The General Council Of The Bar SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOLS Hugh Sims & Mary Cowe Guildhall Chambers Bristol February 2010

A CAREER AT THE BAR  MYTHS Upper /middle class, white men who were educated at public schools “fat cats” earning £500 per hour Barristers talk in legal jargon, incomprehensible to ordinary people Barristers spend all of their time in court Barristers bully witnesses and try to trip up genuine victims and make them look like liars Barristers see it as a game – otherwise how could they represent people they know are guilty ? Employed barristers are not independent, they just work for employers (Accounts for 20% of the profession)

A CAREER AT THE BAR  FACTS – Highly competitive – Dedication and commitment – Long hours – Rewarding and fulfilling – Challenging and thrilling – The Professional Code of Conduct – employed/self-employed

WHAT DO BARRISTERS DO?  Specialist legal advisers  Akin to a doctor and a consultant  Advising on evidence and the strengths and weaknesses of a case  Conduct the cases and the advocacy in court  Conferences and paperwork  Training for junior entrants to the Bar

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES  After 7 years experience, eligible to apply to sit as a Deputy District Judge  After 10 years experience, eligible to apply for “Silk” and have Q.C. after your name, entitles them to wear silk gowns! (accounts for only 10% of the profession)  After 10 years experience, eligible to apply to sit as a Recorder, before applying to become a full time Judge  Chairs of Tribunals etc  Employed – GLS, CPS, Armed Forces, Solicitors, Companies

MAKING THE DECISION  THE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED – Academic ability – GCSE’s, A Levels, Law Degree or other degree and Graduate Diploma in Law, and Professional examinations (BVC/ BPTC) – Written and Oral communication skills – Numeracy skills –Interpersonal skills – IT skills – Organisational skills – A good memory – Remaining professional, discreet and emotionally uninvolved – Analysing large amounts of information – Thinking logically and with attention to detail – Coping with stress and pressure

FINANCIAL PLANNING  Law degree or GDL £4,000+  Bar Vocational Course (BVC) soon to be renamed Bar Professional Training Course £5,000 – £12,000  Living costs – Total £20,000 + depending upon where you choose to study  Inns of Court £85 Call to the Bar £80  Pupillage Awards - £5,000 per 6 months (lowest award permitted – typical in London)  The Inns provide £3 Million in scholarships each year  Wig and Gown £

HOW TO FINANCE YOUR STUDY AND TRAINING  Major high street banks run special schemes  Scholarships and awards (Inns of Court – always worth an application – available to all students)  Self - financing

WHAT NEXT?  Year 1 of your degree – Find out as much as you can about the profession – Undertake mini-pupillages and work experience in solicitors offices – Participate in public speaking and debating

WHAT NEXT?  Year 2 – Autumn Term – attend careers events – Investigate funding possibilities i.e. Scholarships – Check closing dates for applications – Spring Term – Apply for mini-pupillages etc – If applying for the conversion course, do so before the February closing date – Attend legal career fairs and pupillage fairs – Summer Term – undertake work experience

WHAT NEXT?  Final year of degree – Autumn Term – Apply for the BVC ( – Funding possibilities – Start making enquiries about pupillage – Spring Term – Apply for pupillage – Summer Term – Join one of the four Inns (compulsory) – Obtain degree (minimum 2ii) /CPE/PgDL – Check on progress of pupillage applications

WHAT NEXT?  The BVC – 2004/2005 2,883 students applied for 1,594 places –2008 – 2864 applicants; 1837 started; 1720 passed – In ,742 students were called to the bar –In the last five years, the average number of pupillages obained has fallen from around 600 to 500 –BVC to be called Bar Professional Training Course; aptitude tests to be introduced this Autumn –Autumn Term – If you were unsuccessful in obtaining pupillage in the summer start applying again – If you’re determined to have a career at the Bar then “DON’T QUIT!”

PUPILLAGE – THE GOLDEN TICKET!  The training period is twelve months  First six months shadowing your pupil supervisor  Second six months conducting your own cases under the supervision of your pupil supervisor  Competition for places – 500 – 600 places for applicants  Currently fewer available due to future changes.  Then apply for tenancy.

ANNUAL INCOME  £19,000 - £260,000 per annum (gross figure  Legally aided work (crime & family) paid significantly less & facing cuts  Top “Silks” can earn up to £1 million  CPS £22,000 – 55,000  Remember when practising from chambers a proportion of your income is paid to chambers, plus running costs, Income Tax, VAT and National Insurance, Pensions etc  Many changes ahead for the profession!

FURTHER INFORMATION     