Barristers | Pupillages | Mini-pupillages

Key advice for aspiring barristers

Everything you need to know

Bar courses: a student’s guide to barrister training 2022-23

The Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) was replaced by a range of new Bar courses as of September 2020. To become a barrister, students must pass a Bar course approved by the Bar Standards Board. All approved Bar courses lead to the same destination – being ‘called to the Bar’, which enables you to apply for a pupillage. Here is LawCareers.Net’s guide to Bar courses.

Sherelle Appleby - Journey to the Bar: tips for aspiring barristers

Sherelle Appleby

I am currently an unqualified barrister, meaning I have been called to the Bar but have not yet completed pupillage.

How do I become a human rights barrister?

I want to become a human rights barrister, but I keep hearing that only Oxbridge students get pupillages. Is this true?

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Becoming a barrister

Bar Training Courses (BTC/BPTC)

The one-year, postgraduate vocational course

Mini-pupillage

Essential work experience in chambers

Pupillage deadlines

The pupillage deadline page is designed to provide a list of which chambers have which deadlines.

Barrister career path

The whole process from studying, to pupillage, to qualifying

Quadrant Chambers

Commercial dispute resolution

"The biggest challenge is that there is no off switch because often, the decision as to how much you work is purely up to you and you want to do a good job."

Rajkiran Barhey

One Crown Office Row

"There are some practitioners in chambers who specialise in claimant or defendant work, but it can take some years to decide if you want to specialise in that way."

"You’ve got human rights cases that deal with property law, criminal law and family law to name a few – human rights are just a set of principles that you can apply to pretty much any area of practice."

“Systemic obstacles” continue to inhibit ethnic minority barristers’ progress, according to latest report

The Bar Council’s Race Working Group has launched a new report to address inequality at the Bar. The report provides statistics and personal testimony to highlight the prejudice that is rife within the profession.

BSB to clamp down on transparency requirements

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) will take a ‘tougher stance’ on chambers that fail to disclose how they calculate their fees.

The Bar Council promotes social mobility barristers

Social mobility advocates, a new group of barristers from across England and Wales, have joined the Bar Council’s award-winning social mobility campaign – #IAmTheBar.

Legal profession celebrates Black History Month

Solicitors in England and Wales will celebrate Black History Month by embracing the ‘Proud to Be’ theme.

Videos

See more videos

VLOG WHY ARE INNS SO IMPORTANT | Dani the Barrister

VLOG How I processed pupillage rejections | BLESSING AT THE BAR

VLOG Three years into my journey to the Bar | BLESSING AT THE BAR

MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES Including MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES in law applications

VLOG Tips: Planning and Time Management | Dani the Barrister

How to become a barrister

We sat down with BPTC student Blessing to find out more about the process of becoming a Barrister. She explained about the BPTC, how to get pupillage, what skills you should develop as an undergraduate, and more.

Studying the GDL, LPC and Bar courses part time

There are many reasons why full-time study followed by training might not be right for you, two of the most common being finances and caring commitments. Don’t worry though; there are part-time opportunities throughout the academic and training process.

Mooting opportunities for students

Mooting is one of the best activities you can do to get a sense of what it's like to be a legal advocate, giving you the opportunity to think on your feet and argue your case. It is also an impressive addition to any CV, whether you’re pursuing a career as a barrister or solicitor.

With pupillage season upon us, you might be looking to learn more about becoming a barrister. Although mini-pupillages offer a great insight to the Bar, they can sometimes be quite hard to obtain. Hopefully, this article will give those who have not yet joined an Inn of Court or are contemplating a career at the Bar an insight into the role of the Inns of Court and what you can get out of them.

First steps

Are you a first-year law student?

Visit our first-year hub for specific advice and info about what you should be doing in your first year

Inns Of Court scholarships

The different scholarships, bursaries and grants awarded by Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, Lincoln's Inn and Middle Temple and how to apply for them

How and when to submit applications for the Bar Courses

What will it cost?

The cost of qualifying as a barrister is expensive so investigate potential sources of funding at each stage of the process.

Not studying law?

Tips for non-law students

Check out our non-law hub for key information

Meet the barristers

Gain insights into the day-to-day work of barristers at different chambers

Meet the Lawyer

As a junior barrister with a broad commercial and chancery practice, Rowena Page already has plenty of interesting experiences and insights to share. Read on for her informative introduction to life at the commercial Bar.

Meet the Lawyer

I very much enjoy the variation, both in the type of work and the subject matter, and I like being able to work on my own and decide when I work.

Meet the Lawyer

Sophie Holcombe

Essentially, a barrister has to formulate a persuasive argument for each case and I enjoy the fact that the responsibility to do so is entirely my own. I am very much in control of my own cases and every day is completely different – it's both an exciting and demanding career.

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Working as a barrister

Life as a barrister

Everything you need to know from tenancy to continuing professional development.

Types of chambers

There are many different kinds of barristers' chambers, and where you train has a significant influence on your career, as the style, size and clientele of each will vary.

Barristers' practice areas

Each practice area has its own demands relating to knowledge, temperament, working practices and remuneration.