A career as a barrister

Barristers do the following:  Advise clients on the law and the strength of their case  Hold conferences with clients to discuss problems arising in the case, and to provide legal advice  Represent clients in court  Negotiate settlements with the opposing counsel What barristers do

 Written and Oral communication skills  Numeracy skills  Analytical thinking  Good memory  Interpersonal skills  Ability to remain emotionally detached  Resilience Necessary Skills

The Three Stages of Qualification: AAcademic Stage (Qualifying law degree or GDL) BVocational Stage (Bar Professional Training Course) CProfessional Stage (12 months pupillage) Qualifying as a barrister

Ways In:  Qualifying Law Degree then BPTC  Non-law degree then GDL then BPTC  Non-qualifying law degree, then part GDL to complete Core Topics then BPTC  Transfer from solicitor  Transfer from overseas lawyer qualification Qualifying as a barrister

Core academic subjects:  Constitutional and Administrative Law  The Law of Contract  Criminal Law  Equity and Trusts  EU Law  Land Law (Property Law)  Law of Torts Qualifying law degree

 Advocacy  Civil and Criminal Litigation  Conference Skills  Drafting  Opinion Writing  Legal Research  Professional Ethics  Alternative Dispute Resolution Bar Professional Training Course

Pupillage (professional stage): 12 months supervised by a barrister. Pupillage is in chambers, or with an approved training organisation.  First 6 - shadowing  Second 6 shadowing and entitled to work and earn fees Pupillage

Pupillage Award (from Chambers):  £1,000 a month minimum, for 12 months  Some chambers pay up to £65,000 a year  Chambers which pay more than the minimum may permit early grant applications to support BPTC fees Pupillage

Only the 4 Inns of Court can award the degree of barrister-at-law, so to be called to the Bar you must be a member. The 4 Inns are:  Gray’s Inn  Lincoln’s Inn  Inner Temple  Middle Temple Before Call, you must complete 12 Qualifying Sessions with your Inn. This may be training sessions or dining in Hall. Dining teaches social skills needed for practice, and provides opportunity to network with barristers in practice. Called to the Bar

2013/2014  BPTC Applications: 2,941  BPTC Enrolments: 1,565 (53% of those who applied)  BPTC Pass rates: 1,071 (68% of those enrolled) Number of pupillages:  First Six: 397 (37% of those who passed the BPTC)  Second Six: 448 (42% of those who passed the BPTC) Facts and Figures

2013/2014 Gender balance of the Bar (called to the Bar):  Men: 730 (50%)  Women: 726 (50%)  No data: 3 Gender balance of pupillages members (First Six)  Men: 217 (55%)  Women: 177 (45%)  Total: 394 (37% of those who passed the BPTC) Facts and Figures

PLAN NOW! The BPTC  University or College choices impact chances of enrolling for the BPTC course  Extra-curricular activities to improve your CV Pupillage  What is your Unique Selling Point?  The challenge of your CV is to get you an interview Top Tips

You may want to try the following:  Debating or Mooting  Voluntary work in your community  Work experience (shadowing a solicitor or a barrister)  Marshalling (Shadowing) a Judge  Mini-pupillages (maximum of 3 is advised) Top Tips

Inns of Court The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn Treasury Office, 8 South Square, London WC1R 5ET Tel: The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn Treasury Office, London WC2A 3TL Tel: The Honourable Society of Inner Temple Treasury Office, Crown Office Row, Inner Temple, London EC4Y 7HL Tel: The Honourable Society of Middle Temple The Treasury Office, Ashley Building, Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9BT Tel: Useful Contacts