Top Skills for Being a Barrister

Here's our first and most useful list for you people out there! So many of you, like Obie and I, will be considering a career at the bar and maybe some of you are wondering if you've truly got what it takes. So being the lovely people that we are Obie and I have compiled this list of necessary skills for being a barrister so you can get a vague idea if you've these skills. We've collected these skills from attending various events and extensive reading on the topic so hopefully we've got them all but of course if you think of anymore tweet, facebook or email us!

1) Confidence but not empty confidence. Confidence from being prepared and knowing your stuff

2) Courage

3) Public Speaking (Very very important)

4) Determination

5) Patience

6) Compassion and Empathy (If you don't like people this job probably isn't for you!)

7) INTEGRITY (This kept on popping up throughout everything and so we gather is imprtannt enough to be in capitals)

8) Active Listening (Yeah that 'listening' we all do in lectures won't cut it you have to listen AND pay attention to what is actually being said)

9) Good work ethic (Long hours, hard work)

10) Critical Thinking (Always ask why not how)

11) Enthusiasm and Passion (Covers any career if you ask me)

12) Attention to detail (Come on no one wants to be embarrassed by a judge because you missed a small detail)

13) Good language ability

14) Stamina (You'll be doing long hours and being dragged over the country so get to the gym and work on that stamina!

15) Good understanding of the law (Kind of goes without saying really, you need to be able to grasp the law and understand it quickly and comprehensively)

So that is that! All of these are things that can be worked on in various ways and no doubt we will make a post about it one day to help you all out. Also worth noting that many of these cover skills necessary for becoming a solicitor as well so you can apply it there.

A night out with some Barristers...

Nearly a week ago myself and Obie attended one of the first major events set up by the newly elected University of Sussex Law Society (USLS). The event so named 'Life at the Criminal Bar' was a panel discussion with four guest speakers including Sussex's very own Professor Vogler and three highly reputable barristers Forz Khan, Rebecca Upton and Heather Stevens. Forz Khan is head of his own chambers in London and has participated in numerous high-profile cases included acting as a defendant to a member of the IRA. Those of you who have been applying for mini-pupillage at local chambers may recognise the next panellist Rebecca from Eastbourne Chambers who is the woman to talk to for getting into those chambers. Rebecca has 20 years experience in the criminal bar specialising in family and sexual offences. Lastly Heather who was the newest barrister of the bunch is a tenant in Lamb Building.

Introductions over I can move onto the more interesting topic of what actually happened at the event. Well first and foremost each panellist gave a short summary of their educational history and general background something that I found to be extremely interesting particularly considering the difference in access to the bar. Rebecca and Forz were very forthcoming in admitting that neither had firsts, a 2:2 and 2:1 receptively, and they highlighted the fact that whilst they were lucky to get a pupillage with those grades when they applied it is a totally different story now. Forz gave the excellent advice that these days in order to get a pupillage a candidate needs to not only have excellent grades but an element that makes them stand out so take note future barristers you need to start doing things to make you unique! So get travelling to Mexico to save turtles or head to Oxford to read the well respected Bachelor of Civil Law to make yourself irresistible to whatever chambers you apply to. Also a little side note Forz also stated that it is recommended that you get an offer for a pupillage before you sit the BPTC because it's super expensive like super 'oh my god I'm going to be drowning in debt' expenses or if you're lucky enough a loving phone call to your parents expensive, needless to say those were not his exact words but there's no way I could ever replicate his dictum. However Obie has more than expressed that she does not agree with this but it's very much each to their own in this case.

One particularly interesting aspect of the panellist was the near punch-up (OK not a near punch-up but come on, as journalists it's our job to spice things up... and the mental image is hilarious!) between the barristers and the only solicitor Professor Vogler. This disagreement focused on the suggestion from Vogler that the UK should adopt a unified qualifications for law graduates so that there need not be the decision between a career at the bar or as a solicitor. Something that the barristers did not agree with and led to the more heated discussion n that barristers were better than solicitors, obviously displeasing the solicitor. Being the diplomatic person that I am I won't come down on one side of this discussion I will say that generally barristers are more specialised than solicitors so therefore they will have more knowledge and experience in dealing with certain cases. Feel free to let us know what you all think of this debate! Do you think there should be a unified qualification? Are barristers better qualified than solicitors? Should we have locked these guys in a room to see who makes it out alive?! Tweet us, email us or facebook us your thoughts people!

Now the next interesting information was a bit more academic than the previous one. It's the ever intertesing topic of legal aid because everyone loves a bit of legal aid. Now for those of you who are considering embarking on the difficult yet rewarding journey to the criminal bar I give you a word of caution nicely communicated from the barristers through me to you. The criminal bar does not pay as well as it used to so those of you thinking that you'll make your millions helping put away murderers or defending thieves then I encourage you to either think again or skip reading this part so you can remain in denial. Due to all the lovely legal funding cuts (even more cuts were announced this week) by the Government there is very little funding for many criminal cases and as a consequence being a criminal barrister does not pay as well as it used to. However this should not dissuade you from pursing this career! The work you do I imagine is incredibly worthwhile and interesting (apparently you'll have the most interesting work stories something about drunks in cells...) and as Forz suggested there is always the opportunity to work part-time as a barrister and have another job in the meantime (He owns various businesses if you want some ideas). I won't go into too much detail in legal aid cuts as there will be an article from us soon but I will say that these cuts are more serious than barristers not being paid well. It is worrisome that it may lead to more miscarriages of justice as appropriate representation may not be given, it will become a case of getting the cheapest help not the best quality.

Also for those readers out there who would love to be a barrister but feel that they are too shy all is not lost! Heather told us that she had always been timid through her studies but managed to overcome it through mooting, debating and her mini-pupillages. Whilst I realise more than anyone how horrific these extracurriculars can be if you're shy, they are so worth doing! Not only will this help you get over this shyness but it will get you talking in the right way that is conducive to being in the profession. So you get two birds with one stone as the saying goes.

Last but not least the after-event drinks and networking, whilst I did not manage to stay and chat too much I was fortunate enough to be able to have conversations with Rebecca and Forz about their careers and the best ways to go about getting mini-pupillages and pupillage. Both were extremely helpful and kind in their discussions with myself and Obie and made themselves more than available to answer our questions (I'm sure heather would have been the same if we had the time to talk to her). For those of you who didn't attend you certainly missed out on a great event not just for those wanting to pursue a career at the bar but also those who wish to pursue a career elsewhere as it was a great opportunity to talk with professionals in the industry.