To become a barrister in England and Wales, you complete a law degree, or a degree in any subject followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), with at least a 2:2. You then join one of the four Inns of Court, pass the Bar training course, which takes a year full time, and complete a year of supervised practical training called pupillage.
Training has three parts: academic, vocational and pupillage. The hardest part isn't usually the exams, it's getting a pupillage.
This guide uses the National Careers Service job profile for barristers and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) overview of becoming a barrister, both read on 26 October 2026. It's a careers guide, not legal advice.
Barrister pay and hours at a glance
| Measure | National Careers Service figure |
|---|---|
| Average starter salary | £24,000 a year |
| Average experienced salary | £250,000 a year |
| Typical hours | 40 to 48 a week |
| When you could work | Evenings and weekends, flexibly |
Those figures are as of October 2026, from the National Careers Service. The gap is huge because self-employment is common, so earnings depend on your cases and your reputation.
The three components of Bar training
| Component | What it involves | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Academic | A law degree, or a non-law degree plus the GDL, covering the seven foundations of legal knowledge | Minimum 2:2 degree |
| Vocational | The Bar training course, a year if done full time, plus qualifying sessions with your Inn | You must be a member of an Inn and fluent in English |
| Pupillage | Work-based training under an experienced barrister, usually two six-month periods | You can't start the second period until you've been Called to the Bar |
The route in, step by step
- Get a law degree, or a degree in any subject followed by the GDL conversion course. Some universities ask for the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT).
- Make sure your degree is at least a 2:2.
- Apply to join one of the four Inns of Court. You must join before you start vocational training, and each Inn has its own entry requirements and application process.
- Apply for the Bar training course at least 12 weeks before it starts, and complete it.
- Get Called to the Bar by your Inn once you pass the vocational component.
- Complete pupillage: a non-practising six months, then a practising six months under your Pupil Supervisor.
The fact most people miss: Call to the Bar isn't the finish line
Passing the Bar course gets you Called to the Bar, but the BSB is clear that you can't practise as a barrister until you've completed pupillage. You can start the first six months of pupillage before you're Called, but not the second, because that's when you practise under supervision.
The BSB also says becoming a barrister is highly competitive, with many more people wanting to become barristers than places available, and that obtaining a pupillage is very competitive. Pupils must receive a minimum award while they train, and some earn more than the minimum.
So plan for pupillage applications as seriously as the course itself. Getting experience in a law firm or a legal department while you study can strengthen them.
Other ways in
- Work in a law firm or an organisation's legal department, then, with your employer's support, take a qualification such as the CILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law before further Bar training.
- If you're a solicitor, apply to become a barrister with BSB approval and sit a Bar Transfer Test.
- Some training providers combine the academic and vocational components, either alongside a law degree or as a postgraduate course for non-law graduates.
Many barristers come to the Bar later in life after studying or working in another field, according to the BSB, so a first career elsewhere isn't a barrier.
What barristers do
- Meet solicitors and their clients to discuss cases.
- Research the law and similar cases.
- Prepare cases, legal arguments and questioning strategies.
- Represent clients in court and cross-examine witnesses.
- Negotiate settlements out of court.
With experience, you could apply to become a King's Counsel, become a judge, manage a team of legal staff or work in an organisation's law department.
If you're comparing legal careers, our guide to remote legal jobs for solicitors and paralegals covers the solicitor side, and this explainer on what a legal transcription job involves looks at a support role in the courts.
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Skills the Bar looks for
The National Careers Service lists the skills barristers rely on: legal knowledge, including court procedures and government regulations; thoroughness and attention to detail; clear thinking using logic and reasoning; and the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure. Courtroom work can be emotionally demanding too. Mooting, debating and any role where you argue a case in front of others are good ways to show these skills on your pupillage applications.
My verdict
Becoming a barrister takes a degree with at least a 2:2, a year on the Bar course and a year of pupillage, and the competition for pupillage is the real filter. The rewards at the top are high, with the National Careers Service giving £250,000 for experienced barristers against £24,000 at the start, as of October 2026, but income depends on building a reputation as a self-employed advocate. Join an Inn early, gain legal work experience while you study, and treat your pupillage applications as the main event.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a barrister?
Usually a degree, then the GDL if your degree isn't in law, then a year on the Bar training course full time and a year of pupillage.
Do you need a law degree to become a barrister?
No. You can take a degree in any subject and then complete the Graduate Diploma in Law conversion course.
What degree grade do you need to become a barrister?
The Bar Standards Board says your degree needs to be a minimum of a 2:2.
What is pupillage?
Pupillage is a period of supervised practical training under an experienced barrister, usually a non-practising six months followed by a practising six months.
Do you have to join an Inn of Court?
Yes. You must join one of the four Inns of Court before you start the vocational component of Bar training.
How much do barristers earn?
The National Careers Service gives an average of £24,000 for starters and £250,000 for experienced barristers, as of October 2026.
