(UK ONLY)Barrister

[bigfootyaz]

What is the education and training needed to become a barrister?

[Ethel]

You'll need a law degree. If you don't have a degree other than in law, you will do a one year conversion.

Then you need to do a Bar Vocational Course followed by 12 qualifying sessions - training days.

Then you get called to the Bar an do two 6 month pupillages before you are qualified.

You need excellent research skills - one of which is the ability to find information for yourself.

There is lots of information to be found by using Google:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_styl e/career_and_jobs/graduate_management/article5 50831.ece

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off& client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:officia l&hs=YTP&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1 &q=how+do+I+become+a+barrister&spell=1

[Buenchico]

Further to Ethel's answer, you'll also probably need quite a bit of money in the bank. Barristers are self-employed and they often don't get paid for many months after the resolution of a case (which itself may have lasted many months). That means that barristers frequently have hardly any income for the first year of their career. However, during that time, they've not only got to meet the normal living expenses that everyone has but also pay substantial fees to the chambers that they work out of (for such things as rent, secretarial services and payments to the clerks). I've seen figures suggesting that a barrister needs between �50,000 and �100,000 in the bank before he/she can start work.

However, you should watch out for an answer to your question from Barmaid. She'll be able to tell you far more, because she's a barrister (appearing in the civil courts).

Further career information can be found here:
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyou rcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile625/

Chris