Barrister/advocate

Barristers (in England and Wales) and advocates (in Scotland) give advice about legal cases to their professional clients (mainly solicitors and legal executives) and represent clients (individuals or organisations) in court. The work includes giving legal written opinions - for example, giving advice as to whether a case would be successful if taken to court, reading law reports and witness statements to prepare for a court case, researching similar cases, and representing clients in court, by presenting the facts of the case to the judge and jury, cross-examining witnesses and summing up.

The amount of time they spend in court depends on the particular area of law they decide to specialise in. This could include:


· Chancery - wills, trusts, estates, taxation and company law.
· Common law - criminal, contract, family laws and torts. Those who specialise in criminal work probably spend a lot of their time in court.
· Commerce and industry - giving general legal advice or specialising in areas like employment law.
· Central and local government - clients are civil servants, ministers, and council staff, elected members or councillors.
· Crown Prosecution/Procurator Fiscal work - this includes lots of court work conducting prosecutions on behalf of the police.

Most barristers work in offices called chambers. They may have their own office or share with one or more other barristers. In London, most chambers are in the Inns of Court; in other areas they are near to court buildings. Advocates are members of the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh, where they work in groups called stables.

Entry level
In England and Wales, you would have to complete both the academic and the vocational stages of training.

For the academic stage, you would need either an approved law degree (at least 2:2), or a non-approved degree (at least 2:2) followed by a law conversion course, known as the Common Professional Examination (CPE), or a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PgDL).

The vocational stage would require you to become a student member at one of four Inns of Court and complete a one-year full-time or two-year part-time Bar Vocational Course (BVC), available at a number of universities and colleges in England and Wales. You would also need to complete two six-month pupillages under the guidance of a practising barrister.

In Scotland, you would first need to obtain a degree with honours in Scottish Law from a Scottish university (2:2 or above), or an ordinary degree in Scottish Law from a Scottish university, together with an honours degree (2:2 or above) in another subject from a university elsewhere in the United Kingdom, or an ordinary degree with distinction in Scottish Law from a Scottish university. You would then have to complete a one-year full-time postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at a Scottish University, and work for 21 months in a solicitor's office (12 months if you have a first or second class honours degree).

This is followed by nine and a half months' pupillage to a member of the bar (called 'devilling'). Finally, you must pass the Faculty of Advocates' examinations in evidence, practice and procedure.

Making the grade
Training to become a barrister/advocate is a very competitive and often costly process. At each stage of training there are more applicants than places, and once qualified it can be hard to secure a tenancy in chambers.

During the first three years of practice in England and Wales, you would have to work in chambers or work with another barrister who has at least five years' experience. During the period of devilling in Scotland, you must get experience of both civil and criminal work with an approved member of the Scottish Bar.

After 10 to 15 years' experience, advocates/barristers may apply 'to take silk' (become a Queen's Counsel) which is necessary to become a Court of Session judge or High Court judge.

Barristers may also become legal advisers in magistrates' courts; advocates may become sheriffs. Sometimes advocates/barristers move into senior positions in industry and commerce.

Personal qualities
As a barrister or advocate, you would need considerable self-confidence, the intellectual capacity to assimilate large volumes of information in a short time, and the ability to work long hours with tight deadlines and high levels of responsibility.

You must be able to deal with people, to listen to them and then put across a point of view convincingly. In addition, you would need the motivation and determination to succeed in what can be a daunting profession, particularly in the early years.

Looking ahead
There are more than 10,000 self-employed barristers practising in England and Wales, and some 400 advocates in Scotland. The early years can be very tough, as you work hard - often for a reduced fee - in the lower courts to build your reputation.

All advocates are based in Edinburgh. Many barristers are based in London; others practise in large towns on the administrative circuits - Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chester, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

Approximately 2,500 barristers work as salaried employees for large organisations such as specialist commercial law firms and investment or finance companies, and about 500 work in central government departments.

Alternative suggestions
You might also consider advocates' clerk (Scotland)/barristers' clerk (England and Wales), chartered secretary, civil servant, legal executive or solicitor.

Take-home pay
During pupillage, most barristers receive around £10,000 a year. Some may get as much as £20,000. In Scotland, you would receive around £10,000 during your time in a solicitor's office but nothing at all while devilling.

Practising barristers/advocates are self-employed. A few top barristers earn over £1 million a year, but the majority earn between £20,000 and £260,000. Employed barristers/advocates receive a salary. In the Crown Prosecution Service or Procurator Fiscal Service, for example, you could earn from around £22,000 to £53,000.

Effects
Barristers/advocates often work long hours, including evenings and weekends. It might be necessary to prepare a case or a written opinion at short notice. You might also have to attend evening court sessions, and you could spend a considerable amount of time travelling.

Sources of information
Law Careers Advice Network: www.lcan.org.uk
The Bar Council: www.barcouncil.org.uk/
Faculty of Advocates: www.advocates.org.uk
Crown Prosecution Service: www.cps.gov.uk
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service: www.crownoffice.gov.uk
Law Society of Northern Ireland: www.lawsoc-ni.org
Magistrates' Association: www.magistrates-association.org.uk

CRCI: L