Bewigged and Bewildered?: A Guide to Becoming a Barrister in England and Wales

Description

Misunderstandings and jargon prevent many from seriously considering a career as a barrister in the belief that such a career is not for them or that they are not for it. Others know that they might want to become barristers but not how to go about it, or just want to know more about this somewhat mysterious profession. This book, written by two barristers, clearly but informally explains the traditions, terminology and institutions of the Bar, and what it is actually like to be a barrister. With this aim, several barristers practising in different fields describe in detail a typical week in their life. Advice is then given on how to be accepted into, fund and survive the various academic and other stages that precede qualification as a barrister, including work experience, Bar School and pupillage (the barrister’s apprenticeship). It also deals with the question of how to transfer to the Bar (for solicitors or overseas lawyers, or those who are in a non-legal career). This third edition is fully updated to take account of the changes to the Bar, training for it and the process of recruitment to it. Foreword to the First Edition Contents Introduction to the Third Edition INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION: 1. Introduction to the English Bar BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS SETS OF CHAMBERS IT'S
NOT JUST ABOUT LAW CLERKS THE FOUR INNS OF COURT LONDON AND THE CIRCUITS THE EMPLOYED BAR THE BAR COUNCIL AND BAR STANDARDS BOARD THE CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE CAB RANK RULE I'M
CONFUSED. DO I NEED TO KNOW ALL THIS? THE GUILTY MAN RANKS OF BARRISTERS PUPILLAGE WIGS, ROBES AND OTHER FANCY DRESS HANDSHAKES AND LEARNED FRIENDS ACADEMIC SIDELINES HOURS EARNINGS MERITOCRACY OR DISCRIMINATORY? MATERNITY/paternity LEAVE AND BABIES CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT A QUICK GUIDE TO LAW LONDON 2.
The Modern Bar and
the Future SOLICITOR-ADVOCATES DIRECT ACCESS ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS STRUCTURES PUPILLAGE AWARDS THE PUBLICLY FUNDED BAR 3.
A Week in the Life of
a Junior Barrister A CHANCERY BARRISTER ANOTHER CHANCERY BARRISTER A COMMERCIAL BARRISTER A COMMON LAW BARRISTER A CRIMINAL/FAMILY/PRISON LAW BARRISTER A PROPERTY AND COMMERCIAL BARRISTER A PUBLIC LAW AND EMPLOYMENT LAW BARRISTER A TAX BARRISTER A FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE-EMPLOYED BARRISTER A CITY FIRM-EMPLOYED COMMERCIAL BARRISTER 4.
Deciding Whether to Become a Barrister WHAT YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME DOING EMPLOYED OR SELF-EMPLOYED WHETHER YOU HAVE THE GRADES FROM A GOOD UNIVERSITY AND THE QUALITIES REQUIRED WHETHER YOU CAN AFFORD IT 5.
An Overview of Qualification 1)
THE SCHOOL STAGE 2)
THE LAW DEGREE/LAW CONVERSION
COURSE STAGE 3)
OTHER STAGES: JOBS, FURTHER DEGREES, ETC 4)
JOINING AN INN 5)
APPLYING FOR AND GETTING PUPILLAGE 6)
THE BAR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE (BPTC) STAGE 7)
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INN AND THE CALL TO THE BAR 8)
THE PUPILLAGE 9)
GETTING TAKEN ON (TENANCY) TO SAVE MONEY LATER, START KEEPING RECEIPTS NOW 6.
Steps to Take During Your School Years I HADN’T GOT A CLUE THEN! GOOD MARKS SUBJECTS SCHEMES AND VISITS FURTHER INFORMATION 7.
Will You Make It? WHO GETS PUPILLAGE? STATISTICS OF PUPILS IN 2011/2012 THE APPROXIMATE ODDS DISCUSSION WHAT TO DO? WILL YOU GET THROUGH THE INTERVIEW? THE BOTTOM LINE 8.
Work Experience:
Mini-pupillages and
Other Legal Experience WHAT ARE MINI-PUPILLAGES? WHAT TO GET OUT OF THEM WHERE AND WHEN TO DO YOUR MINIS HOW TO GET MINIS OTHER LEGAL EXPERIENCE (PAID AND UNPAID) 9.
Joining an Inn MORE ABOUT THE INNS THE INN LIBRARIES THE CHAPELS WHEN AND HOW DO I JOIN? CHOOSING SCHOLARSHIPS 10.
The BPTC and How to Fund It ABOUT THE BAR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE A MASTER'S
DEGREE AS WELL? THE COST OF THE BPTC WHERE TO DO THE BPTC THE APTITUDE TEST GETTING ONTO THE BPTC THE BPTC YEAR 11.
Dining, Qualifying Sessions and Call THE QUALIFYING SESSIONS DINING CALL TO THE BAR 12.
Getting and Funding Pupillage INTRODUCTION IMPROVING YOUR CHANCES IN CHAMBERS OR ELSEWHERE CHOOSING YOUR AREA OF PRACTICE CHOOSING THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION CHOOSING YOUR CHAMBERS FIRST SIX PLUS SECOND SIX EQUALS TWELVE MONTHS PUPILLAGE AWARDS OTHER FUNDING PUPILLAGE GATEWAY AND NON-GATEWAY THE PUPILLAGES WEBSITE THE TIMETABLE APPLICATION FORMS INTERVIEWS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING PUPILLAGE? IMMIGRATION 13.
Life as a Pupil BECOMING LEARNED LOOKING AND ACTING THE PART EQUIPPING YOURSELF PUPILLAGE GENERALLY YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PUPIL SUPERVISOR CHAMBERS TEA SITTING IN COURT SITTING IN A CONFERENCE ADVOCACY AND OTHER EXERCISES SOCIALISING WITH YOUR CHAMBERS DEALING WITH MINI-PUPILS DEALING WITH SOLICITORS DEALING WITH OTHER PUPILS TAKING HOLIDAYS FORMS AND ADMIN YOUR PUPILLAGE CHECKLIST AND RECORDS OF WORK DONE AND THINGS SEEN COMPULSORY COURSES SUPPORT YOUR FINANCES THE TENANCY DECISION 14.
Work as a Pupil PAPERS RESEARCH PREPARING BUNDLES WRITTEN WORK WORK ON YOUR OWN ACCOUNT GOING TO COURT ON YOUR OWN STANDING UP IN COURT 15.
Alternative Careers 16.
Transferring to the Bar After Practising as a Solicitor
or Abroad SOLICITORS IN ENGLAND AND WALES OTHER TRANSFERRING LAWYERS Further Information GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT A CAREER AT THE BAR WRITTEN FICTION CONCERNING PUPILLAGE KEY ORGANISATIONS APPLICATIONS LAW LIBRARIES IN LONDON INFORMATION ABOUT CHAMBERS THE EMPLOYED BAR THE CIRCUITS LEGAL NEWS FINANCIAL AND TAX ADVICE SOLICITORS AND LEGAL EXECUTIVES HISTORY AND COMMENTARY WRITTEN FICTION CONCERNING THE BAR BIOGRAPHY LAW LONDON FILM, TELEVISION AND RADIO Glossary Timetables for Routes to the Bar Index