Advice for Applicants
If you are serious about a career as a barrister, you will know that it is a competitive process. To stand out, you will need to show that you are dedicated to the profession, that you know what the work entails, and that you have the relevant skills and experience.
We have listed below some of the main ways in which you can get experience and learn some of the necessary skills. This is not an exhaustive list – you are an individual and if you have an unusual hobby or a background in a different profession then by all means make the most of it in your applications! However, if you are looking for ways to get experience and to build your CV as a future barrister then you may find these suggestions helpful.
Please see the timetable and checklist
Academic
You will need at least a II(ii) Honours degree to join the BPTC course. However, the Bar values high academic achievement, and if you are still at university we strongly recommend that you prioritise your studies. Some sets of chambers only rarely consider pupils with anything less than a first class degree, and many chambers will only consider candidates with a II(i) and above.
Some students choose to do an LLM or a Masters in a different subject before taking the BPTC course. This is entirely a matter of personal preference, although it may boost your prospects if you feel you have under-performed in your undergraduate degree and could demonstrate your true ability on a postgraduate course.
Mini-Pupillages
Mini-pupillages are short periods of work experience (usually one week) in a set of chambers. You will shadow a member of chambers, learning what their work involves. Mini-pupillages provide an invaluable insight into life at the Bar and may provide some useful contacts to assist in finding pupillage. You are strongly advised to do at least one mini-pupillage before making pupillage applications. You can apply for mini-pupillages at any stage, although you may find it difficult to obtain one if you are still at school.
Some chambers require applicants to undertake an assessed mini-pupillage as part of the recruitment process, and others use it as one of their selection criteria. However, many chambers offer mini-pupillages which form no part of their selection process.
You can find out about mini-pupillages from individual chambers’ websites. The Pupillages and Awards Handbook provides details of which chambers offer mini-pupillages, as does the chambers entry on the Pupillage Portal website. You should apply direct to chambers enclosing a copy of your CV and specifying the dates you are available. The Student Officers at the Inns of Court can provide advice on obtaining a mini-pupillage.
Marshalling
Marshalling is where you sit with a judge, usually for a week. It gives you the chance to see barristers making submissions in court, and to discuss cases with the judge. The Inns of Court can help students on the BPTC and those trying to find pupillage to arrange marshalling.
Pro-bono Work
Doing voluntary legal work (‘pro-bono’) is a great way to get experience of advising people on legal issues and perhaps representing them in courts and tribunals. There are many organisations which take on volunteers in this role. Two of the main ones are the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and the Free Representation Unit.
Public Speaking
Being a barrister obviously entails lots of public speaking, and there are many ways to get public speaking experience. Many universities run debating societies. You should also look out for mooting competitions in which students make submissions on a legal point as if they were in court. Your own law school will run moots and there are also many regional and national mooting competitions. There are also mock trial competitions, including an annual competition between students from all the BPTC providers. Of course, there are many other ways of getting public speaking experience, including acting, teaching, or involvement in your students’ union.
Paid Work
Doing paid work related to the law can also be an excellent way of getting relevant experience. The most common jobs which students do part-time or during periods when they are not studying are paralegal jobs with firms of solicitors, helping to manage cases, and outdoor clerking jobs, also with solicitors, taking notes in court.
Other Work Experience
Many Chambers are interested to see candidates have experience of the real world – work in the voluntary sector, teaching and non-legal jobs can be invaluable.
Other Sources of Information
Make the most of the assistance on offer to you. The Education and Training Departments at the Inns of Court organise moots, public speaking, debating and marshalling, and will often read pupillage application forms for you, help in the preparation of CVs and arrange mock interviews. The Inns also run mentor schemes which put you in touch with a practising barrister. Do not be frightened of getting in touch and picking their brains about the job! You can also contact chambers directly if you have specific questions about what they do, what they look for in their pupils, and so on.
