The Criminal Bar

In a nutshell

Barristers are instructed by solicitors to provide advocacy or advice for individuals being prosecuted in cases brought before the UK’s criminal courts. Lesser offences like driving charges, possession of drugs or benefit fraud are listed in the Magistrates’ Courts, where solicitor advocates are increasingly active. More serious charges such as fraud, supplying drugs or murder go to the Crown Courts, which are essentially still the domain of barristers. Complex cases may reach the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court. A criminal set’s caseload incorporates everything from theft, fraud, drugs and driving offences to assaults of varying degree of severity, murder and rape.

Realities of the job

• Mooting, debating and other real-life advocacy are necessary requirements before you can look like a serious applicant.

• Criminal pupils tend to have practical smarts rather than being brainboxes with tons of awards and prizes to their names, but you still need a good degree to get your foot in the door.

• There are many ways of getting that all-important exposure to the criminal justice system. Consider a visit to court to observe a trial.

• Interested in prosecuting alleged criminals rather than defending them? The Crown Prosecution Service recruits 30 trainees/pupils a year.

  Read our True Picture feature on the CPS here

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Some tips

• Competition for pupillage at the Commercial Bar is fierce. A first-class degree is commonplace and you’ll need impressive references.

• Don’t underestimate the value of non-legal work experience; commercial exposure will help you understand client perspective and motivations. Some pupils even come to the Commercial Bar after a traineeship at a City law firm.

• Bear a set's specialities in mind when deciding where to do pupillage – shipping is very different to banking, for example.

• Elsewhere on this website you can read more about Shipping and Construction at the Bar.