At the criminal Bar you may be called on to act for either the defence or the prosecution. Specialist criminal law chambers offer expertise in all areas, including child abuse, drug offences, fraud, human rights, mental illness, violent and sexual crime, and white collar crime. As might be expected, criminal barristers spend more time in court than those in almost any other sector of the Bar. The international aspect of criminal law includes human rights, terrorism, war crimes, organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering. Practitioners in international criminal law regularly appear before foreign tribunals and international courts.

Harpreet Sandhu was always determined to become a lawyer, but he wasn't prepared to rush into it and started life as a trainee management consultant: "I was interested in the law, so I did some proper research and several mini-pupillages, and decided to convert. I'm pleased that I did a subject at university that I enjoyed." And he knew that if it was going to be law, it was going to be the Bar: "The Bar has always provided and continues to provide the best training for aspiring advocates. The fact that you are self-employed means that you rise or fall on your own merits. That's a great source of encouragement to do the best you can; as is the fact that you are at the coalface dealing with people's lives, knowing that the effort you put in has a massive impact upon them."

The GDL at City University, followed by the BVC at at the Inns of Court School of Law, left Harpreet ready for pupillage at No5. This further confirmed that he had made the right career choice: "It was great. It's such a large set that you get exposure to a really wide array of areas when you're training. That exposure then allows you to focus on what really interests you and where your talents lie. It's also a very supportive set of chambers and there are always people to turn to and seek advice from."

Now a fully fledged barrister, Harpreet confirms that criminal barristers are to be found in the courtroom most days: "I am in court every day, for either a trial - which can be anywhere from two days to three months long - or a mixture of appeals, plea and case management hearings or sentences. After court, I'll often have a conference with a client, either in chambers or at the solicitor's office. My actual working day may not finish until 7:00pm, and then you've got to do all your prep for the next day. You end up sacrificing a lot for the job and it can take over your life. That won't change as you get more senior and you spend most of your time either working or thinking about work."

Harpreet takes on a mix of prosecution and defence work in a variety of areas: "At the moment I'm involved in a lot of drugs importation and supply cases, and cases alleging sexual offences and fraud. In addition to my mainstream criminal practice, I also specialise in police discipline work, representing officers at misconduct hearings. That takes me all over the country."

As for personal satisfaction, Harpreet says it's about "getting a good result for a client who really deserves it or, if you're prosecuting, knowing that you've presented a case as best you can. I know that sounds a bit ‘right on', but it is what makes you think this is a job worth doing and that spurs you on". And motivation is essential, given that "you spend so much of your time working - anything up to 12 or 13 hours a day. And you're not doing it for huge financial gain (and possibly even less financial gain in the future), so you have to do it because it's a rewarding thing to do".

On the subject of finances, Harpreet cites the latest round of legal aid cuts as a major threat to the criminal Bar: "There are huge challenges ahead. There are inevitably going to be cuts to fees for those who defend, and potentially huge cuts if you prosecute. It's entirely possible that those who decide to pursue this as a career aren't even going to be as well off as those practising years ago. Even they weren't the fat cats that people like to imagine! In addition, there is going to be less work coming to the self-employed Bar because solicitors are doing more of their own advocacy. The reality is that some people who might have considered this as a career will look at the uncertainty and go elsewhere. So you need real determination and an acceptance that there will be some pretty tough years ahead."

Having said that, Harpreet views the Bar setup as "one of the most effective tools to ensure that those who need representation will get the fairest, most impartial representative that they can. We must be fearless and prepared to fight for our clients' interests, without recourse to other interests that may play on our minds". Harpreet is a huge fan of advocacy: "You feel that you're actually making a contribution, in your own small way, to the lives of others." The hours "can grind you down", but that's something you just have to accept when you sign up.

The sense of camaraderie at the criminal Bar also has much to recommend it, explains Harpreet: "It's absolutely necessary because of the work that we do, and especially so in these challenging and straitened times."

A few skills are essential if you are to succeed as a criminal barrister, Harpreet outlines: "You have to have the ability to get on with every kind of person, to communicate well and to foster confidence in those who instruct you, be that the CPS or another prosecuting authority, your instructing solicitor and ultimately the client. You also need humility; there's no room for arrogance. And obviously, you need to be a good advocate. A criminal barrister does it more than any other, so being a natural performer helps."

Harpreet observes that mini-pupillages, marshalling, mooting and pro bono work are all incredibly helpful along the way, both for experience and to get a sense of the profession. He was involved with the Free Representation Unit: "It was really valuable, in that it gives you experience of interacting with clients and opponents." And as he's now on No5's pupillage interview panel, he has a final tip on what they're looking for: "Given that everyone who applies is so phenomenally bright, with a great degree from a great university, we definitely want to see a few extra things that show you're committed to a career at the Bar."

Again, the message is that perseverance will pay off: "In essence, you just need to stick at it. It's not easy getting pupillage; it's not easy once you do get it; nor is it easy when you're finally qualified. But if you persevere, you find that it's an incredibly rewarding career to have. Despite its ups and downs, I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do every day."