A CAREER at the COMMERCIAL BAR “…A Career Like No Other a CAREER at the with Opportunities Like COMMERCIAL BAR No Other …”

A CAREER AT THE COMMERCIAL BAR “…a career like no other A CAREER AT THE with opportunities like COMMERCIAL BAR no other …”

Introduction 4

What is the Commercial Bar? 5

Why should you choose a career 6 at the Commercial Bar?

Myths about the Commercial Bar 8

How to qualify as a barrister at the 12 Commercial Bar

Useful websites 19

2 3 INTRODUCTION WHAT IS THE COMMERCIAL BAR?

Choosing a career can be daunting at the best of times. Most people will have a good idea of what a job as a doctor, teacher or engineer will involve, he independent Bar is a may also deal with other areas of but perhaps less of a feel for what specialist referral profession law in which commercial issues arise, barristers do. This brief guide to the Toffering expert legal advice including public law, professional Commercial Bar aims to help those and advocacy. Barristers practising negligence, intellectual property, who are thinking about their future at the independent Bar are self- media and entertainment law, energy vocation by explaining a little about the employed but (in most cases) group and construction. Individuals and Commercial Bar and the path that together into sets of chambers for chambers may specialise in particular is involved in pursuing a career in it. the purpose of sharing premises and areas within the broad field of other overheads. commercial law, and specialism tends The role of a barrister is an exciting one. to increase with seniority. A barrister is a specialist lawyer who is As the law has become more referred complex legal disputes by a complex, members of the Bar have ‘Commercial law is perhaps solicitor and, often, will be responsible tended to specialise in particular for presenting arguments concerning areas and to form Specialist Bar best summed up as the law that dispute in court, before a judge. Associations (SBAs), of which COMBAR which applies to business A commercial barrister is one who is one. COMBAR now has over 1,500 specialises in legal issues in the broad members with 38 member sets of and financial disputes.’ field of business and finance. The facts chambers and individual members of commercial cases can often be more from 23 sets across Bristol, Leeds, Commercial barristers are usually exciting than people might imagine; for London, Liverpool and Manchester. instructed by solicitors rather than example, as a junior barrister you might We also have in-house barrister by a client directly; the services find yourself dealing with a contractual members at city law firms. they provide fall into two main dispute between a player and a football areas. First, and most importantly, club or the emergency freezing of the The members of COMBAR practise a barrister is a specialist advocate assets of a Russian oligarch. commercial law, which is a broad who will present the client’s case term encompassing a wide range of in court or before other tribunals. The Commercial Bar has a proud civil (as opposed to criminal) legal Historically, oral advocacy has been tradition stretching back hundreds of matters. Commercial law is perhaps the most important element of the years and a strong future. We hope this best summed up as the law which presentation of cases but, particularly guide will inspire you to consider it applies to business and financial in the field of commercial law, written as a career. disputes, and includes the law relating advocacy has become more and more to banking, insurance, sale of goods, important. Secondly, as an expert in shipping, aviation, financial services the area of commercial law, he or she regulation, companies, insolvency will advise on particular commercial and international arbitration and legal issues (frequently, but not always, “…the front line of advocacy” employment. Commercial barristers arising in the context of disputes). 4 5 WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE A CAREER AT THE COMMERCIAL BAR?

ou are likely to spend a significant have sufficient time to prepare. Your ‘Commercial cases are Finally, but importantly, commercial amount of your life working. It is solicitors are likely to be thorough more likely to be well barristers can also volunteer their time Yvital that you enjoy whatever you and well supported in their turn. It and use their skills as advocates to do. As well as being potentially lucrative, is no coincidence that many of the funded and prepared: assist those in need of legal advice and a career at the Commercial Bar is important decisions in contract and representation but who cannot afford challenging and stimulating, and offers tort law over the past 40 years have the sums at stake are to pay for it and who would otherwise far more independence at an earlier been in commercial cases. These are much more likely to be unable properly to access the legal career stage than is available to most more likely to involve parties with the system. Commercial cases will not solicitors or other employed lawyers. resources to take cases to the higher justify every stone usually attract public funding (Legal courts and to pay for good quality being turned.’ Aid). The Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity The Bar is a referral profession. As a legal representation to argue novel which helps to find pro bono (free) legal commercial barrister, you are sent and complex points of law. Also, the assistance by allocating deserving cases the most difficult problems that your enormous range of complicated factual advocate to conduct a commercial to its panel of over 2,000 volunteer instructing solicitors or in-house lawyers situations thrown up by commercial trial or complex hearing. COMBAR barristers (including over 250 QCs) from have already pondered before seeking legal disputes means that there is often is confident that the specialisation, all over England and Wales. Barristers counsel’s advice. You will sometimes a great variety in the work done by experience and independence of can also get involved in various other be asked by people much older and commercial barristers; it is fair to say the Commercial Bar will mean that pro bono schemes and projects more experienced than you to advise that other areas of legal practice (such it remains the first port of call for nationally and internationally and on how cases should be run. The most as crime, personal injury or family work) advocacy in commercial cases. If you members of COMBAR are also involved interesting problems often come to are normally far less varied. Finally, want to be an advocate you should in several social mobility schemes such your desk, with a junior solicitor having commercial work frequently involves come to the Bar. as the Social Mobility Foundation and assembled all the relevant papers for advising and acting for foreign clients, the Pegasus Access Scheme. you to consider in relative tranquillity which can provide opportunities for For many barristers, self-employment without the distractions of dealing with travelling and working abroad is a huge plus. Not having a boss lay clients or the administrative needs from time to time in a commercial does not mean that barristers are less ‘For many barristers, self- of running a solicitors’ firm. It is a great barrister’s career. likely to work hard. But it does give privilege to be in that referral position. you a sense of control over when employment is a huge plus. The Bar is also the front line of advocacy. and in what circumstances you work. Not having a boss does not The quality of work sent to commercial There is no question that as a barrister It is in many ways much more like barristers is generally very high. you will have far more opportunity university than other careers: you are mean that barristers are less Commercial cases are more likely to be for advocacy than most solicitor given work to do, and it is up to you well funded and prepared: the sums advocates. Solicitors have had higher to make sure that it is done, and to likely to work hard. But it does at stake are much more likely to justify rights of audience for over 25 years choose when you want to do it. There give you a sense of control every stone being turned. You are more now and there is no suggestion that is scope for taking long holidays, but likely to be provided with well-ordered the independent Commercial Bar is few successful barristers do not work over when and in what papers and proper instructions, and to under threat; it is still rare for a solicitor at weekends from time to time. circumstances you work.’ 6 7 MYTHS ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL BAR

here are a number of myths reason for that popularity is because Second Myth: “Barristers don’t Third Myth: “Choosing to be about the Bar which have been of the split profession, and the body of make enough money” a barrister is too risky” Tcirculating for some time. They high-quality specialist advocates should be treated with caution. in London. While there is undoubtedly serious There is risk in choosing to come to the Here are a few of them. pressure on the earnings of the publicly Bar. But you need to assess those risks, London has, essentially, the biggest funded Bar, you should bear in mind that and the risks in other options, carefully. First Myth: “There is no point dedicated business court in the world. commercial law is almost always privately becoming a barrister because it That court maintains and enhances funded. This means that commercial The financial uncertainty in choosing is a dying profession” the UK’s world-class reputation as barristers charge the market price. the Commercial Bar as a career is not the first choice for business law and The truth is that most barristers at the as great as it may seem. There are two The truth is that the Commercial Bar is commercial dispute resolution. For the Commercial Bar earn a comfortable living years of Bar-specific training to get in excellent health and the past 10 years first time the specialist jurisdictions of and a significant proportion do far better through: the Bar Professional Training have been its best ever. The introduction the High Court dealing with business than that. Publications such as the Legal Course (BPTC) and Pupillage. of solicitor advocates has not led to disputes (the Chancery Division, the 500 contain estimated figures for barristers’ a decline in the work coming to the Commercial Court and the Technology earnings for those who are interested. BPTC: For the BPTC year, the four Inns Commercial Bar, and there is no reason and Construction Court) have been of Court offer substantial scholarships. to suggest that it will in the future. brought together under one roof at the Barristers and solicitors have a different Details are available from their The Commercial Court has shown a new Rolls Building on Fetter Lane. earnings curve. At particular stages as a education and training departments. remarkable consistency in the volume commercial barrister you may be ahead There are several hundred of these, of new work over the years. Clients Within this framework, the Commercial or behind solicitors doing commercial ranging from a few hundred pounds to in commercial cases, which are often Bar offers tremendous value for money. work. Typically, in recent years junior up to £22,000. Nearly half of COMBAR high-value and complex, will continue Barristers’ overheads are relatively low, barristers have earned more than chamber members operate schemes to to demand the best specialist advocacy enabling junior barristers to make a assistant solicitors; solicitors who are let their future pupils draw down part and advice. This is concentrated at the good living at a fraction of the charge- made partner are likely to see a dramatic of their pupillage award in advance Commercial Bar. out rate of support staff in firms both increase in their earnings and may then during the BPTC year. Funding may domestically and abroad. Specialisation be ahead; later on, a handful of star also be available from the Bar Council About 80% of all cases in the helps both solicitors and the Bar bring commercial Queen’s Counsel probably Scholarship Trust which provides certain Commercial Court involve at least one business to London. outstrip most partners. bursaries and covers the BPTC course party from outside England and Wales fees for one aspiring barrister every and about half of the cases have no If one day in the future there is a fused If you are going to be a commercial year; the Bar Council also runs an annual connection with England or Wales, but profession – which we have no reason lawyer, it would be quite wrong to law reform essay competition with the parties have chosen to use English to think there will be – if you qualify as choose which branch of the profession to prize monies totalling some £9,000; lawyers and judges to resolve their a barrister you will have had years of go into on the basis of money. If you are in addition, the Bar Council website disputes. Even more foreigners arbitrate valuable experience. A change in the successful in either branch, you will live (www.barcouncil.org.uk) contains in England; London is one of the world’s structure of the professions will not very comfortably. The other differences further information about grants, leading arbitration venues. Part of the reduce the demand for that experience. are much more important. awards, bursaries etc. 8 9 MYTHS ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL BAR continued

Pupillage: COMBAR sets offer around completed pupillage at a good set Fifth myth: “If I want to do Sixth myth: “I don’t stand a 100 pupillages annually. The precise of chambers is a major selling point advocacy I should just become a chance unless I’ve been to Oxford details are available from COMBAR on a legal (and a non-legal) CV. Many solicitor advocate” or Cambridge” members’ websites, but the vast barristers who have completed pupillage majority of these pupillages are funded find that they easily obtain jobs at The fact is that a practitioner is far Historically there have always been a high in the sum of between £30,000 and solicitors’ firms and in commerce either more likely to develop specialist number of applications to be commercial £45,000 p.a. The largest awards made by retraining as a solicitor (normally advocacy experience as a commercial barristers from people who have attended by COMBAR sets are up to £60,000 the qualification can be transferred by barrister than as a solicitor advocate. Oxbridge. Looking forward, however, p.a. The awards are tax free in respect taking a single examination) or as an As set out earlier, after 25 years of we want to recruit the brightest and the of the first six months. Some sets do employed barrister. solicitor advocates having higher best candidates, wherever the candidate not count earnings from the second rights of audience, it is still rare for obtained a degree or post-graduate six months of practice in that sum. Fourth myth: “I wouldn’t fit in” them to conduct commercial trials, qualifications. At the Commercial Bar Many sets also offer guarantees as to complex hearings in court, or intellectual ability and the individual earnings in the initial years of practise The work of the Commercial Bar is appeals. Written and oral advocacy achievement of candidates are the after pupillage. sufficiently difficult, and the prize of is at the heart of a commercial relevant touchstones, not the university tenancy such a valuable one, that no barrister’s professional life, whether where qualifications were obtained. Tenancy is a major prize. It affords sensible set of chambers would do in court, before arbitration panels, or a level of career security which is anything other than attempt to choose in tribunals. COMBAR is committed to encouraging more comparable to that offered by the best candidates. We need the applications from a wide range of a partnership than to being retained widest range of applicants. It is only From the outset of a junior commercial universities, and for this reason has for as an assistant in a solicitors’ firm. ability, and not race, sex, school or social barrister’s career, you are given ten years now been attending law fairs Like all major prizes the competition background that we are interested in. significant individual responsibility, around the country at non-Oxbridge is intense. But this should not deter which makes the Commercial Bar universities in order to educate and the most able candidates who are The Commercial Bar has a fine tradition an exciting and rewarding career encourage students to consider the committed to a career at the Commercial of being open to all, and fiercely choice. Solicitor advocates are often Commercial Bar as a career. Bar. Other organisations have their meritocratic. The statistics for those part of a much larger organisation own uncertainties: for example, on coming into the profession as a whole and may not immediately have Also of importance in a candidate’s qualification and partnership. By this show encouraging trends; currently, 43% personal responsibility for all their CV are the extra curricular activities time many people have spouses, of all pupils are female, and 17% are from cases nor appear that regularly in undertaken, whether they are mortgages and children. The front- ethnic minorities (a greater proportion court. As well as through firms of immediately referable to advocacy loading of uncertainty at the Bar is than in society as a whole). Barristers solicitors, barristers also increasingly skills (such as public speaking, debating to many a plus, not a minus. are fiercely individualistic, and the receive instructions directly and mooting) or whether they are more personalities and attitudes of those who from legal departments of large general activities and achievements If you don’t achieve a tenancy, you will make up a set of chambers are frequently companies and institutions, which demonstrate an individual’s have invested two years and gained very different. No one should have any local government bodies and interpersonal or leadership skills a valuable training in return. Having reason to feel excluded. foreign lawyers. and experience. 10 11 HOW TO QUALIFY AS A BARRISTER AT THE COMMERCIAL BAR

The Academic Stage selection criteria but, as a general If you intend to move straight on to rule, they recruit from amongst the second and third stages of training There are two main routes to obtaining candidates with first or good upper without a break, there are some the academic qualifications necessary to second-class degrees. Successful important steps to take before you pursue a career as a commercial barrister. candidates often (but by no means complete the academic stage: For those who want to take the direct always) have postgraduate route, the academic stage of training is qualifications, whether from UK You should undertake some mini- satisfied by completing a qualifying law institutions or foreign universities. pupillages or work placements in degree. The principal alternative is to take chambers you may wish to apply a degree in another subject, followed by The academic stage of training to for pupillage a ‘conversion course’ leading either to the ensures that aspiring barristers have To qualify as a barrister, you must Common Professional Examination (CPE) a grounding in each of the seven You must join one of the Inns of Court complete three stages of training:-training: or the Post Graduate Diploma in Law ‘foundation’ subjects identified by the (PgDL) (from chambers’ point of view, it Bar Standards Board as compulsory You must apply for a place on the makes no difference whether your course areas of study for those entering the Bar Professional Training Course 1 is titled CPE or PgDL). A further alternative profession (contract, tort, property The academic stage: obtaining an for non-law graduates is to take a two- law, equity and trusts, EU law, public You should consider applying to your undergraduate degree either in law year full-time (three-year part-time) law and criminal law). Students on Inn for funding for your Bar or in another subject supplemented Senior Status Law Degree. a law conversion course pack these Professional Training Course. by a ‘conversion course’. subjects into one intensive year’s study Details of all of the institutions offering (full-time, or two years part-time), You must apply for pupillage qualifying law degrees, CPE/PgDL usually leaving only limited room for 2 courses and Senior Status Law exploration into other areas of the law. With the exception of applications for The vocational stage: basic training Degrees are available on the website Law undergraduates, on the other hand, mini-pupillage in some chambers, there (provided by the Bar Professional of the Bar Standards Board, have the time – and are usually required are deadlines for each of these steps. Training Course) in the practical skills together with application details – to range further. This does not mean You will need to familiarise yourself with necessary for practise as a barrister. (www.barstandardsboard.org.uk). that non-law graduates will be regarded these deadlines; some fall early in the by chambers as second-class candidates final year of academic study. As a rule of Whether you take an undergraduate when the time comes to apply for thumb, you must apply for a place on 3 degree in law or in another subject, the pupillage. Experience tells us time and the Bar Professional Training Course one Pupillage: twelve months of Bar Standards Board’s minimum again that ability and rigour developed year before you wish to start the course, on-the-job training in a set of academic requirement is a 2:2 UK in other academic disciplines transfer you must apply to join an Inn no later chambers or another approved Honours degree or its equivalent. very successfully to the Commercial than six months before you start the Bar legal organisation. In practice, at the Commercial Bar the Bar and pupillage applications are Professional Training Course, and you academic threshold is higher: each welcomed from law and non-law must apply for pupillage one and half member of COMBAR has its own graduates alike. years before the pupillage starts. 12 13 HOW TO QUALIFY AS A BARRISTER AT THE COMMERCIAL BAR continued

There are also other opportunities The purpose of the BPTC is to give available on the Bar Standards Board Pupillage for legal work experience, including prospective barristers a good website. Applications must be made advocacy, by doing pro bono work while grounding in the practical skills and through the internet-based central What is pupillage? still at university. Projects range from knowledge necessary to take them applications system, found at Street Law programmes to volunteering through pupillage and the early months www.barprofessionaltraining.org.uk. Pupillage is the final stage of training at law centres. Students should get in of practise. The focus is on case There is significant competition for for the Bar. It consists of twelve months’ touch with the pro bono contact in their preparation, procedural knowledge and places on the BPTC (Bar Council figures practical, on-the-job training under the law department for more information. written and oral skills. for the year 2010/2011 show that supervision of experienced barristers In addition, during the final year of a law approximately 3,099 candidates applied (referred to as pupil supervisors). Upon degree or whilst undertaking the CPE/ The principal skills taught are legal with only about 1,422 enrolling) – it successful completion of the year, pupils PgDL and thereafter, trainee barristers research and case preparation, opinion is therefore important to ensure that are awarded a full practising certificate can obtain valuable advocacy experience writing, drafting of various documents, you submit your application in time by the Bar Council and are eligible to and use their advocacy skills to assist conference skills, negotiation and to be considered in the first round of practise as a tenant in a set of chambers. those who cannot afford legal support advocacy. The main areas of legal applications. through the Free Representation Unit knowledge taught are civil litigation The structure and content of pupillage (FRU). FRU provides legal advice, case and remedies, criminal litigation and The Bar Course Aptitude Test: varies from chambers to chambers preparation and representation in sentencing, evidence, and professional Before starting the BPTC, you must and we are only able to give a general tribunals mainly for social security ethics. You will also study two option pass the Bar Course Aptitude test. picture here – we encourage you to and employment law cases for those subjects (from a choice of six or more This is designed to test critical thinking visit the websites of the individual who could not otherwise afford legal subjects which vary from course and reasoning. The aim of the test is members of COMBAR for more detailed assistance. All FRU’s representatives are provider to course provider). Teaching to ensure that those who go onto the information. See the COMBAR website volunteers who are trained by FRU and and forms of assessment are tailored BPTC have the required skills to succeed. www.combar.com for contact details. work under the supervision of its case to meet the nature of the subjects. For workers (see www.thefru.org.uk). example, the oral skills are often taught In 2014, the cost of the full-time BPTC The purpose of pupillage is to give in workshops and evaluated using course ranged from £12,000 to £18,000 pupils a broad but thorough training The Vocational Stage videoed performances of practical depending on the institution. Each in the types of work done by their exercises; procedural knowledge is of the Inns offers a certain number of chambers. Typically, pupils will spend Once you have successfully completed usually taught in lectures and assessed scholarships and awards covering part their time with a number of different your academic studies and have been using multiple-choice tests. or all of this fee (see Joining an Inn). In pupil supervisors in the course of the admitted to one of the Inns of Court, the addition, a number of COMBAR member year to expose them to a variety of next stage of training is the vocational The Bar Council has validated sets allow students to whom they have chambers’ work: it is not unusual for stage. This takes the form of the Bar various BPTC providers across given pupillage to draw down part of pupils to change supervisor every three Professional Training Course (BPTC). England and Wales to run the BPTC. their pupillage award during the BPTC months, though some chambers offer Full-time students complete the BPTC Their contact details (for prospectus and year. Please visit the websites of the more or less frequent rotations. During in one academic year; the part-time fee information) and details of individual members of COMBAR for the course of their pupillages, pupils course runs for two years. the timetable for applications are further information. will be expected to complete the Bar 14 15 HOW TO QUALIFY AS A BARRISTER AT THE COMMERCIAL BAR continued

Standards Board pupillage checklist used This culminates in the tenancy decision, candidates. During the recruitment can provide an opportunity to gauge by their chambers (in many COMBAR commonly made between eight and ten season, the Pupillage Gateway website the abilities of prospective pupillage chambers, this will be the Commercial months into pupillage, when chambers contains details of all pupillages applicants over a longer period than is Pupillage checklist). tell their pupils whether or not they currently offered by any set of chambers. possible in a formal pupillage interview. will be offered a tenancy in chambers. It enables pupillage applicants to search As a result, some commercial sets of The work of pupils is varied and Chambers often support unsuccessful for suitable pupillages on-line, and it chambers regard mini-pupillages as challenging. They are expected to pupils to obtain tenancies elsewhere. incorporates an on-line application form an important part of their recruitment produce pleadings, skeleton arguments which applicants must use to apply process, and some require prospective and opinions in their pupil supervisor’s How to apply for pupillage for pupillage in those chambers which pupils to undertake an assessed mini- cases as if they were themselves are participating in the Gateway. The pupillage before they can be considered instructed by the client. They attend COMBAR sets offer a total of about 100 deadline for submitting applications for pupillage. conferences with clients, and usually pupillages annually. Details of these to the Pupillage Gateway System is accompany their pupil supervisor pupillages can be found in a variety currently 30 April in the year before the For the prospective pupil, mini-pupillages to court hearings, arbitrations and of sources: on the websites of the year in which you wish to start pupillage. offer an invaluable insight into life at the mediations. They learn by direct individual members of COMBAR; in However, for those chambers not Commercial Bar and – just as important experience how to prepare for hearings the Pupillage Handbook published by participating in the system, application – into the work and culture of individual and to do the necessary legal research. the Bar Standards Board each year and deadlines vary and are frequently sets of chambers within the commercial They are not usually expected to available from the Bar Council; on the earlier than this. ﬁeld. During a mini-pupillage you will undertake extensive photocopying Bar Council’s designated website meet members of chambers, you will or other administrative tasks – an (www.pupillagegateway.com); and Applicants should study the Pupillage probably have the opportunity to speak advantage they enjoy over most in the various student directories Gateway Applicant User Guide to be to current and recent pupils about their trainee solicitors. published by, for example, Chambers found on the Pupillage Gateway website. experiences as trainee barristers, and and Partners (“Student Guide”) and There is no charge to applicants using you will be given a taste of the work Methods of assessment vary considerably GTI media (“Target Jobs Law”). the system. Chambers who participate done in those chambers. from chambers to chambers, but in the Pupillage Gateway System continual assessment in one form or The Pupillage Gateway website announce their recruitment decisions Given their importance to the another is undoubtedly a part of every (www.pupillagegateway.com) is an to applicants at the start of August in recruitment process at the Commercial pupillage at the Commercial Bar. Pupils on-line system provided by the Bar the application year. Bar, you should give careful thought to should expect their pupil supervisor to Council for (i) advertising all pupillage the chambers you apply to for mini- review and discuss their work with them vacancies and (ii) administering Mini-pupillage pupillage. You will ﬁnd more information on a regular basis. It is likely that they will pupillage applications in relation (only) about mini-pupillages on the websites of also be asked to do work for other, often to those chambers which participate in A mini-pupillage is a short period of the individual members of COMBAR. senior, members of chambers who will the Gateway’s centralised application work experience in a set of chambers. (See the Useful Websites page of evaluate the product and report back system. Some chambers, although It may last for anything from 2 days to 1 this booklet). Candidates from less to chambers. In some chambers, regular they are obliged to advertise on the week, depending on the chambers. From advantaged backgrounds might also be assessed exercises are also set for pupils. Gateway, seek direct applications from chambers’ point of view, mini-pupillages eligible for particular work experience 16 17 HOW TO QUALIFY AS A BARRISTER AT THE COMMERCIAL BAR USEFUL WEBSITES continued

schemes run by the Social Mobility provide a number of useful career- www.combar.com (this website Foundation, the Pegasus Access related services including sponsorship contains links to the websites of all Scheme, and Middle Temple schemes (where a student is paired chambers members of COMBAR) (see ‘Useful Websites’). You may with a practising barrister who acts also want to consider completing as a mentor), marshalling (where The Inns of Court a vacation placement in a firm of students spend a few days sitting www.graysinn.org.uk solicitors in order to provide a point with a judge in court), mooting www.innertemple.org.uk of comparison. competitions and advocacy training. www.lincolnsinn.org.uk In terms of facilities, each has a law www.middletemple.org.uk Joining an Inn library, common rooms, a bar, a dining Barristers’ regulatory and hall (dining survives as a minor aspect representative bodies Every student must join one of the Inns of qualification for the Bar – students www.barcouncil.org.uk of Court before starting the vocational are expected to dine on twelve www.barstandardsboard.org.uk stage of his or her training. There occasions in order to be called are four Inns: Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, to the Bar) and attractive grounds. Applications for pupillage Lincoln’s Inn and Middle Temple. www.pupillagegateway.com Historically, they provided training and Your choice of Inn has no influence Other relevant Specialist accommodation to barristers. Today, on the area of law you practise in Bar Associations many of their educational functions subsequently, nor on the chambers www.chba.org.uk/ (Chancery have passed to Bar Professional to which you apply for pupillage. Bar Association) Training Course providers. However, For some, the choice turns on a www.lclcba.com/ (London Common they remain influential societies within comparison of the Inns’ respective Law and Commercial Bar Association) the profession and they continue to facilities or ambiance, but for www.tecbar.org/ (Technology and provide facilities, funding, advice and many the determining factor is the Construction Bar Association) support to student members. They also scholarships and awards available retain the power to call students to the at the different Inns for the various Work experience Bar entitling them to call themselves stages of training. Between them www.barprobono.org.uk ‘barrister’ and, following completion of the Inns provide over £3 million in www.thefru.org.uk twelve months’ pupillage, to exercise scholarships. About one third of BPTC rights of audience in the higher courts students have a scholarship from Other useful websites of England and Wales. one of the Inns of Court. Each of the www.lawcareers.net Inns produces a guide to its own www.pegasus.me Each of the Inns has an education scholarships and awards and www.socialmobility.org.uk department offering advice to its we recommend that you consider www.middletemple.org.uk/education- student members about all aspects these carefully before choosing which and-training/scholarships-and-prizes/ of training as a barrister. The Inns also Inn to join. access-to-the-bar-awards/ 18 19 The Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR) 3 Verulam Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5NT Tel: 020 7404 2022 Email: [email protected] www.combar.com

Contacts This booklet is intended to provide general information to those considering a career at the Commercial Bar. There is no student membership of COMBAR.

Enquiries as to pupillage at individual COMBAR sets should be directed to those sets. A link can be found to all COMBAR sets’ and Individual websites at www.combar.com