The Bar Council is experiencing some technical difficulties at the moment which are affecting our members' access to MyBar and the Direct Access Portal.
All other Bar Council systems are still functioning, including emails, the Bar Council website, Pupillage Gateway, Ethics & Practice Hub, and Wellbeing at the Bar website.
The Authorisation to Practise deadline has now been extended for a second month, to 30 June 2022, so all those who currently have practising certificates can continue to practise without the need to contact The General Council of the Bar of England and Wales. In the meantime, those who need a practising certificate because they are starting or returning to practice, can be authorised without a certificate if they email records@barcouncil.org.uk. For authorisation to practise without a provisional practising certificate please email contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk. The expiration date for the Professional Users Courts and Tribunals Access Scheme has also been extended until 31 May 2022 and we will begin this year’s renewal process as soon as we are able to do so.
We apologise if you have had difficulty contacting us during this time. Read our joint statement.
The Bar is a diverse profession which welcomes individuality and seeks to recruit the brightest talent, irrespective of background. There is advice and guidance available in our 'Becoming a barrister' brochure, co-produced with the Inns of Court. To become a barrister, you will need a degree (along with the Graduate Diploma in Law if it is a non-law degree). You will also need to complete the vocational component and pupillage/work-based component. You can find more information about careers at the Bar on the pages below.
The Bar Council aims to provide students with the information they need to reach an informed decision about a career at the Bar, ensure vocational training and pupillage equip barristers for success in the profession, and ensure that barristers develop and maintain the skills they need to sustain and advance their practice.
The Bar Council's activities, events, opportunities and resources promoting careers at the Bar are supported by The Council of the Inns of Court.
Profiling the experiences of barristers from "non-traditional" backgrounds
Guide to resources and support available to you when you join the Bar -2022 edition.
Articles from the Chair of the Bar, the young Bar, the employed Bar and more
