How do I get a job as a barrister?

Everything you need to know about qualifying as a barrister, finding pupillage vacancies and working life at the Bar. Whether you want to know about pupillage awards, OLPAS applications or how to become a barrister without a law degree, you can find answers to key questions here.

BAR JARGON: pupillage, the Bar vocational course, chambers, tenancy, the employed Bar… For more analysis go to the Bar jargon-buster

A career as a barrister entails providing specialist legal advice and representing clients in court. Most barristers are self-employed but operate collectively from organisations known as ‘chambers’ or ‘sets’. A small number work in-house for companies or solicitors’ firms (known as the ‘employed Bar’) or for the Government Legal Service or Crown Prosecution Service. Graduates from any degree background can become a barrister; however, you’ll need to complete at least one year of further study first (see below), then look for a one-year training place – known as pupillage – in chambers or with another approved provider. Most chambers’ pupillage recruitment programmes are annual, sometimes recruiting graduates as much as two years in advance.

What is a barrister?
Working life as a barrister

Training as a barrister

If you’re a non-law graduate interested in a career as a barrister, you need to take a law conversion course, known as the common professional examination (CPE) or the graduate diploma in law (GDL). These tend to take one year full time. Alternatively, a few institutions offer a two-year masters’ course, which goes into more depth. Both law graduates and non-law graduates must then take the Bar vocational course (BVC), which lasts one year full time. The next step is to complete your pupillage year at a barristers’ set, during which you will shadow an experienced barrister and possibly take on your own cases. Once you have completed pupillage you will need to find a set to take you on permanently – this is known as ‘tenancy’.

How to become a barrister
Law conversion courses
The Bar vocational course (BVC)
How pupillage works
Finding a tenancy
The Bar Standards Board - further information on qualifying for the Bar

Pupillage applications

Many chambers’ graduate recruitment programmes operate 18 months to two years in advance so you’ll probably want to start applying for pupillage during the final year of your law degree or during your conversion course. Begin researching pupillage providers by picking up a copy of TARGETjobs Law from your university careers service or law department, then visit Pupillages.com, the home of the online pupillage application system (OLPAS). The website provides a directory of all chambers’ pupillage vacancies and application methods. Over 150 chambers use OLPAS, which allows you to apply to up to 24 chambers in one year using one online application form. You can apply to as many non-OLPAS chambers as you like.
Many sets offer students the opportunity to do a mini-pupillage, which is a chance to see what barristers’ jobs are really like by spending a few days in a set. They also let chambers find out about prospective pupils. Some sets run ‘assessed’ mini-pupillages, and tend to only accept pupillage applications from those who have done one.

Pupillages.com
Help with pupillage applications and interviews
Work experience for would-be barristers

How much do barristers earn?

During your pupillage year you’ll receive a ‘pupillage award’ – in effect, a salary – from your set. The minimum chambers are allowed to offer is £10,000; however, many sets pay much higher amounts – in some cases over £40,000 – which compare very favourably with graduate starting salaries in other career sectors. Once you become a tenant you’ll be self-employed and won’t receive a regular pay-check. Finances may take a little juggling in the first few years as there is inevitably a gap between billing for work and receiving fees; however, your earning potential will grow rapidly in your first few years. Criminal law is perhaps the least lucrative area but it’s not exactly a pittance. Earnings in commercial and chancery sets can be astronomical: in 2005–06, 30 barristers earned more than £1 million, while six tax specialists took home more than £2 million.