Career Path
Barristers have very long and diverse career paths that stem from a significant period of training both academically and vocationally. Barristers can specialize in many different areas of the law and can take on more senior roles as their experience grows. They may also opt to remain a self-employed barrister of law or instead be employed by a large company, agency or governmental office.
First Steps
A barrister's career begins with their law degree. Although it is preferred that barristers have done a straight degree in law, it is now possible to upgrade a non-law degree by completing an additional year of law-based subjects (a Diploma of Law, referred to as a Conversion Course by many of the legal associations within the United Kingdom). After completion of a law degree (or relevant conversion), students are then able to apply for admission to the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) that is run through the Inns of Court. Because there are far more applicants than positions, the process of applying for admission to the BVC is incredibly competitive and students with a first-class or high second-class degree are the applicants likely to be admitted. The Bar Vocational Course is one year full time or two years part time and allows for some degree of specialization.
Pupillage And Chambers
Once the Bar Vocational Course has been successfully completed the students are called to the Bar and officially become barristers. They are then able to either apply for a position of pupillage at a barristers' chambers or can choose instead to branch off into the fields of academic pursuit or commercial practice. Barristers hoping to go into practice (and appear in front of courts and have cases) must take up a pupillage. This period of training takes one year and in the case of criminal law is divided into two 'semesters': the 'first six' and the 'second six'. The first six involves a lot of in-chambers training and sitting in on cases whilst the second six will see the barrister being given their own case loads.
Following the successful completion of the pupillage the barrister is fully qualified and can seek a seat or tenancy in a chambers if they so wish. Working from a chambers is a popular method of practice, as it involves little obligation (financially or legally) to the other members of the chambers - an annual rent or income-based fee may be paid, but otherwise the barrister is free to take which ever cases they deem relevant.
Alternatives To Chambers
If working in chambers does not appeal, barristers can choose instead to become employed by a public or private company, enterprise or agency. A common route is to work for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is a non-ministerial department of the government. Other positions may be with large commercial organizations, large not-for-profit groups and government departments.
Queen's Counsel
Although many barristers are happy to remain as barristers for the remainder of their careers, some seek to rise through the ranks even further. Barristers that have undertaken at least ten years of active service and who are considered to be exemplary may be nominated for Queen's Counsel (QC) positions. A QC is rather like a senior barrister, trying particularly important or controversial cases. QCs are appointed by letters patent to their position as 'His or Her Majesty's Counsel Learned in Law'. Long-standing QCs may be offered promotions to the role of Senior Judges.