Barristers are self-employed legal practitioners, and after completing your pupillage your aim may be to become a tenant in chambers or to practise at the employed bar. Both options are demanding, challenging and competitive, but your training and experience on the BVC and as a pupil barrister should provide you with a firm grounding for a successful legal career.

It is not uncommon to be unable to secure a tenancy. For this reason, some pupils continue to work for a further six months and become known as ’third sixers’. For your first few years you will need to build up your skills, network of contacts and reputation.

The employed bar

About a quarter of barristers are not in independent practice but are employed by other organisations such as the Government Legal Service, the Crown Prosecution Service
and local government.