Skip to content

Routes to becoming a barrister

The pathway to becoming a barrister is not for the fainthearted. If you are thinking of this we encourage you to get involved with as many of the suggested activities as you can before committing to the BTC. To qualify as a barrister in England and Wales complete the following steps:

  1. Complete a law degree which includes the seven foundation subjects (2.1 or above). A 2.2 will be considered with evidence of exceptional achievement elsewhere in the application, e.g. awards, scholarships, work experience – paid or unpaid.
  2. Join an Inn of Court at least 12 weeks before starting vocational training or Bar Training Course (BTC). See individual Inn of Court websites for fees and more information.
  3. Complete a Bar Training Course with an Authorised Education and Training Organisation. Have a look at our Bar Training Courses.
  4. Be Called to the Bar.
  5. If you wish to practice as a barrister in England and Wales you must secure and complete a pupillage (work-based element of Bar training). All pupillages are advertised on the Pupillage Gateway from late November, application portal is open from early January and closes in early February.
  6. See Bar Standards Board (BSB) information for more details.

Suggested activities to help you on your way:

  • Attend the NLS November Law Fair and chat to the various representatives from the local barristers’ chambers and other organisations offering pupillage.
  • Go to the free London Bar Council Pupillage Fair on 14 – 19 October 2024 online and in-person. This is a great chance to meet chambers, hear from practising barristers and find out about funding and support.
  • Take part in mooting or other public speaking opportunities you are interested in.
  • Apply for mini-pupillages (short work experience opportunities within a set of chambers). University students can do these from first year right up to and beyond completing the BTC. See individual chamber websites for application details.
  • Practice using your legal skills by volunteering with the multi award-winning NLS Legal, the only on-campus law firm at a UK Law School. Of particular interest to aspiring barristers, will be the opportunity to gain advocacy experience. At undergraduate stage this would include working on cases in proceedings before the court or tribunal. At postgraduate level you can apply to be a Tribunal Advocate, providing a rare opportunity for real-life advocacy experience. Their opportunities are advertised on the NLS Legal NOW learning room. Student comments include:

"The opportunities you provided at NLS Legal have had a huge impact on my employability. I am so grateful for the support you provided during my time volunteering and I talked about the cases I worked on during my interviews."

  • Apply to take part in one of the NLS Mentoring Programmes both of which are promoted widely. The mentoring programmes help many students every year and include feedback such as the following:

"This is one of the best things I got to experience at Nottingham Trent University and I am forever grateful to the organisers of this mentorship. My mentor provided invaluable guidance, support, and encouragement which helped me navigate challenges, set goals, and unlock my full potential. I am grateful for this enriching experience that has shaped my future positively."

  • Apply for an Inn of Court BTC scholarship. Applications open in September and the deadline is first Friday in November before starting the BTC in the following autumn term. All four Inns of Court offer a range of scholarships to help students fund the vocation training for the Bar. Please note that you can only apply to one Inn for a scholarship. To be in with a good chance of securing one of these, we recommend you take part in the suggestions above.

Support Through Court

NLS is the sole host university for Support Through Court's (STC) National Helpline and National Online Service. Both national  services enable those without legal representation to receive immediate help, support and guidance. A benefit of our expanded STC partnership, NLS students can access an increased number of work experience opportunities - making it the largest STC university partnership to date. Opportunities are advertised on the STC NOW learning room.