Describe the training for both Barristers and Solicitors.

To become a solicitor or barrister the first stage is the academic stage. You can specialise and get a law degree which covers the 7 core topics over 3 years. The 7 topics are contract law, tort, public law which includes (constitutional, administrative and human rights law), criminal law, property law, equity and trusts and European Union law. This will lead to the vocational stage. If you have a non law degree then a 1 year Common Professionals examination (CPE) course in law which covers the 7 core topics must be taken. The fees for this are about 7000 pounds and this will lead to the vocational stage. If you are a non graduate and want to become a solicitor you must take the Institute of Legal Executive route and take exams part 1 and 2 as well as work in a solicitors firm for 5 years. To become a barrister you must take a 2 year CPE course in law. This will then lead you to the vocational stage.

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At the vocational stage if you are training to be a solicitor you must take a Legal Practice Course (LPC) which is a 1 year course full time and 2 years part time. The fees are around 10,000 pounds and you will learn skills such as advocacy, negotiation, interviewing and legal and procedural knowledge. If you are training to become a barrister you must take a Bar Professionals Training Course (BPTC). This course can be taken at a university that does the course or at one of four Inns. A barrister must be a member of one of the four Inns either Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Gray’s Inn or Lincoln’s Inn and students must dine there 12 times before becoming qualified barristers. The Inns allow students to interact with other barristers as well as providing educational lectures. The fees are approximately 10,000 pounds for the one year course. You learn skills such as advocacy, writing opinions, negotiation and interviewing. Once these courses are completed you move onto the practical stage.

At the practical stage if you are training to become a solicitor you will undertake a Training Contract which is 2 years on the job training at a solicitors firm or CPS or a government department. You get a minimum salary of 16,000 pounds and will cover 4 main areas of law with the supervision of a senior solicitor. Today you must undertake a 20 day professional skills course. Once this is completed you are a qualified solicitor and admitted to the roll of solicitors. After this you must undertake Continued Professional Development for 16 hours per year. You can also receive a certificate of advocacy and apply for Queens Counsel in the future. If you want to become a barrister you will attend a pupillage at this stage. This is a 1 year course on the job training consisting of 2 x 6 months at 2 different chambers. You will get a minimum salary of 10,000 pounds. During this time you will shadow a qualified barrister or ‘pupil master’ and take further courses in advocacy, forensics accountancy and legal advice to improve practical skills. Once this is completed you are called to the Bar and are now a qualified barrister. After this you must undertake Continued Professional Development for 42 hours per year. Barristers can also apply for Queens Counsel in the future.