Barrister career path

We’ve outlined the process for becoming a barrister, from studying to pupillage, to qualifying. Your journey might differ slightly if you take a break from studying or study part time, so make sure you consider closing dates for the various Bar courses and pupillage applications.

In short, there are three stages to becoming a barrister:

• The academic stage (ie, an undergraduate degree (law or non-law) and a law conversion if required).
• The vocational stage, which is the Bar course.
• The pupillage/work-based learning stage, which involves one year practising as a pupil barrister.

There’s more information on each of these stages below. 

You can search Bar courses with LCN’s Courses search!

First-year law and second-year non-law students

Winter holiday and spring term

The key to this year is thinking ahead. Focus on doing as well as you can in your studies, do your homework on the Bar, and get involved in activities that’ll build up your skills and look good on your CV (eg, joining your student law society and getting involved in its activities, debating/mooting, writing for the campus newspaper or joining a sports team).  

Research and apply for work experience (be it a mini-pupillage or a non-formal placement) in chambers for your summer holiday. Try to arrange a few stints in different chambers to get an overview of the various work areas. 

For an alternative way to pick up much-needed experience, see our Pro bono initiatives section.

Remember that without work experience, any application for pupillage is unlikely to be taken seriously. Work experience will not only give you a stronger CV but should also help you to decide whether the Bar is for you.

Join one of the four Inns of Court, which are non-academic societies that provide activities and support for barristers and student barristers. You must join an Inn at least 12 weeks before you start your Bar course, but it’s a case of the earlier, the better in terms of getting involved with the activities or using the facilities (eg, library and common rooms).

Find out more about joining an Inns of Court in LCN’s Feature.

Second-year law and final-year non-law students

Autumn term, winter holidays and spring term

Attend relevant careers events, including careers fairs, presentations, talks and pupillage fairs). Look into funding possibilities for postgraduate training (eg, local education authority grants and inn scholarships).

Keep applying for mini-pupillages – you want to have completed a few of these by the time you apply for a real pupillage.

Read our Meet the Lawyer interviews to find out how valuable pupillage was for these practising barristers.

Non-law degree students must apply for a law conversion course (often called the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) but it can be found under other names too). If you intend to study full time, you should apply through the Central Applications Board from September onwards in your final year at university.

There isn’t a closing date for applications; rather, applications are dealt with as they’re submitted and institutions are notified weekly of new submissions. Applications for part-time courses must be made directly to the provider.

Summer holidays

Find out about pupillage applications. Look at the different Bar course providers and check their application details. Try to gain some work experience or shadow a solicitor or barrister.

Final-year law and GDL students

Autumn term 

Hot on the heels of your mini-pupillages, start making applications for pupillage. Finalise your funding options and be clear about closing dates for funding applications.

For more on funding, see Barrister finances. 

Applications for a place on a Bar course must be made directly to the university or law school providing the course.

Spring term

Attend pupillage fairs (but note that the National Pupillage Fair is usually held in late November – if you can attend this during the winter term, be sure to go along). 

Applications for pupillage are made through the centralised site, the Pupillage Gateway. Most chambers enable you to apply through the Pupillage Gateway, but some still require direct applications. Nevertheless, all pupillage vacancies at both types of chambers are listed on the system, so wherever you plan to apply, you should start by checking the Pupillage Gateway. Be aware that chambers that are not members of the Gateway (but still must list their pupillages on the system) will have varying deadlines and methods of application, so check individual websites for details.  

The Pupillage Gateway opens for applications every January, with applications closing a month later. However, candidates can log in to the Gateway to browse vacancies and start preparing their applications from late November.

Find out how the Pupillage Gateway works in this Oracle.

As a rule of thumb, you should apply for pupillage at least a year before you wish to start (ie, in January 2024 for a pupillage beginning in September 2025). You can apply to up to 20 member chambers (but as many non-member chambers as you like).

For more information on when to apply, see Pupillage deadlines.

Summer term

Pupillage offers via the centralised system will be made during May (the next date being 10 May 2024). If necessary, obtain a certificate for completion of the academic stage of legal training from the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

Bar course

If you were unsuccessful in your pupillage applications last year, apply again this year in the same way as above.

Once you’ve successfully completed the Bar course, you’ll have to undertake 10 qualifying sessions with your Inn (eg, skills-based workshops, online seminars and residential training weekends) before being called to the Bar by your Inn of Court.

Pupillage

Pupillage is one year (or two years if being completed part time) spent in an authorised training organisation (either a barristers' chambers or another approved legal environment), usually split into two six-month periods referred to as 'sixes'.

First six

The first six is referred to as the non-practising months. Without practising, you’ll observe and assist your pupil supervisor and other barristers in chambers. The intention is that you share your supervisor’s daily professional life. 

Second six

The second six is referred to as the practising months. During these six months you’ll be entitled to supply legal services and exercise rights of audience as a barrister. You may have cases and your own clients, who you’ll represent in court. This is when you start to build up your reputation as a barrister. 

At the end of the second six, you must submit a certificate to the BSB certifying that the second six has been satisfactorily completed. Provided that certain training conditions are met, you’ll be granted a full qualification certificate. Congratulations – you’re a barrister!