Break Through The Bar

I am Minnie Slater and currently on the Barrister Training Course (Part-time) and I have just finished my “Civil” year at Bar school.

Since doing a 180 from training as a solicitor, this year I wanted to focus on experience. Experience at the Bar, at any stage of your journey whether that is A-Level, undergraduate or postgraduate (like me!) is crucial. Gaining an understanding of what it really takes to be a barrister, what each chambers offers in terms of pupillage, specialism practice areas and where you want to base yourself are important lessons you can only really learn through observing it first-hand.

A public law chambers in London:

This was not your conventional mini-pupillage where usually you shadow a barrister, this was a very insightful experience of the workings of the Chambers.

Throughout the whole day, we had “mini” sessions broken up into talks, exercises, networking and tours from 9:30 till the end of the day. This experience really delved into the culture of the chambers from the perspectives of pupils to Kings Counsel. It was refreshing to hear tenants non-conventional routes to the Bar and some stories of lower- economic background tenants. This resonated with me as I finally felt we were on a level playing field as I am state school educated, first generation university student, reliant on bursaries and free school meals and from a financially disadvantaged background.

We took part in two exercises which were not assessed: an advocacy exercise and a judgement reading exercise. This gave us an insight into not only our own abilities with valuable feedback (which is hard to get and highly sought for during the journey to the Bar!) but also into the chambers practice areas such as public law judicial reviews.

The networking opportunities were irreplaceable: some few moments particularly stood out to me when I spoke to one barrister in particular who I connected well with who answered honestly all of my worries including maternity leave for the future, mortgage stresses, being self-employed and how to manage money at the Bar.

A large, mixed practice chambers in the various locations:

This was a more traditional mini-pupillage in which I shadowed two barristers: one practising criminal barrister and another specialising in employment law.

At these chambers, every pupil undertakes some criminal work alongside their civil practice, so I spent my first day observing a criminal barrister to gain a realistic sense of what pupillage there actually looks like.

On my first day, I attended the Crown Court and observed a pre-trial review, during which arrangements for a prosecution witness were being finalised.

Although the hearing itself was relatively straightforward, it gave me a valuable opportunity to see how the witness service, solicitors, the Crown Prosecution Service, and barristers work together behind the scenes to get a case trial-ready.

The following day, I observed an employment tribunal considering whether the delay in bringing the claim was ‘just and equitable’.

It was my first time seeing a hearing involving a litigant in person, and it was fascinating to watch the judge carefully guide them through the relevant law in non-legal jargon (what we are all used to on the Bar course…sigh!).

Beyond the hearing itself, it did confirm for me that employment law isn’t an area I see myself practising in. Still, discovering what doesn’t suit you is just as valuable as finding what does.

A civil law chambers in the East Midlands:

This consisted of 3 jam packed days of the realities of a barrister’s daily life. During my first day, I shadowed a barrister who specialised in personal injury and industrial disease – something I have never considered before as practice areas.

I observed my first ever Case Management Conference regarding whether further expert evidence could be permitted in a personal injury case. Though that may sound dull, after reciting the White Book for the past 6 months prior to exams, it was so interesting to see how the Civil Procedure Rules are applied in context.

The following day I watched a one-day RTA trial concerning a defendant who denied driving at the time of the incident. And honestly, if you enjoy the drama and technique of criminal-style advocacy, particularly cross-examination, then this type of work could really appeal as it did to me!

Today, I was fortunate to be placed with a truly inspirational barrister who practices in the areas I’m most curious about being clinical negligence and inquests, who also comes from a background similar to my own.

Although I didn’t learn as much from the trial itself, the invaluable conversations we had are ones I will never forget. She was completely transparent about her practice and how she built her career from a position very similar to mine.

Seeing her achievements first-hand was a powerful reminder that people from disadvantaged backgrounds can absolutely succeed at the Bar.

In conclusion, each of these three experiences offered a distinct and invaluable perspective on life at the Bar.

These minis reaffirmed what I already suspected: there is no single ‘type’ of barrister, no single route into the profession, and no background that disqualifies you from belonging.

Most importantly, I left each set with a stronger sense of confidence and clarity.

As I move into the next stage of my training, I carry with me not only the lessons learned but the reassurance that, with determination and the right support, a financially disadvantaged or non-traditional background is not a barrier but a source of strength.