subject: Steps to Becoming a Barrister [print this page] Steps to Becoming a Barrister Steps to Becoming a Barrister
A barrister holds a position of high respect in society. To become a successful barrister, a person needs to go through a lengthy and challenging process. There are three important levels one needs to traverse to emerge as a barrister in the UK - the academic stage, vocational stage and pupilage.
The first requirement for becoming a barrister in the UK is to receive an undergraduate degree in the stream of law. Even though, a person holds an undergraduate degree in a different stream, he will still be able to become a barrister after finishing a conversion course (with a duration of around one year) prior to going into the vocational level.
Prior to the vocational stage, the candidates must join in any one of the inns present in the court. There are about four inns in the court - Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn. They have the rights to invite a student to the bar council. These societies are not related to academics that provides assistance for normal barristers and student barristers.
The next step is to complete the vocational level. To complete this step, it is necessary to complete a course of bar vocation. It is basically a full time course that can be completed within one year. It can also be taken as a part time course and completed within two years. This course is helpful in providing the necessary skills to the barristers to be successful in their field.
The final step in being a barrister is to finish the pupilage level that will be done under proper supervision. The student spends the first six months watching the practical works of a professional and experienced barrister. The students will practice their theoretical knowledge for real during the later part of the pupilage level, with the proper supervision.
After completing all these stages, a person will be qualified to become a complete barrister. A barrister is considered as a legalized and specialized lawyer in England and Wales. He will provide advice on knotty legal issues and will also present in the court. Barristers also have specific rights of audience in the majority of courts like the Crown Court or High Court. The leading ten percent of barristers are generally the Queen's Counselor. A Queen's counselor will be having a senior position and special rights at the bar council.
