1. Understanding the legal market

Do you answer mainly YES or mainly NO to the following questions?

1. Do I want to spend much of my time speaking in public, presenting arguments on behalf of my client in court rooms?

2. Would I enjoy the freedom of self-employment and managing my own financial affairs? Can I manage without a formal support structure which employers provide, for example no sick leave pay?

3. Am I prepared to try to enter a profession where there are fewer than 500 training positions (pupillages) per year?

4. Do I want to become an expert in a particular field of law and write specialist opinion answers to questions about complex areas of law given to me by other lawyers?

5. Am I comfortable with the idea of only being given a short amount of time to become familiar with a case before going to court? This means getting to know the client, understanding all relevant documents and preparing an argument at short notice.

6. Do I have the stamina to appear in a variety of different courts across the country, often preparing cases in the evenings and weekends?

7. Do I have excellent academic grades (at least a 2:1 degree)?

8. Do I want to work on a case from start to finish, from taking initial instructions from a client through to potentially attending court with them at the end of the case?

9. Do I enjoy drafting documents?

10. Do I wish to work in an employed capacity?

11. Would I prefer to avoid speaking in court?

12. Do I want to establish long term relationships with clients who return to me with their legal matters?

13. Would I enjoy being based in an office for much of my work?

14. Would I prefer to try to apply to the side of the profession with slightly less competition for training places and where the occasional lower grade is more likely to be forgiven?

If you answered YES to most of questions 1 to 7 above you may wish to consider a career as a barrister.

If you answered YES to most of questions 8 to 14 above you may wish to consider a career as a solicitor.

No, many students join us with no particular sector or practice area in mind.

However, if you think you may want to apply to large corporate or commercial, City and regional firms, be aware that the deadlines are usually in July and they recruit 2 years ahead. We advise you to apply early so that you don’t miss the deadline and have to wait another year.

Often the process of making applications, researching employers and understanding your skillset, helps you decide. Knowing which type of firms you’re interested in helps you build up your CV and experience in areas that are most likely to impress your future employer.

Start by working through the first 5 StEPs of this programme to clarify the size, location and kind of client you want to work with, as well as what motivates you. Our experienced career consultants can also help you decide.

Around a quarter of all training opportunities are with big City firms in London and over half of all vacancies are concentrated in London and the South East of the UK.

Most training opportunities are found in private practice (i.e. law firms).

Look at LawCareers.Net and student guides, such as Chambers and Partners, which give you a breakdown of the market each year.

Further statistical information is available from the Law Society.

The Bar Standards Board has the latest statistics and additional information.

There are certain terms you’ll need to get to understand. The main terms to understand now are BPC (formerly known as BPTC) meaning the Bar Practice Course, and pupillage which is the period of work based experience you need after your course, before you can be a practising barrister.

Pupillages are broken down into a first six (first 6 months of your pupillage) and a second six (second 6 months). In the first six, you are non-practising and will assist your pupil supervisor. During your second six you can work on your own cases under supervision and can accept instructions with the approval of your supervisor or head of chambers.

After completing the first and second six and then qualifying, it is possible to undertake a third six. Sometimes barristers continue working at the same chambers while they wait for a tenancy opportunity to arise or switch to another set for a third six, in order to gain experience in a new area of law.

Other terms associated with the Bar is squatters - the name given to those who work from a set of chambers, taking on work from the clerks, even though they are not a member of chambers. Squatters are responsible for themselves and are not supervised as a pupil undertaking a third six would be. Squatting usually occurs when a barrister is waiting for or trying to secure tenancy.

Another term is devilling which means doing paperwork for other members of chambers to use as their own.

The Bar Standards Board has more information on legal terms.