Skip to content
HelpContact usLogin

How to become a barrister

Barristers are highly qualified specialist legal professionals providing expert legal advice and representing clients in courts and tribunals. The path to the Bar demands commitment, rigorous training, and strategic career planning. Understanding the process is your first step toward this prestigious profession.

This guide outlines the key stages, timelines, and qualifications needed to become a barrister, helping you navigate your journey effectively.

Request callback
A barrister wig

Jump to

How long does it take?
Steps to qualification
Gaining experience
Career paths
An icon of a document with a badgeSummary
FAQs

How long does it take to become a Barrister?

Timelines vary based on your qualifications and chosen route. Generally, it takes between five to six years.

The law degree route

5 years

The non-law degree route

Approximately 6 years

Steps and qualifications to becoming a Barrister

The journey to becoming a qualified barrister involves a series of clear steps and the attainment of specific qualifications. These are intertwined, as each step often requires a corresponding qualification. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to achieve:

First, you'll need a foundational legal education. This means either:

  • Getting a law degree in England and Wales (typically a 3-year LLB) with at least a 2:2 grade.

  • Completing a non-law degree (minimum 3 years) followed by a validated law conversion course (like the PGDL, usually 1 year).

This fulfils the academic element of your qualifications.

Work experience

Practical experience is essential for securing pupillage and standing out in a competitive field.

Mini-pupillage

This is a highly regarded form of working experience that gives you a great deal of insight into what being a barrister is really like. Usually lasting between one to five days, a mini-pupillage is a practical work experience and shadowing opportunity within a set of chambers. Not only will it look great on your CV, but you’ll get a genuine insight into what life at the Bar is like.

Marshalling

Judge marshalling involves sitting in court with a judge for up to a week and gives students a great deal of insight into the English legal system. The week you spend shadowing a judge will allow you to get invaluable firsthand experience.

Hear experienced barristers present their cases, arguments or applications to the judge, understand the daily practices of a courtroom and get an in-depth understanding of the kind of career you’re working so hard for.

Getting a judge marshalling placement can be done in a couple of different ways. You could apply directly to the Inns of Court or you could contact your local Crown or County Court to find out if there are any opportunities to shadow a judge in your local area.

Moot court

Getting involved in moot societies within your university is a great way to gain the hands-on experience you’ll need to become a top-notch barrister. Mooting involves participating in a mock appeal trial and will help you sharpen skills like identifying and understanding legal issues, structuring legal arguments and presenting those arguments to a court.

Joining your university mooting team allows you to learn and grow as a budding barrister and will also showcase your enthusiasm for the law and advocacy to future employers.

Types of Barristers

You completed your education and training and you are now a qualified barrister. Now you can start practicing and provide specialist legal advice to clients, as well as represent them in both courts and tribunals. What does that look like practically?

Continuously understanding and interpreting the law
Negotiating settlements
Oral and written advocacy
Preparing legal opinions, arguments and court documents

What law you’ll be working within and the types of clients you’ll be working for will depend on the area(s) of law you decide to specialise in. Your career journey will naturally evolve as you decide which areas of law you find most interesting. It is important to take active steps to foster and grow your expertise, experience and network in the areas of law you’d like to specialise in.

Here are some of the options that will be available to you:

  • Commercial law

  • Chancery law (estates and trusts)

  • Common law (e.g., family, housing, and personal injury law)

  • Criminal law

  • Human Rights law

  • Entertainment law

  • Environmental law

  • Sports law

Working in chambers or as an in-house counsel

Regardless of your speciality, you will need to decide whether you want to work in ‘chambers' or as in-house counsel for a law firm, business or other organisation.

TenanciesBarristers working in ‘chambers’ are in ‘tenancy’. A ‘set’ of barristers’ chambers is a group of barristers who operate from a designated set of offices, usually within the same building. Their specialist fields are often complimentary within one of the broad practice areas of the Bar, such as Chancery or Common Law. As part of their tenancy, barristers will pay towards the upkeep of the offices, and clerical and administrative support.
In-house counselBarristers who don’t work in chambers can go on to work for a law firm, business or other organisation as ‘in-house counsel’, including roles at local and central government, the CPS, and in industry. These roles tend to be salaried, rather than the self-employed approach of chambers.

Summary

Becoming a barrister is a structured yet flexible process, offering opportunities to tailor your learning to your strengths and interests. Whether you opt for a law degree or a conversion course, gaining practical experience and building a network will be key to your success.

Dedication, resilience, and the right training will unlock your potential in this challenging yet rewarding profession.

Frequently asked questions

If you have an undergraduate degree that is unrelated to law, you can take a validated law conversion course (1 year) to begin your journey toward becoming a barrister.

Speak to an adviser