Becoming a barrister

The Bar – the phrase commonly used to refer to the barrister profession - is becoming increasingly diverse, encouraging the best and the brightest to join, irrespective of background.

Understand the basics: what a barrister is, what they do and more about the legal sector.

Discover the three stages you must complete to become a barrister: academic, vocational and pupillage.

Start your journey to becoming a barrister with our detailed pages.

What is a barrister?

Barristers are independent specialist legal advisers and advocates who help individuals and organisations understand, pursue and defend their legal rights.

They’re probably best known for wearing wigs and gowns and presenting legal arguments in court. But there is much more than that to a career at the Bar. Some will not appear in court regularly and, in many courts, you don’t have to wear wigs and gowns anymore.

Barristers specialise in one or more areas of law (known as practice areas) and have in-depth knowledge, skills and expertise. Watch this video from COMBAR to find out more about one of these practice areas: commercial law.

As a barrister, you might be:

Offering legal advice and opinion
Arguing a case
Examining or cross-examining (questioning in court) witnesses and experts
Researching the law and preparing legal arguments

Where do barristers work?

Most barristers are self-employed (work for themselves) and they group together in offices known as ‘chambers’ where they pay ‘rent’ to cover building and staff costs.

Around a fifth of the Bar are employed barristers who work for an organisation like the government, banks or the military.

What’s the difference between barristers and solicitors?

In England and Wales, the legal profession is divided into two main groups: barristers and solicitors. Their work can often overlap as both offer legal advice and they represent and defend people and organisations. Most solicitors work at a law firm but some work at organisations, such as the government. Their work can range across a variety of practice areas. Some solicitors can transfer to the Bar and qualify as barristers if you get approval from the Bar Standards Board and sit a Bar transfer test.

Solicitors are often approached by a client (a member of the public or organisation) first. Usually, the solicitor then approaches a barrister to represent their client - this is known as instructing a barrister. The barrister will then provide specialist advice on the area of law they practice in and advocate on the client’s behalf.

You can find out more about becoming a solicitor on the Law Society’s website.

Other careers in the legal sector

Although barristers and solicitors are the two main groups, there are a variety of other careers in the legal sector including chartered legal executives, court legal advisers, paralegals, coroners and more. Head over to the National Careers Service to find out more about these and other legal careers.

Keep reading:
Three stages to becoming a barrister
Each stage in more detail
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Each stage in detail

How do I become a barrister?

Stage one: academic

3 to 5 years

You’ll begin your journey by doing a degree. You’ll need two to three A Levels or the equivalent to go to university. The grades you’ll need depend on the university course’s requirements. You can either study a degree in law (often referred to as an LLB) or any subject plus a conversion course. This is a graduate diploma in law (GDL) and can be done full or part-time. Alternatively, you can do a joint GDL and master of laws course.

Stage two: vocational

1 to 2 years

Next you will have to apply for a Bar training course (also referred to as Bar vocational studies or Bar professional training course). This is a postgraduate course which can be completed full or part-time. Have a look at the list of Authorised Education and Training Organisations that provide Bar training. The 4 Inns of Court (Lincoln’s, Inner, Middle and Gray’s) offer scholarship opportunities for all students expecting to start the course – find out more about funding and scholarships.

Stage three: pupillage

1 year to 18 months

This is the final stage of your journey to becoming a member of the Bar. Pupillage is the work-based stage – like a paid apprenticeship – which is split into your ‘first six’ and ‘second six’, your non-practising and your practising period. Pupillage can be completed in chambers or at an organisation like the Crown Prosecution Service. You then apply for tenancy in chambers as a self-employed barrister or for a permanent position with an organisation as an employed barrister.

We've detailed the steps for you on these pages so you'll find out how to become a barrister from whichever stage you’re at.