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If there was a question that fills me with dread, it's this one. Yes, I know I chose the Bar and yes, there was a reason for that. If I’m honest, I chose the Bar because of the earning prospects. I'm also pretty sure I’m not alone in this decision – except maybe those who choose the Criminal Bar. Jokes aside, there are many reasons to choose the Bar, but here are my top five.

Want to know more? Check out this LCN article on 'Life as a barrister'.

1. Money

It's no secret that the Bar is an incredibly affluent field, especially within the corporate sector. Pupillage awards can go as high as £80,000 and junior barristers often make much more. With a few years of experience, you could earn millions per case. If money is a big factor for you, the Bar may just be your calling.

2. Advocacy

As someone with a background in the performing arts, advocacy was one of my strongest reasons to pursue law. It's a chance to stand in the spotlight and make my case. I had dreams of wowing the jury, the judge and anyone watching with my dramatic pauses and clear-cut words. If you're unsure whether advocacy is for you, try out mooting or go to your local court and watch barristers in action.

3. Independence

Being a member of the self-employed Bar means you work for no one and answer to no one. I want to be my own boss, set my own times and conduct my own research, so choosing the Bar was a no-brainer. There may be the occasional teamwork, but the Bar is an independent profession. The downside of this is that there will often be many nights alone reading cases in chambers or long train journeys alone - it can get incredibly lonely. If you thrive on human interaction and the thought of sitting alone in a room for hours conducting research horrifies you, the Bar may not be for you.

4. Prestige

Telling people that I'm training to be a barrister and watching the look of awe that takes over their features is one of my favourite parts of being a Bar student. It's a difficult and rigorous field that only a select few manage to enter. Plus, there are the Inns of Court (think Harry Potter and its different 'houses') that host formal dinners and black-tie events that greatly resemble those in the Bridgerton series.

5. Variety

While I didn't choose to pursue law until I was about 18, I always knew that I couldn’t do the same thing every day. I crave variety, which makes the Bar a perfect fit. It’s rare, if not impossible, to come across two cases that are the same – you’ll always need to apply the law to different facts. On top of that, the law is always changing so keeping on top of it is of the utmost importance.

Whether or not the Bar is for you comes down to your values and your individual nature. There are many rewards to becoming a barrister, but it’s a difficult path to go down. If it’s something you’d like to explore, speaking to your university career counsellors or experiencing a mini pupillage should help you decide.