How to become a barrister

A barrister is an independent legal professional who has specialist experience and knowledge that is used in both dispute resolution outside the courtroom and for advocacy in the courtroom.

The training and assessments required to be admitted to the Bar (the term for when a lawyer becomes a barrister) require dedication, strong communication skills and significant legal experience. This guide will explain this process, help you understand what barristers do, what skills you need and how you can start building toward a career at the Bar.

What does a barrister do?

Barristers are usually retained by a lawyer to represent clients in court, provide specialist legal opinions, handle appeals and advise on other complex or high-stakes matters. They draw upon their extensive legal knowledge to suggest the most likely outcome of a case, the best way to approach it and, in dispute resolution, help clarify the process and empower the client.  

Their work includes preparing arguments, analysing evidence, cross-examining witnesses and advising on legal strategy.  

Barrister vs lawyer​: What’s the difference?

The easiest way to remember the difference between a barrister and a lawyer is that all barristers are lawyers, but not all lawyers are barristers. A barrister is a lawyer who has passed the Bar exam in their respective state and undertaken additional training.

Lawyers (often called solicitors) will be the first point of call for clients and will prepare cases and handle ongoing legal matters. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy and appear before judges and juries. Lawyers/solicitors usually engage a barrister when a matter requires specialist representation.

What are the must-have skills of a barrister?

The qualities of a good barrister combine interpersonal strengths and advanced legal skills. While the legal abilities will grow over time through study, training and experience, barristers will also naturally have an interest in analysing information and being able to quickly identify the crucial points of a case.

Steps to become a barrister

Becoming a barrister requires first completing a law degree, gaining admission as a solicitor and building legal experience. Most barristers have strong experience in litigation or advisory work before applying for the Bar, which is a highly competitive process.

To become a barrister, you must pass three Bar Examinations and enrol in the Bar Practice Course. Once you complete these steps, you apply for an Australian Practising Certificate (Barrister). This certificate allows you to practice law as a solicitor in private practice or as a corporate or government in-house solicitor. After obtaining the certificate, you enter a year of training known as the ‘readership period’. During this time, you work under the guidance of at least one experienced barrister. Once that period is finished, you qualify as a barrister, which is known as ‘being called to the Bar’.

The pathway starts with either an undergraduate or postgraduate law degree. 

Undergraduate pathway

1. Start by enrolling in a Bachelor of Laws or a combined law degree at UNSW.

2. Complete practical legal training and be admitted as a solicitor.

3. Gain legal experience, often in litigation, criminal law, commercial disputes or public law.

4. Prepare for and pass the Bar Exam.

5. Complete Bar Practice Training.

6. Apply for a practising certificate and read under a senior barrister before practising independently.

Postgraduate pathway

1. Complete an undergraduate degree in another discipline.

2. Apply for the UNSW Juris Doctor or another recognised graduate law degree. 

3. Undertake practical legal training and become admitted as a solicitor.

4. Build several years of hands-on legal experience to strengthen your advocacy skills. 

5. Sit and pass the Bar Exam and complete Bar Practice Training.

6. Obtain your practising certificate and begin work as a junior barrister under supervision. 

Mapping your career as a barrister

Barristers tend to specialise in a certain area of the law, such as criminal law, commercial law, environmental law, family law, human rights, taxation, administrative law or appellate advocacy. 

To become a senior counsel – known as receiving 'silk' by being appointed King's Counsel or Senior Counsel – you must be recognised in the legal profession as having a high degree of skill and learning. It also requires ‘integrity and honesty, independence, diligence and experience’ (according to the Australian Bar Association). KCs and SCs are retained for very serious or complex cases and often go on to become senior judges. They are known as silks because their gowns are silk, whereas junior counsel wear cotton gowns.