Barristers have an exciting, fast-paced job, where there is never a dull day. On Monday they might be in court, on Tuesday they might be giving legal opinion – and once in awhile they might have a day off!

Being a barrister isn’t your typical office job, and becoming a barrister requires dedication, effort and a passion to get there. But how do you become a barrister? And what does “joining the bar” mean?

If you’re up for the challenge and are ready to take your first steps, here is how and why to become a barrister in the UK.

Why Study To Be A Barrister?

A barrister a type of lawyer, like a solicitor. Barristers tend to be specialists in specific areas of law and as such, are vastly outnumbered by solicitors. If you are the type of person who thrives on the idea of speaking in court on behalf of a client and like the idea of the mastering the intellectual side of law, becoming a barrister is likely to suit you.

Barristers are often called upon when legal cases go to court, where solicitors advising their clients will request the expert knowledge and advice that barristers can provide. Barristers may provide their legal opinion on cases in the form of written advice or in person. Barristers may also be required for their advocacy skills, which means speaking in court on behalf of their clients.

Most barristers are self-employed, sharing working premises with other barristers in groups known as ‘sets’. Remaining barristers are employed by law firms, companies and other public bodies. Whilst self-employed barristers benefit financially from keeping their earnings, a certain percentage of their income will go towards upkeep of the chambers that they share with their sets.

Being self-employed gives barristers a certain level of flexibility within their roles, but the ‘Cab Rank Rule’ prevents barristers from refusing cases based upon factors such as the identity of the client, the source of the clients funding and the nature of the case. This rule ensures that barristers acting for a potentially unpopular person do not receive criticism for providing them with legal advice, and that legal representation is always available regardless of a person’s popularity or reputation.

Becoming A Barrister In The UK

To become a barrister, you have to take the same initial steps as those who want to become a solicitor. This means you’ll need to head to university and take an undergraduate degree, which is usually a law degree. But you could also take a non-law degree if you’re willing to spend a bit more time in education, as doing so means you will need to take a conversion course before taking the next step.

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And it is this next step where those wishing to become a solicitor head one way, and those wishing to become a barrister head another way. To become a barrister, you will forgo the legal practice course, and instead will enter the Bar Professional Training Course – or simply “The Bar”, as it’s often referred as. The Bar Professional Training Course covers negations, mock trials in what is known as a Moot court, and advocacy.

The next step is to obtain your pupillage, and this part of the process is tricky because it’s so competitive. Pupillage is where you begin to apply the knowledge you have learned on your BPTC and is the essential final step to becoming a barrister. The year you spend in pupillage can be thought of as your training year and must be completed if you are to secure a permanent position, or tenancy, at a set of chambers.

There are actually no minimum grade requirements to become a barrister, but as you will be competing for places with other students, a 2:1 degree is almost a necessity. You must apply to chambers to attain pupillage, and perhaps only a third of those that apply will secure a position.

Once you obtain a pupillage, your one-year apprenticeship begins. This will be divided into two sections:

• Non-practising
• Practising

Both of these last for six months, during which you will shadow professional barriers, fill in paperwork, and carry out research. You will also be responsible for a caseload.

Once the twelve months are completed, you will become a qualified barrister. You will still need to secure a tenancy within a set, and this may not always be the set in which you served your pupillage.

Studying To Be A Barrister

The first step to becoming a barrister is to take an undergraduate degree. Most students who have already decided that becoming a barrister is their long-term goal will take up a law degree, but you can take a non-law degree and then follow this with a law conversion course later.

Should you choose to take a law degree, there are a number of universities in the UK that you could take a look at, including Liverpool, Manchester, London and Birmingham. Law degrees last for three years when studied full-time.

Law can be studied as a stand-alone degree, but you could also pair it with a second discipline, such as Criminology or Business. Being a barrister is an intellectually demanding job, and pairing your law degree with a second subject is a useful way of supplementing your base of knowledge.

Upon graduation, you could choose to study a Masters degree in Law, or you could apply for the Bar Professional Training Course. This is offered up and down the UK at various universities. It’s aimed squarely at aspiring barristers, during which you will hone your advocacy skills and legal knowledge. It costs £18,500 per year if you study full-time, and lasts for one year. If you choose to study part-time, you will be required to pay £9,250 per year for two years.

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Entry Requirements

To be considered for an undergraduate law degree, you will typically need A-Levels of ABB. If you are taking a BTEC, DDD is usually required. GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above is also mandatory.

The requirements to get onto a Bar Professional Training Course are a bit more basic, but the competition is fierce. Most successful applicants have an undergraduate degree, usually in law. 2:1 is usually the preferred award, but it isn’t requisite. Lower second-class honours degrees will also be considered, while passing the Bar Course Aptitude Test is also a key part of the application process.

It takes great nightlife, excellent transport links, friendly communities and fantastic food to make a great student city. We’ve previously discussed what we think are the top 5 student cities, but it’s often the lesser known places that people really fall in love with when studying. In this article we take a look at what we think are the best alternative cities for studying in the UK.

1. York

Top of our list of alternative student cities is York. It’s friendly atmosphere and architectural beauty makes it our favourite alternative place to study. It’s a big enough city to have a buzz about it, yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Close to Leeds and Sheffield, York offers itself perfectly as a base to discover the best the North of England has to offer too. Perhaps the reason York tops our list though, is it’s great city life. From shopping in the specialist stores and boutiques that line the medieval streets, to relaxing in the chic bistros and quirky bars, York has something for everyone.

Read more about studying in York.

2. Loughborough

Loughborough is fast becoming a favourite study destination for many. Its wide range of extracurricular activities mean there is something for everyone once you are out of the lecture halls and its excellent campus environment makes Loughborough one of the best places to study in the UK. In 2011, Loughborough came top of the Times Higher Education’s Best Student Experience poll for the fifth year in succession, proving just how great it really is.

3. Dundee

Dundee is the sunniest city in Scotland, but it’s the nightlife that we love. The city has an excellent theatre scene and film lovers will love the Dundee Contemporary Arts centre. Opened in 1999, it has already shown a variety of works from blockbusters such as The Da Vinci Code to Andy Warhol’s rarely seen “Screen Tests” series. Dundee’s restaurants and pubs are just as diverse, many of which are affordable on a student budget and once the Scottish sun has set, there are plenty of mainstream and alternative clubs to explore.

Read more about studying in Dundee.

4. Derby

A compact city, set in the heart of the midlands, Derby is a great place to study in England. Just a short distance from the beautiful Peak District, it’s perfect for the adventurous type who want to explore the local area. There is plenty to do in the city too for those who prefer to keep the mud off their boots. The city centre has a massive Intu Shopping Centre, along with smaller boutiques and hidden restaurants just waiting to be found.

5. Portsmouth

Finishing off our list of alternative student cities is Portsmouth. Situated on England’s southern coast, it has a lot to offer. The University is only a short walk from four miles of beach and there is plenty of green spaces too which are great for meeting friends and picnics in the summer.

Postgraduate fairs are a popular way of finding courses for your postgraduate education. Whilst you can search for courses and gather all the information you need from sites like this, many like to talk to a universities representative about particular courses before applying to get a feel for a course. Similar to attending an open day, it’s a great way to get a bit more information about specific courses and degrees and make sure you will be applying for the right one.

Why Go to a Postgraduate Fair?

Postgraduate fairs are a great place to get questions answered and find your ideal postgraduate degree. Before you go though, it is worth searching for a course so you know what is available. This way, you’ll be attending the fair with a better knowledge of what you are looking for. Once you’ve found the courses you’re interested in, decide on a postgraduate fair to attend. There are many different fairs available, from MBA specific to subject specific, so make sure you pick one that is suitable for you.

Start your search for Master’s degrees.

Postgraduate fairs are excellent forums for you to talk to representatives from institutions from all over the country. You can talk to them face-to-face and gather information about the courses that interest you as well as discussing opportunities for students. You’ll also be able to pick up programme guides to take away with you so you can learn more about the institutions and courses. The fairs are also a great place to chat to other students who may be interested in similar courses. By chatting to your peers, you may find out information about certain institutions from a students perspective.

What to Expect?

Postgraduate fairs vary; from smaller regional fairs attracting local institutions to international events, which attract the biggest universities in the world. Researching what to expect therefore is important. If you are only interested in studying in a particular area of the UK, you could benefit more by looking for a regional fair. Whichever type of event you choose to attend, you’ll generally find a wide-range of exhibitors who will all be eager to talk to you. Universities, business schools, small private colleges and language schools will all be fighting for your attention, wanting to promote their postgraduate course to you.

Along with education providers and institutions, you’ll generally find advisory bodies who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about studying a postgraduate degree. They are a great place to ask about funding and other study advice questions you may have.

What to Ask?

Due to the sheer number of attendees at these events, some people can become quite overwhelmed when attending and struggle to make it round each stand or ask all the questions they were hoping to have answered. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have some questions jotted down to make sure you get all the vital information from each institution. The questions you should ask at a postgraduate fair are similar to the ones you would ask at an open day. Make sure you know what you want to study before attending, then note down any questions you want answering, such as whether accommodation in halls of residence is available for postgrad students, how much the fees are and whether or not there are any funding options in place for you. It’s also a good time to ask whether or not you are likely to be accepted on to the course. Whilst the institutions representative is unlikely to give you an offer there and then, they will be able to advise you on the entry requirements for the courses you are interested in. If it’s unlikely you’ll gain the grades required, or meet the necessary experience, it’s probably best to think about other options.

What Next?

Once you’ve shortlisted your favourite courses, it’s a good idea to attend their open days if possible to get a feel for the institution.

Remember to search for courses on Coursefindr before going to a postgraduate fair to get the most from your day. That way you can eliminate courses which aren’t right for you from the start. Start your search for Master’s degrees.

Are you a warm, open person who feels like you are good at talking people through troubling situations. Becoming a counsellor might be a great career option.

To become a counsellor, you need dedication, time and passion. Taking a degree in counselling helps you learn the skills you will need to become a counsellor. Don’t want the long read? You can start searching for counselling degrees now.

Why Study Counselling?

The spotlight has never been so heavily trained on mental health in the UK. Mental health is a huge issue. Many citizens would find it hard to cope with the rigours of everyday life were it not for counselling.

As a counsellor, you get the chance to make a real difference to people’s’ lives. Your goal is to help people who have found themselves in difficult situations. You will help them to learn coping skills to assist with dealing with their problems. This can give you enormous job satisfaction that not all professions can offer.

Counselling is a skill that can be useful in your personal life, as well as your professional life. Few people want to take their work home with them, but counselling will make you a more rounded, empathetic and tolerant person. You may find that you will be able to help your friends and family through issues, whilst feeling more secure in yourself.

Upon graduation, there will be a number of exciting career choices opened up to you. If you decide not to go into the field of counselling, other options you might want to consider include:

• Teaching (both traditional or online)
• Personal tutoring
• Research (for example, you might be employed by a consultancy firm in a research capacity)
• Phone services (for example, a mental health helpline)
• Writing

Becoming A Counsellor

Before you start on the path to becoming a counsellor, it’s worth considering if you have any of the following qualities:

• Warmth
• Openness
• Tolerance
• Empathy
• Ability to communicate with people from various backgrounds
• Patience
• Resilience
• Understanding

These qualities can develop through learning and training. However, if you have these qualities you will find them useful for a career as a counsellor. Some people who move into counselling do so as a change in career. This means that they also bring a lot of life valuable life experience with them.

There are no laws regulating the field of counselling. This means anyone can become a counsellor if they wish. The best route to becoming one is by taking an undergraduate degree in the subject at university. After that you have the option of continuing with a Masters in Counselling, or you could move into work. Although there is no regulatory body there are a number of professional bodies that offer membership. One such body is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Counselling degrees in the UK are usually offered as part of a combined honours degree. They last three years if studied full-time.

• 1st year acts largely as an introduction to counselling, and gives you an overview of what the vocation involves.
• Year 2 continues the development of your skills and delves deeper into the theories and ethics of counselling.
• 3rd year gives you the chance to specialise on a particular area, while placements are usually a core requirement.

Studying Counselling

Counselling degrees are often offered as part of a combined honours degree. This means you would need to supplement your degree with another subject, such as English Language or Theology.

You could, though, choose to partner it with something more closely related. Usually, students pair up Counselling with an obvious subject, such as Psychology. More interesting options include Criminology and Sociology.

The course blends academic work with professional practice. You will gain a variety of transferable skills, such as problem solving and communication. Your own personal development will be a subject of focus, too, and the degree will develop your sense of self-awareness.

The degree is assessed in various ways. You will be assessed on presentations, both individual and group, how you perform in lectures, as well as skill improvement work. A program may also require written course work, while there may also be end-of-year exams. It really depends on the institution at which you choose to study.

As with many undergraduate degrees, the first year of your degree in counselling won’t contribute towards your overall mark.

Counselling Entry Requirements

112 UCAS points are the bare minimum required for an interview. If you are studying A Levels, passes at A2 are essential in at least 2 subjects,

If you are studying a BTEC, DDM is usually asked for by a university, with one of your grades coming in a related subject (though this is preferred and not necessary).

Universities usually expect students to have at least a Grade C in GCSE Maths and English.

Before you are accepted onto any course, there will first be an interview to attend.

Start on the path to becoming a counsellor and search for counselling degrees now.