06 November 2022
What does it entail?
The pathway to a career at the Bar is a lot vaguer than the one at a law firm. There is no one way to become a tenant in the Chambers. Some are certain that they want to pursue this career and choose to follow the steps, which will be later discussed in this article, to obtain a pupillage. Whereas others decide to pursue a career as a solicitor or a completely non-legal career first and at a later stage in life, go to the Bar. Neither pathway to the Bar is easier and both come with their strengths and implications.
Successful CV writing
During the undergraduate degree, many law students already have an idea of whether they would like to become a solicitor, a barrister, or pursue a non-legal career. There are a lot of opportunities at the university to improve your CV and make it stand out in the application process. One of the ways to do so is through academic competitions, especially mooting. It helps develop your advocacy skills, which is specifically what the career at the Bar requires. Similarly, participation in essay competitions is valued as well because it will show good writing skills and the genuine will to improve them. Another good way of improving your CV is through legal volunteering. This could either be with your university’s legal advice center or any other external organization. This experience would show excellent time management and organization skills, as well as improve your understanding of practical law.
If you are a non-law student and would like to become a barrister, you would need to complete your undergraduate degree with at least a 2:2 and apply for a Graduate-entry law degree, an LLM (Master of Laws) or a GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law). It would be beneficial to acquire a similar experience for your CV during your law postgraduate study, as an LLB student would.
The application process
The first stage of obtaining a pupillage would be to complete 3-4 mini-pupillages during the second and third years of your undergraduate degree. This is the opportunity to explore different areas of law and see which one of them you are most passionate about. If you already have an idea of the area of law you would like to go into, or perhaps even Chambers where you would like to secure a pupillage, you should complete a pupillage in that area of law / Chambers towards the end of your mini-pupillage experience. This will allow you to better understand the structure of the programme and show a better performance. Keep in mind that some Chambers require you to complete a mini-pupillage with them before applying for actual pupillage.
Once you have completed your mini-pupillages and have already shaped an idea of the area of law you definitely want to pursue at the Bar, it is time to complete the Bar Vocational Course, which is similar to the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). Both courses can be completed as part of the LLM. Keep in mind that before beginning the vocational component of your studies, you must join an Inn of Court. There are 4 you can choose from Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple. You must apply 12 months before you begin your vocational component.
As soon as you have successfully completed the Bar Training Course, you should apply for a pupillage. There are a lot of Chambers to choose from, which specialize in different areas of law and have different cultures. It is important to determine the reason why you are interested in those Chambers. This will allow you to sound firmer in your application and efficiently answer Chamber-related questions in the interview. The pupillage consists of a 6-month non-practicing period and a 6-month practicing period. Once your supervisor confirms your successful completion of the pupillage, you will receive a Practicing Certificate, which will allow you to become a practicing barrister in England and Wales. After your successful obtainment of the Certificate, you can either become a tenant in the Chambers that you completed your pupillage at or become a tenant in any other Chambers.
Tips from barristers
The pathway to the Bar is extremely competitive and requires a lot of work and dedication. Before beginning this pathway, make sure that this is the career for you. Many barristers advise that if still in doubt, try becoming a solicitor first and see if you like working in a law firm. There is always time to transfer to the Bar. Similarly, even if you decide that working in a law firm is not for you, it will be a very valuable work experience for your future career at the Bar. When you finally decide to apply and get to the interview stage, keep in mind that this shows that you have a lot of the academic and work-related qualities that the Chambers are looking for. This time, it is important to show that you have good values. The Chambers are not only looking for tenants who have outstanding academic achievements but also for people with good personalities because you will probably stay in those Chambers for the next 20 years. Finally, make sure that your application and your interview complement each other. The interviewer already knows everything you mentioned in the application form and wants to know more.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career at the Bar can be very challenging and stressful. Not as many people as you would expect who started the BPTC ended up becoming a tenant. There are of course personal reasons for that, as well as the fact that this pathway contains a lot of pressure. However, if you have the right skills and determination to work hard, you will realize that once you become a tenant, a career at the Bar is very rewarding.
