Where to start
A career as a barrister is very competitive. Getting on the first steps of the career ladder (pupillage) can take a long time, and be expensive, although some external funding is available. The Bar Council which regulates all barristers has produced a guide to becoming a barrister, and the routes to qualification can be found on LawCareersNet. Our own Cambridge Careers Guide to Succeeding in Applying to be a Barrister is invaluable reading.
You'll need to be analytical, with a natural attention to detail and an ability to stay focussed on the main issue. You'll be happy to check dense texts for errors and omissions of content and/or fact.
As a barrister you'll work as an individual liaising and consulting with others, but not often as part of a team. You'll need to be self-directing, highly organised, and able to prioritise and meet deadlines.
Advocacy is a key part of this career. You need to be confident speaking in public and able to think through arguments 'on your feet'. Don’t worry if your performance isn't yet polished, as this will come with experience and training. You must, however, be comfortable taking on the task.
Conventionally, aspiring barristers complete one or more mini pupillages, which are unpaid periods of up to a week and are spent shadowing a barrister in chambers and court and doing administrative tasks. Applicants usually write an unsolicited submission to Chambers (either the Clerk or Head of the Pupillage Committee). Students usually try to complete three or four mini pupillages, including one in the Chambers they favour most. It is also possible to "marshall" with a judge (also a short period of time spent shadowing).
Advocacy, whether as self-advocacy within the application process, or in your area of professional practice once qualified is a fundamental strength to develop and be able to demonstrate. College and University Law societies will often host mooting competitions for students (both law and non-law) and the Cambridge Union is a world renowned forum to demonstrate debating. Most intending or junior barristers qualify to volunteer with the Free Representation Unit in London. The process to become qualified can start at its earliest for law students in their final year and non-law students when they are on the Postgraduate Diploma in Law Course.
Barristers need to complete a law degree or law conversion course, the vocational stage on a Bar Course, and a period of supervised training or pupillage. The latter can be 12 months long but may stretch to 18 months. Gaining pupillage is the most challenging part of the process and may require two or three attempts, with these repeated each annual cycle. Barristers often work as paralegals while they go through this process.
Each barrister also needs to become a member of one of the four Inns of Court. An Inn often provides a major chunk of the funding for a barrister’s pupillage.
Applications to practice privately (ie self-employed within Chambers) are made through the Pupillage Gateway. Once the Bar Vocational Course has been completed, however, qualified barristers can apply for salaried jobs as a barrister in organisations such as the Government Legal Profession, Crown Prosecution Service, or Employed Bar.
Demonstrate your certainty (and confidence) through thorough research. You should be able to rank the different chambers by their level of appropriateness for you. Use personal contacts, alumni and college contacts, and LinkedIn to provide personal insights validating your choice. The Bar is a close-knit community despite often being adversaries in court. Connect with this community as soon as you can and ask for advice, support, and guidance.
Demonstrate intellectual ability and enthusiasm through academic achievement, essay competitions, and relevant extra-curricular activities (writing reports for student societies, debating, law-related volunteering).
Both law and non-law students can practice mooting (competitions that simulate court hearings): the university law society (CULS) has a programme of mooting competitions. There is also an extensive alumni network to draw on with access provided by colleges and LinkedIn.
There is one local Chambers (Fenners), and courts in Cambridge sit regularly and allow public access when sitting. Demonstrate your interest by observing barristers in action. Here are some resources on Handshake to help you get recruitment ready for legal careers.
Whatever their area of practice, barristers remain keenly interested in the delivery of justice and the administration of the justice system. Follow The Secret Barrister blog and website to stay in touch with critical issues facing the profession and system.
Look at ''Pupillage and how to get it'', written by a barrister and a KC.
Finally, there are several formal mentoring schemes for students who are from groups underrepresented at the Bar. It's very useful to take advantage of this form of support and access to advice and guidance. Such schemes include COMBAR Mentorship Scheme, Bridging the Bar, and BDABar Mentorship Scheme.
Now you have looked at this page, think about your next steps. Everyone's journey is different. There are many ways to move forward. Here are some actions you could take now:
- Look for roles using the resources above.
- Talk to alumni working in this field via Handshake or LinkedIn.
- Talk to a Careers Consultant - book a 1:1 appointment through Handshake.
- Attend events - watch for relevant events.
- Ready to apply? Use the CV and cover letter guide to draft a CV or an application. CareerSet is a tool you can use to review your CV and cover letter. Write a speculative application.
- Subscribe to the Law Careers Newsletter