Barristers | Pupillages | Mini-pupillages

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Barristers

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Key advice for aspiring barristers

Everything you need to know

Black barristers: are wigs outdated?

Barrister wigs have been a long-standing tradition since the 17th Century, but is the dress code outdated and alienating aspiring barristers from pursuing careers at the Bar?

Noreen Siddique - The Bar of England and Wales: full time or part time?

Noreen Siddique

More than 1,500 students each year study for the Bar course in the hope of achieving their goal of becoming practising barristers. Many students are left disappointed without any real understanding of why they couldn’t secure pupillage.

The LCN Podcast

Bar course, scholarships and pupillage applications

We speak to Bar student Dani about her journey to becoming a barrister – including what the Bar course entails, pupillage applications and how to secure a scholarship to fund your studies.

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Becoming a barrister

Barrister career path

The whole process from studying, to pupillage, to qualifying

Bar Training Courses (BTC/BPTC)

The one-year, postgraduate vocational course

Mini-pupillage

Essential work experience in chambers

The Bar Standards Board

Find out what the Bar Standards Board do

The Bar Council of England and Wales

Everything you need to know about the Bar Council

The Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee

Find out what the YBC do

Meet the Lawyer

Read how today's barristers went from student to qualified barrister at the Bar

Meet the Lawyer

Hannah Daly is a junior barrister at 4 New Square. In this profile she discusses the importance of mini pupillages and her work in civil fraud, international arbitration and professional negligence.

Meet the Lawyer

Fiona Stewart is a family law barrister at Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB). Read her advice on mini-pupillages, choosing a practice area and chambers to apply to, and find out what makes QEB stand out in this Meet the Lawyer.

Meet the Lawyer

Sam Glover’s journey to the Bar was far from traditional – from leaving school at age seven to pursuing a career in music, Sam’s journey is an exciting read. Learn about the value of mini-pupillages, the lessons to be learned and what being a tax barrister involves in this Meet the Lawyer profile.

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Videos

See more videos

WHY ARE INNS SO IMPORTANT | Dani the Barrister

What to do in the second year of your LAW DEGREE

How I processed pupillage rejections | BLESSING AT THE BAR

Three years into my journey to the Bar | BLESSING AT THE BAR

Tips: Planning and Time Management | Dani the Barrister

Law Society calls for urgent action to clear criminal court backlogs

Law Society President Nick Emmerson has urged the next UK government to make a “sustained investment” into the criminal justice system, as recent figures (released on 13 June) show that the backlog of criminal cases is continuing to grow.

Salary and work/life balance top priority list for future lawyers, LCN user survey finds

Salary (49.55%) and work/life balance (48.65%) were rated as the most important factors that candidates are looking for in their future legal employer in LawCareers.Net’s user survey.

Law Society announces Legal Heroes of 2024 shortlist

The Law Society has shortlisted 19 nominees for its Legal Heroes 2024 ceremony. The celebration recognises solicitors who’ve made a positive difference to other people’s lives and the local community, while also bringing distinction to the legal profession.

Applications open for Bridging the Bar 2024/25 Academy

Bridging the Bar’s (BTB) 2024/25 Academy is set to begin in September, with the aim of increasing diversity at the Bar by preparing 100 aspiring barristers from non-traditional backgrounds for pupillage applications.

First steps

Are you a first-year law student?

Visit our first-year hub for specific advice and info about what you should be doing in your first year

The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Your guide to starting out!

How do I know whether the Bar is right for me?

I’m considering becoming a barrister, but how do I know whether the Bar is right for me?

Michael Edenborough KC

Intellectual property

"It is a brutal, but good, discipline to sit down and consider whether you have added substantive value to the case."

St John's Chambers

Planning & environment

"There’s just so much more public interest due to the important environmental impacts.”

Falcon Chambers

Landlord & tenant/housing

“The basic reason I am a property lawyer is because I am interested in the background of the cases I work on. If I wasn’t a property lawyer, I wouldn’t be a lawyer at all!"

Not studying law?

Tips for non-law students

Check out our non-law hub for key information

A non-law student’s guide to a career in law

You don’t need a law degree to become a lawyer – in fact, the modern legal profession is full of non-law graduates.

Inns Of Court scholarships

The different scholarships, bursaries and grants awarded by Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, Lincoln's Inn and Middle Temple and how to apply for them

How and when to submit applications for the Bar Courses

What will it cost?

The cost of qualifying as a barrister is expensive so investigate potential sources of funding at each stage of the process.

Working as a barrister

Life as a barrister

Everything you need to know from tenancy to continuing professional development.

Types of chambers

Discover the different kinds of barristers' chambers.

Barristers' practice areas

Each practice area has its own demands relating to knowledge, temperament, working practices and remuneration.

What else should I be reading?

Tips, tricks and all that's in-between!

Becoming a barrister: what are the Inns of Court?

The Inns of Court – what are they and why do you need to join one? LawCareers.Net answers your questions about the Inns of Court in this Feature, including when and how to join an Inn. If you’re an aspiring barrister, you must join an Inn to be called to the Bar. Read this guide to make sure you understand what steps you need to take to become a barrister.

Anisa Rahman Choudhury

What I learnt from judge marshalling

How does the 2024 pupillage application process work?

Do I have to apply for all pupillage vacancies through the Pupillage Gateway or do some barristers’ chambers have different application processes?

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