Jarquis

Do you go to a site called Cricsim?

Work experience is very important. You could do some now, but I don't think it's essential. It's more important during Uni. Try to see one or two law firms and a few barristers' chambers. They run schemes which, in barristers' chambers, are called "mini-pupillages" - essentially a week's work experience, usually unpaid but sometimes paid (or just expenses paid). Try to see a variety of work. Different areas of law have different attractions. For instance, tax is well-paid but boring (unless you like that sort of thing - ask Wisden18 (Oliver Coddington) who is hoping to become a tax barrister). Crime is very poorly paid but, in its way, extremely exciting. Getting experience of law firms (solicitors) and chambers (barristers) is also important so that you can get a sense of which profession you want to get into.

All this is some way down the line for you, obviously, but the very fact that you're asking these questions is a very good sign!

If you want to take a year out, I'd say the best time to do it, by far, is between school and university. After university you'll want to be getting on with your career (and paying back the debts you ran up during your student days, unfortunately). I'd advise that you take a year out if you can - it's a great opportunity and you'll approach uni with broader horizons than you otherwise would - but I wouldn't advise that you do it at any time other than the year before uni.

cheer man

No problem. Happy to help.

If you wanted a cool new username, you should have gone with GIMHIMH IMO but nevermind, at least you have the capital letter now, how's 6th form going?

One final bit of advice: Uni is the best experience I've ever had during my life. A lot of other people would agree with me on that. It's a brilliant time when you can really start living your own life, and you have a lot of time and opportunity to enjoy yourself with like-minded people. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy your time there to the full.

Anyhow I've just realised I failed to answer your question. The answer is
1. Undergraduate degree - 3 years
2. Postgraduate degree - 1 year - certainly not essential but it's an option and gives you an extra feather in your cap
3. Law conversion course - 1 year - not neccesary if you've done a Law degree
4. Bar School - 1 year
5. Pupillage - 1 year - an apprenticeship at a barristers' chambers
6. Get a tenancy - ie you get taken on permanently by a barristers' chambers (most likely the place where you did pupillage).

So it's a minimum of 5 years from school to being a fully-fledged barrister. I took a bit longer because I took a year out before Uni (went to the cricket world cup in Australia!) and did a one-year postgraduate degree.

What matters far more than the subject you study is your degree result. And just as important, try to involve yourself in extra-curricular things. The sorts of things that will be useful on your CV are things showing an interest and ability in advocacy (eg debating competitions, mooting competitions, student politics or representation); a willingness to go into bat for other people (student representation, counselling etc); things which demonstrate leadership; things that show that you are self-motivated and a "self-starter".

I don't think that the subject you do matters much. However if you do Law, you will not need to do the additional one-year conversion course. Barristers' Chambers who are recruiting pupils will not think "ah, he did history so he wasn't committed to Law at age 17 when he decided what course to take."
Do what suits you - what you find interesting, and what you will be good at.

I went to Oxford where I studied law. There are more ways than one to go about it though: plenty of barristers didn't go to Oxbridge, and plenty didn't study law. In fact there's a big school of thought that it's best not to do a law degree, as doing another subject will allow you to broaden your horizons and the academic study of law as a degree course doesn't necessarily serve as a useful training for actual practice in law.

Anyhow if you've any questions or would like any advice about a career as a barrister, feel free to ask.

What AS levels are you doing? Will you go on to do A-levels after that?

Yes mate - I'm a barrister specialising in employment and discrimination law. And you?
Tom

Cheers. Be there presently. :-)

Want a senior FTP Friendly in about a months time? I've got a series going ATM.

it is indeed, to be honest i'm surprised by how quickly my turn keeps coming up

Pretty much yeah

Last time my team was England-dominated but I had a few like Bevan, Ahmed in there. Will see what I can muster together this time.

Thanks for the alerts.

You're up, just picked KP

Impressive that, mate

I'm intrigued, if it wasn't because of what I said then how did you wind up doing AS Maths already? Or don't you want to say? No worries if not like

Just in case I forget...good luck for Thursday!