Step 1

Get your degree

A qualifying law degree is a first step on the road to becoming a barrister. It will exempt you from the CPE if it covers all seven 'foundations of legal knowledge: obligations I (contract) & II (tort); criminal law; equity and law of trusts; law of the European Union; property law and public law. Once completed, and within seven years of graduation, you can then apply for the Bar Vocational Course (BVC).

Academic results are important and, with a few exceptions, a 2:1 is pretty much a minimum requirement whether you have a law degree or not.

Some universities have arrangements with individual law schools whereby BVC places are guaranteed for students who achieve a certain grade. It is certainly worth finding out if your university has one of these. Some universities run their own. It is always a good idea to try to do a mini-pupillage at barristers' chambers. The experience you get and the contacts you make will be very helpful when it comes to applying for law school and pupillages.

There has been plenty of talk, but little action, about introducing common education for both sides – barristers and solicitors – of the legal profession.

For now, other than a university degree, the only postgraduate qualification common to both is the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for those who do not have qualifying law degrees.

Step 2

If you do not have a qualifying law degree, you will have to take the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or postgraduate Diploma in Law PgDL).

How long? One year (full-time); two years (part-time).

How much? up to £6,490.

When to apply? Third/final year of first degree.

Although the main route to becoming a barrister is the law degree route, there is evidence that, like law firms, chambers look favourably on candidates who choose the CPE/PgDL route because of the wider range of experience they get. The CPE/PgDL comprises one three-hour examination in each of the seven foundations of legal knowledge, plus one other area of legal study.

The course is offered by a multitude of institutions across the country, from universities to traditional law schools (details on the Law Society website).

However, applications for full-time courses should be made centrally by 2 February to the CPE Applications Board, PO Box 84, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1YX. Forms can be downloaded from www.lawcabs.ac.uk. Applications for part-time courses should be made directly to the relevant college.

Competition for places on the course can be fierce. The minimum grade in most colleges is a 2:2, but the substantial majority of students hold a 2:1.

Full-time students have three years in which to complete the CPE/PgDL and, except in extreme circumstances, a candidate cannot sit for an examination on more than three occasions. Completion of the CPE/PgDL does not automatically guarantee a place on the BVC. However, there are some institutions that do guarantee places if the CPE is passed at the same college, so check up on this when applying.

It is also worth checking the Bar contacts of your CPE course provider, because this can be helpful in attaining that all important mini-pupillage.

Step 3

Bar Vocational Course (BVC).

How long? One year (full-time); two years (part-time).

How much? Around £7,050 to £10,750.

When to apply? During the final year of a qualifying law degree or at the beginning of the CPE/PgDL course for non-law graduates.

All students must join one of the four Inns of Court (see box, page 25) before registering on the BVC. Eight educational establishments offer the course; prior to the 1997-98 academic year, it was only offered by the Inns of Court School of Law.

The purpose of the BVC is to ensure that students acquire the skills, knowledge of procedure and evidence, attitudes and competence to prepare them for the more specialised training in the 12 months of pupillage that will follow.

Although there is some variance between the courses, the main skills taught are divided into three groups: casework, which covers fact management legal research; written skills, which comprises general word skills, opinion writing (giving written advice) and drafting of documents; and interpersonal skills, which concentrates on interviewing clients, negotiation and advocacy.

From a legal knowledge point of view, the BVC covers civil and criminal litigation, evidence, sentencing and two optional subjects selected from a list of at least six. Assessment is by a combination of multiple choice
and written papers, as well as by video-recorded performance for the interpersonal skills modules.

Applications can be made online at www.bvconline.co.uk.

It is a similar concept to the online pupillage application system (Olpas) but has been carefully designed for the needs of BVC applicants and institutions. Further information can be found at www.legaleducation.org.uk.

In the past the pass rate has been around 80%. The primary consideration when awarding places is academic achievement and the minimum degree grade is a 2:2, although the majority of students have a 2:1.

Pupillage must be started within five years of completing the BVC.

Step 4

Pupillage

How long? One year.

How much? They pay you. For pupillages commencing since
January 2002, the minimum award (including any fees earned) is £5,000 for each six-month term.

When to apply? The year before commencing the BVC.

The Pach pupillage-clearing system has been replaced by Olpas. This has the advantage of allowing direct communication between applicants and chambers through a website. Application forms and offer or interview letters can now all be handled online. There are two deadlines each year. Students should go to www.olpas.co.uk for details of Olpas and the timetable.

From 1 January, 2003, new rules state that all pupillages must be advertised on one website at www.pupillage.co.uk. The vacancies will not appear directly on the site, but there will be direct links to all pupillage information and vacancies, both Olpas and non-Olpas. It will act as a 'gateway' to the information. This ensures that prospective pupils are able to get all the information they need from one source.

Pupillage is the final stage of the route to qualification at the Bar, in which the pupil gains practical training under the supervision of an experienced barrister. It is divided into two equal six-monthly parts, the 'first six' and 'second six'.

All pupillages are full time.

Working under the tutelage of a pupilmaster or pupilmistress, the pupil is expected to successfully complete a checklist of experience, which is usually tailored to the particular specialism of the chambers.

However, it will include most aspects of chambers life from dealing with the clerks to client conferences to advocacy.

Full details, including a sample completed checklist, are on the Bar Council website (see box, page 24).
The first six months are non-practising. Much of this time is spent shadowing the pupilmaster or pupilmistress. Until last year, it was compulsory for this to be served in a set of chambers. However, the rules have now been amended to allow law firms and commercial companies that employ barristers to offer both first and second sixes.

During the second six, the pupil is permitted to practise and to accept paid instructions from clients.

It must be started within 12 months of completing the first.

The second six may be completed in the same chambers, at another set or partially at a solicitor's office (in the UK or EU), at the European Commission in Brussels or Luxembourg, with a High Court or circuit judge, or with a solicitor or other professional with a practice relevant to your chambers. In addition, the full second six can be served with an 'employed' barrister in industry or with the European Commission in London.

Full details are available on the Bar Council website.

As well as completing the checklist and satisfying their pupilmaster or pupilmistress, pupils must complete further external training modules in advocacy training, advice to counsel (a practical course on working as a barrister) and forensic accountancy – either during pupillage or within the first three years of practice.

On successful completion of the second six and associated red tape, you will receive your final certificate. This will enable you to practise unsupervised.

About one-third of BVC students are unsuccessful in securing a pupillage. Chambers offered 766 pupillages in 2001-02.

Competition is likely to be intense, so applications should be made as early as possible, usually by July of the year before you begin the BVC.

Step 5

Get a tenancy

Tenancies, whether at the chambers where you trained or elsewhere, have to be applied for. They are not offered as a matter of right on successful qualification. Some chambers take pupils with a view to giving them all a
tenancy if they make the grade. Some take on more than they need and select the best at the end.

Pupillage is often described as a year-long job interview. To pass, pupils must show all-round ability, particularly in advocacy, research and writing skills.

The decision on whether to grant a tenancy is often taken by a committee a little while before the end of the second six.

If you do find yourself without a tenancy, there are several options. You can apply to do a 'third six' or 'squat' at another chambers. Or there are around 2,500 employed barristers working in commerce and industry.

Information can be obtained from the Bar Association for Commerce & Industry
(see box, page 24).

case study: regional pupil

Julia Belyavin
Age: 24
Studied: Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge University (Law)
BVC: Inns of Court School of Law
Pupillage: St John's in Bristol

"I wanted to become a barrister for a number of reasons. First, it may sound terribly earnest, but I did want to do something that involved helping people.

Second, I preferred court work. Third, it is nice to be self-employed because you have a bit more control over what you do.

I chose Bristol because that is where I ended up getting my offer of pupillage. I would not have minded staying in London but in retrospect I am glad I did move here.

case study: life on the bvc

Chris Watson
Age: 24
Studied: Dundee University
(English Law)
BVC: Nottingham Law School
Pupillage: St Philips, Birmingham

"I chose to become a barrister for a number of reasons.

After a trip to post-genocide Rwanda, which made me think a great deal about the issue of justice, I did a mini-pupillage which I really enjoyed.

Doing the BVC, and in particular the advocacy element of the course, just confirmed that I had made the right choice.

The course is a very practical one, all about acquiring the skills needed for a career as a barrister.

Typically, you would learn the procedures – applications for bail in a criminal matter or for an interim injunction in a civil context – in lectures and then be put into a practical setting where you would implement those procedures.

The BVC was very different from getting a degree – it required a much more professional attitude and you had to act accordingly.

The advocacy classes were done in groups of six, so you learned from others in a small setting. Being on the BVC, you really put yourself on the line. For the criminal exam I had to do a closing speech in front of a jury of 12 other students on the course.

For the exams they always get people from outside the course to play roles in order to make the scenario more believable. Nottingham Law School also has access to the old Guildhall court facility with a judge's bench.

This all helps to make it much more realistic.

Finding a pupillage is very hard, and the best piece of advice I received was to not take rejections personally. Lots of people get dozens of rejections before securing a pupillage.

The main thing is to keep on applying, continually improve your CV and gain more work experience such as a mini-pupillage. I did a lot of extra-curricular advocacy competitions that stood me in good stead.

The cost of doing the BVC after a degree means that you really have to want to become a barrister – I was £25,000 in debt at the end of university and law school. You also have to be honest about yourself and ask whether you have what it takes to succeed."

I spent the majority – around four months – of my first six in St John's family law department. This was mostly court-based work shadowing my pupil master and attending conferences with clients. I helped prepare skeleton arguments and statements of issues, but my role was mostly observational.

I also spent approximately six weeks in chambers' Chancery department, and this was more paper-based – drafting particulars of claim, defences and the like. I also spent a short amount of time in the criminal department.

For the last couple of weeks I followed junior members of chambers, just seeing what sort of work I would be doing in my second six.

During my second six, I have been in court pretty much every day. It is mostly family law work because that is what I came here to practise.

No two days are alike. Some days there will be long hours, where you are in at seven o'clock in the morning, you go off to court, and when you get back you work until midnight. Other days will not be as intensive.

As a pupil, you have to learn to be quite humble. If you get stuck, you can try and work it out yourself, but the reality is that you cannot know everything. It is much better to talk it through with a colleague. You need to accept you are at the bottom of the ladder and you are here to learn.

In terms of preparing you for life as a barrister, the honest answer is that the BVC does not come anywhere close. You do really basic things on the BVC – you are used to doing cases with just 25 pages. The first thing you will be handed in the real world are two lever arch files that you have to master for tomorrow.

There is also the human side. The BVC is not going to prepare you for moments such as when your client bursts into tears moments before you go into court.

My advice to any would-be barrister is to go out and get whatever experience you can. You should also explore all your options thoroughly. It is a big financial and time commitment to make it at the Bar."