The Bar is a small profession and there is very high competition for training places, known as ‘pupillages’. Good GCSEs, A-levels and a degree are minimum requirements.
There are three main stages involved in becoming a barrister: an academic stage, comprising an undergraduate degree or the Graduate Diploma in Law; a vocational stage, comprising study for the vocational qualification (the Bar Professional Training Course); and a practical stage, consisting of professional training (pupillage).
GCSE years
If you are already considering a career as a barrister, then this is the perfect time to start gaining experience which will bolster your CV and to find out as much about the profession as you can. You may also be able to secure work experience with a local firm of solicitors or with a local court, to give you a closer insight into a career in the law.
As well as concentrating on achieving good grades, it is important to remember that chambers will be looking for other skills and experiences which make you stand out. Start to think about what impressive or unusual outside interests you enjoy which might make you a more desirable and rounded candidate.
A-level years
There are no firm rules about which subjects you need to study for A-level. You should try to make sure that they are subjects which you enjoy, and in which you have a natural interest. It is usually better to study subjects which are more traditionally academic and which involvean element of writing, so that you can demonstrate your communication and analytical skills from an early stage. You may wish to look at university admission requirements and preferred A-level subjects for certain degree courses.
There is no requirement for you to study law at A-level. It will be helpful for you to think about the types of subjects which might equip you with some of the skills you would require at the Bar, such as the ability to argue a point in a logical, reasoned and articulate manner.
Your A-Level years are a good time to start to gain some experience of public speaking, such as debating, and to consider applying for short periods of work experience, not usually longer than a week, with sets of chambers. There are a limited number of chambers which offer this type of experience and you will need to check their websites for details of how to apply
What to study at university
At some point during your A-Level studies, you will have to choose whether to undertake an undergraduate law degree or a non-law degree. If you choose a non-law degree, you will need to undertake an additional one-year conversion course, called a Graduate Diploma in Law (‘GDL’), after completing your undergraduate degree. This conversion course will incur additional costs so it is important to factor this into your decision.
You do not have to study law at university in order to become a barrister. It is very common for barristers to have completed degrees in other subjects and then have ‘converted’ to law afterwards. For the right person, this can be a very helpful step in choosing a career, as it allows them to defer their decision on whether or not to go into the law whilst studying a subject in which they have a strong interest, and through which they might later choose to pursue a different career path. Some areas of practice, such as intellectual property (which relates to the protection of ideas and designs) and medical law, value undergraduate degrees in science, for example. It is important to keep in mind that whatever subject you do choose to study, almost all pupils will have achieved either a first class or upper second class degree.
University – first and second years of a law degree and third year of a non-law degree
This is the period during which you should start to think much more seriously about a potential career at the Bar. The rewards can be great in certain areas for those who are truly committed to becoming a barrister and have the ability to succeed. But it is also important for you to be aware that the path to the Bar is long, competitive, challenging and expensive. You might have been thinking about becoming a barrister for several years before you get to this stage. It is vitally important that you do not move on to the next stages of the process without first investigating thoroughly all of the facts and options available to you.
This is the period during which you should start to think much more seriously about a potential career at the Bar. The rewards can be great in certain areas for those who are truly committed to becoming a barrister and have the ability to succeed. But it is also important for you to be aware that the path to the Bar is long, competitive, challenging and expensive. You might have been thinking about becoming a barrister for several years before you get to this stage. It is vitally important that you do not move on to the next stages of the process without first investigating thoroughly all of the facts and options available to you.
If you are studying for a non-law degree, now is also a good time to consider where you want to undertake the law conversion course (GDL), making sure that you are aware of the deadlines for applications. If you are certain at this stage that you wish to go to the Bar, you should investigate the Inns of Court GDL scholarship deadlines, normally the first Friday in May in the year you intend to begin the GDL.
If you did not achieve either a first or upper second class degree, that is not necessarily the end of your path to becoming a barrister but you should be aware of the high level of competition before registering for the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). It will make things more difficult, but you should concentrate on gaining as much relevant experience as possible to demonstrate that you are still a strong candidate who should be considered.
University – final year of law degree, GDL or equivalent
By now, you will have a fairly strong ambition to join the legal profession, though you may not have decided whether to become a barrister or a solicitor. This is an opportunity for you to try to take the final steps towards ensuring that your CV stands out, including seeking as much relevant work experience as possible.
By now, you will have a fairly strong ambition to join the legal profession, though you may not have decided whether to become a barrister or a solicitor. This is an opportunity for you to try to take the final steps towards ensuring that your CV stands out, including seeking as much relevant work experience as possible.
If you did not study for a law degree then you need to complete the GDL. The GDL is effectively a law degree completed in one year (over two years if you study part-time). You will cover qall of the core legal subjet area, and some providers offer additional modules (at an extra cost).
Attending events for university students interested in a career at the Bar is essential – whether these are organised through your law/Bar student societies, local chambers or the Inns of Court.
You will need to consider which of the four Inns of Court you would like to join: Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple or Gray’s Inn. All four Inns undertake a number of activities for university students who are not yet members which allow you to meet practitioners and judges to learn about a career at the Bar.
The BPTC scholarship deadline at the Inns of Court is the first Friday in November the year before you intend to commence your course but you will want to start preparing early in the academic year if not before. You must join an Inn of Court by 31 May in the year you commence the BPTC.
Before starting the BPTC, you must successfully pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT). This tests students’ critical thinking and reasoning, the core skills required for the BPTC. The aim of the BCAT is to ensure that those undertaking the BPTC have the required skills to succeed.