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How to become a barrister without a law degree

You can become a barrister with a degree in any subject. Law conversion courses (CPEs or GDLs) will give you the relevant legal knowledge before you join your law graduate counterparts on the Bar vocational course (BVC), to be known as the Bar professional training course (BPTC) from 2010.

If you talk to pupillage recruiters, you'll see that your degree subject is rarely on their list of top ten things to look for in an application. Teamwork skills, people skills, resilience, ambition and motivation are all factors that can be developed outside your degree. 'Commercial awareness' - an ability to understand your client's business and an appreciation of how the City works - is something that is built up over time by reading the financial papers, keeping your ear to the ground or picking up work experience in an investment bank or City institution. Making yourself irresistible to pupillage recruiters is often a case of demonstrating your interest in law and gaining relevant experiences.

Steps to qualifying as a barrister

Step 1. Converting. All non-law graduates must undertake a one-year law conversion course commonly known as the CPE, PgDL or GDL.

Step 2. Vocational stage. Every aspiring barrister must undertake the Bar vocational course. Courses are run by a number of institutions and offer a range of subjects to choose from.

Step 3. Pupillage. This is a one-year apprenticeship with chambers. The type of work you'll receive and the amount of time spent in court will depend on the type of set. Find out how to get a pupillage at targetjobs.co.uk.

Skills you can bring to a career as a barrister

Legal practice involves analysing masses of information, drafting succinct and unambiguous documents, deciphering complicated legislation and explaining it in clear terms to non-lawyers. An ordered, logical mind is a huge advantage and, as a result, scientists, engineers and mathematicians tend to make good lawyers. A science background is particularly helpful in intellectual property work where you will be dealing with technical jargon behind new and groundbreaking inventions. Similarly, those with a numerical background would arguably have an edge in employment, tax or banking law where complicated calculations may be involved.

Commitment to law

A word of warning. Whatever your background, law is a competitive profession. On top of a consistently strong academic record, communication skills and extracurricular activities, pupillage recruiters will want to see evidence of a strong commitment to law. Applying for mini-pupillages is crucial in showing you're serious about entering this profession and building up other forms of legal experience is also a very good idea.

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