Barrister
Barristers give advice to solicitors and represent people in disagreements, investigations and in court.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In your day-to-day duties you could:
- meet with clients and take on cases
- research the law and cases similar to the one you're working on
- read witness statements and reports
- offer legal advice and your opinion
- negotiate settlements out of court
- prepare legal arguments and court briefs
- question witnesses and present cases to the judge and jury
Working environment
You could work in a court, at chambers or in an office.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- lead a team
- become a manager
- apply to become a King's Counsel (KC)
- become a judge
- become an ombudsman
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- persuading skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- pass background checks
How to become
You can get into this job through a university course or by working towards this role.
You could do a degree in law to become a barrister. You also have the option to do a degree in any subject and complete a Graduate Diploma in Law afterwards.
Once you've graduated, you need to complete:
- the Bar Professional Training Course which takes one year
- a year of practical training called a pupillage
To get into some universities you'll need to pass the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT).
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could start your career by working in a law firm or the law department of an organisation.
With support from your employer, you could complete a qualification like the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law through the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
Solicitors
If you're a solicitor, you can apply to become a barrister if you get approval from the Bar Standards Board and sit a Bar Transfer Test.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Bar Council for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a barrister from:
Related careers
Related videos
Suggested videos
Coffee With is in early release mode with a limited number of videos. New videos are being added every week, so please check back for updates.
External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.