competition for training places, other skills and experiences which make websites for details. strong interest, and through which they
known as ‘pupillages’. Good GCSEs, A-levels you stand out. Start to think about what might later choose to pursue a different
and a lower second class honours degree impressive or unusual outside interests What to study at university career path. Some areas of practice, such
are minimum requirements. you might enjoy which might make you a as intellectual property (which relates to
more desirable and rounded candidate. At some point during your A-Level studies, the protection of ideas and designs) and
There are three main components involved you will have to choose whether to medical law, value undergraduate degrees
in becoming a barrister: an academic A-level years undertake an undergraduate law degree in science, for example. It is important to
component, comprising an undergraduate or a non-law degree. If you choose a non- keep in mind that whatever subject you
degree in law or an undergraduate There are no firm rules about which subjects law degree, you will need to undertake an do choose to study, almost all pupils will
degree in a non-law subject with the you need to study for A-level. You should try additional one-year conversion course, have achieved either a first class or upper
Graduate Diploma in Law; a vocational to make sure that they are subjects which called a Graduate Diploma in Law (‘GDL’), second class degree.
component, comprising study for the you enjoy, and in which you have a natural
vocational qualification; and a work-based interest. It is usually better to study subjects
component, consisting of work-based which are more traditionally academic and
learning/pupillage. which involve an element of writing, so that
you can demonstrate your communication
“Be strategic. You want your
GCSE years and analytical skills from an early stage.
You may wish to look at university admission
CV to tell a story the ending
If you are already considering a career requirements and preferred A-level subjects to which could plausibly
as a barrister, then this is the perfect for certain degree courses. read: ‘and then he became a
time to start gaining experience which barrister’.”
will bolster your CV and to find out as There is no requirement for you to study
Duncan McCombe
much about the profession as you can. law at A-level. It will be helpful for you to Maitland Chambers
You may also be able to secure work think about the types of subjects which

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 TIMELINE TO THE BAR

Penultimate year of undergraduate Final year of law degree or

Vocational year Work-based component/Pupillage
law study / final year of non-law study Graduate Diploma in Law

Throughout the year From September Throughout the year October

Law students Start thinking about getting Sit the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT). Apply for pupillages to non-pupillage Start pupillage. Some pupillages may
some relevant work experience. Do Portal sets if unsuccessful in the start at different times of year.
By beginning of November previous year.
plenty of research into chambers / mini-
Apply for scholarship for the vocational Summer
pupillages.
component from the Inns of Court. Finish the vocational component. Having Make a tenancy application at your
By May passed the course, and completed your Chambers or apply for an employed
Throughout the year qualifying sessions, you will be eligible to position. If successful, tenancy or
Non-law students Apply for Graduate
Apply for membership to an Inn of be Called to the Bar. employment will be offered. If you are not
Diploma in Law scholarship from the Inns
Court 12 weeks before commencing the successful, you can apply for a third six or
of Court.
vocational component. January/February
an employed position elsewhere.
If unsuccessful in obtaining pupillage
January/February last year, apply for pupillage before October
Apply for pupillage through the Pupillage February deadline. Start tenancy or employment.
Gateway by February deadline.
www.pupillagegateway.com

Remember to complete your 10

qualifying sessions to ensure you
Don’t forget to attend the Bar are eligible to be Called to the Bar.
Council Pupillage Fair in the
autumn before you apply for
pupillage: www.barcouncil.org.uk/
pupillagefair.

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 Applying for pupillage and covering letters (which you may need to
provide if a set of chambers or organisation
Your final year of a law degree or GDL year will to which you wish to apply does not use
be your first opportunity to apply for pupillage, the online application system). A single
the practical element of your training to set of chambers might receive hundreds of
become a barrister. Each year graduates applications for just one or two pupillage
apply for pupillage and additionally those places. Make sure that your application is
applicants are joined by those who did not tailored to that specific opportunity.
obtain pupillage the year before. Graduates
of the vocational component can apply for Pupillage interviews might involve problem-
pupillage to commence five years from the solving tasks and mock advocacy exercises,
date they pass the course. as well as the sort of questions you would
expect in any job interview. Some sets
The application process varies of chambers sift applicants by inviting
according to the set of chambers or a relatively large number for a short,
organisation, with many using the Bar ten minute interview. Needless to say,
Council’s online application system regardless of the length of the first interview,
(www.pupillagegateway.com) and others first impressions are very important.
choosing to manage their applications
independently. Make sure you research Vocational Component
your chosen chambers/organisation in
advance to ensure that you are aware of all The second component of training is the
requirements and deadlines. vocational component, which trains you
in the specific skills you need to become a
You should attend the Bar Council’s barrister. This has traditionally taken the
Pupillage Fair in Autumn of the year you form of the Bar Professional Training Course
are applying - see www.barcouncil.org. (BPTC), but there will be several changes
uk/pupillagefair. This provides you with an taking place next year. From September
opportunity to meet and talk to barristers, 2020, the Bar Standards Board will permit
representing a wide variety of chambers and training providers to offer several new ways
organisations. There is also a programme of to become a barrister. These changes will
sessions for students, to provide information be gradual, but if you are a sixth-form or
and assist with pupillage applications. university student, these changes are likely
to affect you. For a more detailed summary
All pupillage vacancies
Take as much time as you can to of each pathway, please see https://www. are advertised on the
research different sets of chambers and barcouncil.org.uk/c areer s/general- Pupillage Gateway
organisations, and take care in preparing information-and-faqs/vocational-stage/ www.pupillagegateway.com
your application(s) and, if relevant, your CV

14 15
 It is important for you to make sure that will not allocate sponsors to students
you consider all of the options before you until they are taking the GDL or vocational
choose a vocational component provider. component.
Bear in mind that course fees and
accommodation outside London may be You need to have completed your ‘Qualifying
cheaper. You may already have given some Sessions’ with your Inn (which might include
thought to where you wish to undertake residential training weekends, skills-based
your pupillage and eventually practise workshops or attending lectures followed by
geographically, which may help to guide formal dinners with barristers and judges)
your choice. and must have passed the vocational
component in order to be Called to the Bar
If, as is quite common, you are not by your Inn. This ceremony takes place in
successful in gaining pupillage during the March, July, October or November. You can
final year of your law degree or during the invite guests, and it is a memorable occasion
GDL, you will have another opportunity to for those taking part.
apply during your vocational component
year. During this time, you should have Post-Vocational Component
opportunities to improve the quality of your
applications by obtaining further relevant Because chambers recruit pupils well
experience. in advance, if you apply successfully
for a pupillage whilst undertaking the
At the same time, you will undertake vocational component, you will probably
training courses provided by your Inn have a year-long gap before your pupillage
in order to qualify to be ‘Called to the starts. There are still lots of useful things
Bar’. The process of being ‘Called to you can do with that year to harness your
the Bar’ culminates in the graduation- legal skills. If you are unsuccessful in
style ceremony at which you formally your pupillage applications, you can still
become a barrister (although you will not apply to commence pupillage up to five
be permitted to practise until you have years after completing the vocational
completed pupillage). component. If you wish to reapply again
for pupillage, regardless of what you
Having joined an Inn, you should take the choose to do in the meantime, make sure
opportunity to ask your Inn for a ‘sponsor’ that you continue to improve your CV and
or ‘mentor’: a practising barrister who can seek experience which will strengthen
provide practical advice and can help to future applications.
introduce you to life at the Bar. Most Inns

16 17
 Pupillage Recruitment methods vary between of a team of barristers. With the support of some of the usual training requirements by
chambers, but decisions about ‘tenancy’ the chambers’ ‘clerks’ (who are responsible undertaking the Bar Transfer Test (BTT).
Pupillage is the practical stage of training (long-term places in chambers) are usually for assigning work to the barristers in their
to be a barrister, which you can commence made about ten months into pupillage. chambers and, in many cases, generating Silk and judicial appointment
up to five years after completing the Competition for tenancy can be strong, new business), you will need to build up a
vocational component. This is either with some chambers taking on several reputation amongst potential clients and a Many of those barristers who have
completed in a set of chambers or with pupils but only retaining one as a tenant. network of solicitors who will ‘instruct’ you developed a good practice choose to
another approved organisation. Pupillages (essentially paying you to provide specialist apply to become Queen’s Counsel later
usually start in September or October, one Appraisal might be based simply on your pupil services) on a regular basis. in their career. If they are successful, they
year after you have been accepted by the supervisor’s assessment of your abilities, or will become Queen’s Counsel (and can
chambers (so successful February 2017 you might have to take part in a formal mock Once you are a tenant, most chambers add the much-coveted letters “QC” after
applicants will commence pupillage in advocacy exercise. Other sets of chambers will require you to pay a proportion of their surname) and gain the right to wear
autumn 2018). take on every pupil with a view to making your earnings (‘rent’) to cover the costs a silk gown in Court, for which reason
them a tenant if they perform well. You will of chambers’ employees and other they are often known as “silks”. This
Pupillage is a bit like an apprenticeship. also need to pass an assessed advocacy shared overheads. title recognises that they have achieved
You will be assigned pupil supervisors - course taught by your Inn or Circuit. There excellence in their field, and is awarded
barristers in the same set of chambers or will also be compulsory negotiation skills The Employed Bar by the Lord Chancellor at a high profile
organisation - who you will shadow, and for courses and an ethics exam from 2021. ceremony. QCs appear in the most serious
whom you will undertake supervised work. A proportion of those Called to the Bar and important cases.
Pupillage lasts for 12 months (or 24 Third Six complete their pupillages with, or later go on
months if running part time) and is broken to gain jobs with, organisations which employ Many barristers choose to apply to become
up into the ‘first six’ months and the If you do not gain tenancy at the chambers them as permanent or contracted members judges later in their career; in fact, the
‘second six’ months. In your ‘second six’, at which you completed your pupillage, of staff. This might give them more job majority of higher court judges are former
you will be eligible to undertake cases on you can apply for a ‘third six’ at another security and access to benefits such as paid barristers. Many barristers also sit as part-
your own, albeit under close supervision. set. This might allow you to gain exposure sick leave, paid holiday and parental leave. time judges (for example, as recorders,
to other types of work, and will give you Their work will vary greatly depending on their Deputy District Judges or Tribunal Chairs)
Chambers are required to fund your pupillage another chance to apply for tenancy. Third employer. Employers of barristers include the whilst still practising at the Bar.
with a minimum award of £18,436 per Six pupillages are advertised on the Bar Crown Prosecution Service, the Government
annum for pupillages in London and £15,728 Council website (www.barcouncil.org.uk/ Legal Department, the Armed Forces, local
per annum for pupillages outside London. careers/third-six-vacancies). Government and private companies.
Some chambers provide considerably
larger awards; particularly chancery and Tenancy Professional conversion
commercial sets, which are competing with
the large commercial law firms for applicants. Once you are a tenant, your income will In some cases, it might be possible to qualify
Most chambers allow you to keep the money come entirely from the work you take on, as a barrister by an alternative manner
which you earn in your second six. either in your own right or, at the start of your to the conventional path. For example,
career, when acting as the junior member qualified solicitors may be exempted from

18 19
 FUNDING
YOUR TRAINING
One of the greatest concerns for Other sources of financial help include:
most aspiring barristers is the Between them, the four Inns of Court make • The Kalisher Scholarship Trust, which covers
cost of entering the profession. scholarship awards of about £6 million • A number of high street banks, which offer the vocational component course fees
It is important to understand, every year, the majority of which is for the graduate loans, which can be large enough for two aspiring barristers each year, and
before you make any long-term vocational component, but awards are also to cover the costs of a substantial portion of provides a variety of smaller bursaries and
commitments, exactly what that available for the GDL and pupillage. Some your studies and accommodation. awards including an annual £3,000 essay
cost might be for you. of the Inns also make grants available for prize. The aim is to encourage and support
internships and for students or pupils of • The government offers a Postgraduate talented students who would otherwise not
You should factor in the tuition fees for the Inns who are affected by disability and Master’s Loan, that you may be eligible for be able to pursue a career at the criminal
your undergraduate degree (which are only can demonstrate financial need. if you study a combined LLM and vocational Bar. For more information, please visit the
payable once you start earning), the GDL training (which is offered by some providers). Trust’s website: www.thekalishertrust.org.
(if you studied a non-law degree) and the All the Inns award their scholarships Although these loans are only available to
vocational component, as well as living and grants on merit, with financial need students who are resident in England, the • If you are successful in obtaining a pupillage
costs. Costs for all of those courses will being taken into account. It is important Welsh government also offers some loans before undertaking your vocational training,
vary depending on where you study them to note that candidates may apply for a and bursaries. some chambers will allow you to receive
and you should try to find out as much as scholarship to one Inn only, and must be part of your pupillage award in advance of
possible in advance. The Bar Standards a member of that Inn to take up any award For more information on the Postgraduate pupillage, which is known as a ‘draw down’.
Board website provides information on the that is offered. Master’s Loan, please see here:
various vocational component providers www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study. You may also need to consider part-time work
www.barstandardsboard.org.uk and GDL For further information on the scholarships and paralegal work. As well as assisting you
and vocational component providers list and grants available from the Inns, on the For more information on options for students financially, the right experience could help your
the cost of courses on their websites. criteria that are used to determine awards, resident in Wales, please see here: www. search for pupillage.
and application procedures and deadlines, gov.wales/student-finance/postgraduate-
Whilst funding your path to the Bar is a please visit their respective websites. and-doctoral-students. Please note that
daunting prospect for many applicants, these are unlikely to cover the full fees for
there is a range of help on offer, from the Lincoln’s Inn (www.lincolnsinn.org.uk) the course, so do bear that in mind when
Inns, from banks and from a number of Inner Temple (www.innertemple.org.uk) considering this as a possible option.
bursaries, as set out below. Middle Temple (www.middletemple.org.uk)
Gray’s Inn (www.graysinn.org.uk)

20 21
 WHERE THE Qualifying Sessions will might include
residential training weekends, skills-based
workshops or attending lectures
For further information on the Bar
Council, please visit www.barcouncil.
org.uk. For the BSB, please visit

BAR IS BASED The Bar Council and the Bar

Standards Board
www.barstandardsboard.org.uk.

Chambers

The Bar Council represents barristers in Most self-employed barristers group together
Inns of Court They also provide extensive library and IT England and Wales, and comprises a council in sets of chambers, enabling them to
facilities, support for barristers and student of barristers who meet regularly, supported share office space, staff costs and other
There are four Inns of Courts: Lincoln’s members and other forms of ongoing training, by an executive of employed staff. The Bar overheads. Chambers will usually be headed
Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and particularly extensive advocacy coaching, Council is responsible for promoting the by one or two experienced barristers. As
Gray’s Inn. Although the Inns are all throughout your career. Bar’s high quality specialist and advisory well as their tenants (permanent members),
located in London, they have strong services, fair access to justice for all, the some chambers will also allow ‘squatters’
links across England and Wales and all Before you can formally become a barrister, highest standards of ethics, equality and (barristers without tenancy) to base
over the world (partly because so many alongside passing your vocational diversity across the profession, and the themselves there on a temporary basis.
international students are also Called component, you need to complete 10 development of business opportunities at
to the English and Welsh Bar). Every ‘Qualifying Sessions’, which are run by home and abroad. A large number of chambers are based
barrister must join an Inn before they the Inns. They must cover five themes, around the four Inns of Court in London.
start the vocational component. which include all aspects of the skills and In order to practise, all barristers must About two thirds of all self-employed
knowledge students need to learn as part be registered with the Bar Council and barristers are members of London
One of the formal functions of the Inns of their training for the Bar: prove every year that they have developed chambers, although they may also travel
is to Call new barristers to the Bar, once professionally through training and other throughout England and Wales to conduct
their training is complete. Once you are • Ethics, Standards and Values; learning opportunities. The Bar Council cases in regional courts. There are also
Called by a particular Inn, you will have a • Advocacy Skills; is the approved regulator of the Bar, but many chambers based outside London,
relationship with that Inn for the rest of • Legal Knowledge, Justice and the Rule it discharges these functions through the mostly clustered around the larger cities.
your career at the Bar or the judiciary, if of Law; independent Bar Standards Board (BSB).
you become a judge. They are also one of • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; The BSB is responsible for setting the
the major sources of financial assistance • and Preparation for Pupillage, Career educational and training requirements for
to students who are training for the Bar. Development and Wellbeing becoming a barrister, continuing training
requirements and codes of conduct
The Inns are historic institutions which At least two sessions must be interactive for barristers, monitoring the services
provide modern and first class educational and require preparation in advance. provided by the Bar, handling complaints
and training activities in a supportive and against barristers and taking disciplinary
inclusive environment. Your Inn of Court will publish information actions against them.
about its qualifying session in advance and
this will include information about costs.

22 23
 The Employed Bar Circuits

Employed barristers provide legal advice England and Wales are divided into six
“I always knew I wanted to be out of London
within numerous organisations and will regional ‘Circuits’, which act as local hubs and nearer to home, but didn’t appreciate just
usually be based in the headquarters for barristers outside of London, running how supportive and helpful my circuit would be.”
of that organisation. Some of these training and social events. The Circuit
Rosemary Kavanagh
organisations are based in the Third Leaders are practising barristers who act Bank House Chambers
Sector, the Government Legal Service, as communications channels between the
Local Authorities or the CPS Barristers Circuits and the Bar Council in London.
employed by the Armed Forces or the
Foreign & Commonwealth Office may For further information on the Circuits,
find that there are opportunities to work including contact details, please see www.
abroad. Other employed barristers work in barcouncil.org.uk/about-the-bar/what-is-
private practice in law firms or in-house for the-bar/circuits.
national and international companies.
Specialist Bar Associations

The Specialist Bar Associations (SBAs) are

“As someone who transferred membership organisations for barristers,

to the employed Bar from usually targeted at those practising in a

specific area of law, such as crime, chancery,
the self-employed Bar
commercial, family or personal injury. They
relatively recently, I think the provide representative services to their
opportunities at the employed members, run training and other events and
Bar are more diverse than they often respond to Government consultations
have ever been. In addition to which effect their specialist area.
the financial security offered
by employed roles, there As well as those SBAs focused on particular For a full list of SBAs and a link to their
areas of law, the Young Barristers’ websites, please visit: www.barcouncil.
are also unique networking
Committee of the Bar Council represents org.uk/about-the-bar/what-is-the-bar/
opportunities and a chance to the interests of barristers who completed specialist-bar-associations. To read more
work collaboratively with a their training less than seven years ago. The about the Young Barristers’ Committee,
larger pool of lawyers” Employed Barristers’ Committee represents please see: www.barcouncil.org.uk/about-

Simao Paxi-Cato the interests of employed barristers, some us/constitution-and-structure/committees/

Black Antelope Law of whom are also represented by the Bar young-barristers’-committee.
Association for Commerce, Finance and
Industry (BACFI).

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 JARGON BUSTER Junior - a barrister who is not Queen’s
Counsel (QC).

Junior brief - a case on which a junior

most serious and important cases.

Qualifying Sessions - Students who

enrol on the vocational component of a Bar
barrister is led by a senior, usually a QC, in a Training Pathway from September 2020 will
big case which would be too much work for one have to complete Qualifying Sessions across
Bar Council - the Bar Council represents Clerk - chambers’ staff responsible for five themes prior to being Called. At least
barrister alone. The more senior barrister will
barristers in England and Wales. It is also generating and assigning work and managing
usually conduct the advocacy. two sessions must be interactive and require
known as the General Council of the Bar barristers’ diaries.
preparation in advance.
and is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of
Marshalling - work experience shadowing
England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory Counsel - this is simply another way of
a judge. Recorder - a part-time judge, who is often
functions through the independent Bar referring to a barrister.
also a practising barrister.
Standards Board.
Mini-pupil - the name given to someone
CPS - the Crown Prosecution Service, the
Bar School - the informal name for a primary body responsible for the prosecution of
undertaking work experience in a set of Set - informal term for chambers.
chambers. Some sets of chambers may expect
provider of the vocational component. criminal offences in England and Wales.
potential pupils to have completed a mini- Silk - informal term for a QC - so-called
pupillage at that set. because they wear a silk gown in court.
Bar Standards Board - the Bar’s Devilling - completing paid work for other
independent regulator. members of chambers.
Moot - a legal debate in which participants Squatter - a pupil not invited to become
conduct a case in a mock appeal court. a tenant may be offered the opportunity to
Bench - the judge/judges. Employed barrister - most barristers are
self-employed and practise from chambers. become a ‘squatter’ in chambers. They are
Pupil - the name given to barristers allowed to remain and to continue to take on
Bencher - a senior member of an Inn of The remainder are employed to act as in-
undertaking the practical element of their their own cases for a period, without having a
Court, also known as a Master of the Bench. house barristers by law firms, companies
training, which is essentially an apprenticeship. permanent place in the chambers.
and the Government, including the Crown
Brief - the documents setting out case Prosecution Service.
Pupillage - one year (or possibly two years) Tenant - a member of a set of chambers.
instructions for a barrister to argue a case
of apprenticeship in chambers or another
in court. GDL - ‘Graduate Diploma in Law’: the law
approved organisation. For the first six months,
‘conversion’ course which aspiring barristers Tenancy - towards the end of their pupillage,
the pupil will not be practising and will shadow
Call to the Bar - the conferral of the title of who do not have a law degree must undertake an individual may be offered a tenancy, which
their pupil supervisor. In the second six months
‘barrister’ by an Inn of Court on those who have before commencing the vocational component. is the entitlement to continue to practise from a
they will continue to shadow a pupil supervisor,
completed the necessary training requirements set of chambers as a self-employed barrister.
but may also undertake their own cases, with
and have satisfied their Inn that they are fit Head of Chambers - a senior barrister in
supervision.
and proper to be Called to the Bar. The title a set of chambers who is elected or appointed Third six - a pupil not invited to become a
cannot be used in a professional capacity until as its head. tenant may be offered a ‘third six’; essentially
Pupillage Gateway - the Bar Council’s
pupillage has been completed. another six months as a pupil in another set
online application portal for pupillages (to
of chambers, usually with a view to gaining
which some, but not all, chambers subscribe).
Circuits - the six geographical areas into tenancy if completed satisfactorily. This is not
which the courts of England and Wales are Inn of Court - the four historic institutions an additional training period.
Pupil supervisor - a barrister who acts as a
divided: North Eastern, Northern, Midland, with the exclusive right to Call barristers to the
pupil’s mentor during pupillage.
South Eastern, Western and Wales & Bar. In addition to the provision of scholarships Vocational Training - several new ways
Chester Circuits. for training for the Bar, the fundamental role of of studying for the vocational training will
QC/Queen’s Counsel - a senior barrister
the Inns of Court is the education and training become available from September 2020. This
who has been appointed by the Queen as “one
Chambers - the collective name for a group of students and barristers. The Inns also have course is available at various providers and
of Her Majesty’s Counsel Learned in the Law”
of self-employed barristers who share premises, societies dedicated to mooting, debating and teaches procedure, advocacy, ethics research
(following a formal and transparent recruitment
a corporate identity, staff and overheads. social events. As membership organisations, methods and practical skills. It is followed by
process, operated by the QC appointments
they retain strong relationships with their the work-based stage of becoming a barrister,
panel). QCs are senior members of the Bar, and
members throughout their careers. known as pupillage.
it is a mark of excellence. They appear in the

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 FURTHER
INFORMATION
For the most recent statistics on
the profile of the Bar, please check
the Bar Barometer, an annual
publication which analyses statistical
trends across the profession.

The ‘Barristers’ Working Lives’ survey provides an

insight into barristers’ views of both their life at work
and their profession. The Bar Council has produced
several reports on the profile of applicants and
students, online pupillage system applicants, and
of registered pupils which should assist you when
considering a career at the Bar. You can access these
reports here: www.barcouncil.org.uk/about-the-bar/
facts-and-figures/publications

Please consult the Bar Council,

Inns of Court or Bar Standards Board
websites for further information.

• www.barcouncil.org.uk
• www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
• www.barcouncil.org.uk/about-the-bar/what-is-the-
bar/inns-of-court
• www.barcouncil.org.uk/careers/mini-pupillages

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 FURTHER INFORMATION
ON THE INNS OF COURT
This brochure has been produced in partnership with the four Inns of Court. You can visit
the Inns of Court websites and social media channels to find out about events for those
thinking of becoming a barrister, information on scholarships and how the Inns support
the profession.

Lincoln’s Inn Inner Temple

www.lincolnsinn.org.uk www.innertemple.org.uk
twitter.com/lincolnsinn twitter.com/TheInnerTemple

Middle Temple Gray’s Inn

www.middletemple.org.uk www.graysinn.org.uk
twitter.com/middletemple twitter.com/HonSocGraysInn

The Council of the Inns of Court exists to advance

education in the sound administration of the law,
including by promoting high standards of advocacy
and enforcing professional standards of conduct.
COIC supports the work of the four Inns of Court.

www.coic.org.uk

30 31
 INTEGRITY.
EXCELLENCE.
JUSTICE.
The Bar Council represents
barristers in England and Wales.
It promotes:

• The Bar’s high quality specialist advocacy and

advisory services

• Fair access to justice for all

• The highest standards of ethics, equality and

diversity across the profession, and

• The development of business opportunities for

barristers at home and abroad

www.barcouncil.org.uk
@thebarcouncil

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales.
It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.

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