Your comprehensive guide to the Bar course and beyond – advice from a future barrister

Reading time: four minutes

This article has been produced in collaboration with BPP University Law School.

Introduction 

In this LCN Says, we speak with Brooke Barker. Brooke is currently studying the Barrister Training  Course (BTC) at BPP University Law School in Manchester. Read on to find out about how she successfully secured both a Bar course scholarship and pupillage. She also shares her top tips on preparing for a career at the Bar, standing out in applications and tackling those challenging Bar Standards Board (BSB) exams! 

Preparing for a career at the Bar

Preparing for a career at the Bar involves two elements. Firstly, you need to achieve the grades required to pass through the academic stages of a journey to the Bar. Secondly, you must develop the necessary skills and experience needed alongside what can often be an intense period of study.

In terms of grades, there’s no escaping the reality that you’ll get out what you put in. Achieving strong grades at college, during a law degree or on the Bar course requires commitment, organisation and focus. These skills don’t just reflect strong academic ability but core qualities of a successful barrister – so view this process as a practice for what’s to come!

Alongside academics, it’s crucial to demonstrate your commitment to a career at the Bar through relevant experience. Mini-pupillages are a very important part of this –  they not only allow you to explore different practice areas, but also provide evidence to chambers that you understand the profession. However, it’s important to note that mini pupillages aren’t the ‘be-all and end-all’ of an application.

It’s equally valuable to gain a variety of other legal experience, such as:

• exposure to other legal careers to demonstrate why you’ve specifically chosen the Bar;
• involvement in university legal clinics;
• participation in law societies; and
• informal shadowing.

Non-legal experiences are just as important, if not more. Part-time work, hobbies, voluntary roles and wider interests all provide evidence of transferable skills. It’s important that you don’t overlook these as they’re often what makes an application memorable!

How to stand out in applications: three tips

This leads me onto my three key tips on how to stand out in applications, whether that be an application for pupillage or scholarship.

1. What makes you different

The first tip is to lean into what makes you different. It could be that you’re a keen surfer, have a cool part time job or that you’ve won a big dance competition in the past! These experiences develop many transferable skills that are valuable to chambers. A career at the Bar isn’t solely about academic ability or legal knowledge, it’s also about communication, resilience and relating to others. Showing yourself as a well-rounded person will be highly compelling among listing purely legal experiences that many applicants share.

2. Add meaningful insights

The second tip is to avoid descriptive answers! I read many applications where the applicant will simply describe their experience, detailing what they did, who they met and what they saw. However, the strict word counts in these applications mean that every sentence must add value.

Focus on what you gained from the experience by reflecting on specific elements such as:

• what you learnt from the experience;
• how the experience influenced your perspective of a career at the Bar; and
• what you’ll take forward from the experience.

This reflective approach will transform an experience from a simple box ticking exercise to evidence of meaningful insight and personal development.

3. Refine your structure

The third tip is to prioritise structure. A good structure can transform the impact of your application. Your application will likely be read among hundreds; therefore, it’s key that you make the key points of your application clear and effective. Use signposting and organise skills-based answers into clear themes or categories. This makes your points easy to identify and ensures your strengths stand out effectively.

Preparing for BSB exams: three tips

For me, the BSB exams are still new, but here are some tips that have helped me feel prepared so far.

1. Start revision early

After each class, I found it helpful to review all the examinable material from that class and make flashcards straight away. This allows you to consolidate your learning and identify any weak points quickly. By doing this, when it comes to exam season you can spend time utilising the revision material rather than spending time making it from scratch.

2. Maintain a healthy balance 

Managing the pressures of the BTC requires balance. Time blocking can increase productivity, while also ensuring you take well-deserved breaks. Set clear periods for focused study and equally clear periods dedicated to switching off and re-charging. Although this can be difficult to commit to, especially for law students, it’s essential to maintain motivation and maximise the quality of your work.

3. Engage and ask questions

While the BTC involves a large amount of self-study, your tutors are there to help you. Therefore, it’s important that you actively engage in sessions, ask questions and build relationships with your tutors. Seeking clarification on things early can help to prevent confusion later, while helping you feel supported and guided throughout the course.

I hope this short article helps and best of luck in your future studies and applications!

Brooke Barker is currently studying the BTC at BPP University Law School in Manchester.