Becoming a barrister is very competitive process and applicants need to show a high level of ability, experience and enthusiasm in order to be successful.
The route to qualification involves gaining experience in chambers and attending qualifying sessions at an Inn of Court. You can begin building your work experience at undergraduate level, whether you're studying law or not. Gaining work experience at this stage will support your application for the Bar course, as well as further down the line.
Prospective Bar course applicants are advised to build experience through mini-pupillages during their time at university. A mini-pupillage involves spending two weeks shadowing a barrister at a chambers and it will help prepare you for applying for, and undertaking a pupillage, after your Bar course.
This advice is relevant to law and non-law undergraduates. Researching different areas of law is a good starting point for considering a legal career - if you're here, then you've already started!
If you're not studying law, it's worth thinking about these things in the final year of your degree
Mini-pupillages are two-week voluntary placements with a legal chambers usually undertaken by students doing law degrees or graduate law conversion courses. These placements are of increasing importance due to the high level of competition for pupillages. Some law schools recommend that students take three mini-pupillages while studying.
Gray's Inn: www.graysinn.org.uk
Inner Temple: www.innertemple.org.uk
Lincoln's Inn: www.lincolnsinn.org.uk
Middle Temple: www.middletemple.org.uk