Introduction
Working with solicitors and other legal professionals outside the self-employed Bar helps you to:
- Experience the day-to-day work carried out by solicitors, legal executives and other professionals;
- Gain further knowledge and experience of specific areas of practice;
- Appreciate what a client experiences when they first seek legal advice and assistance;
- Understand when, why and how solicitors and legal executives seek the advice or representation of counsel for their clients;
- Make contacts and ask questions of those who use barristers and may brief you in the future;
- Gain an advantage when applying to sets of chambers which consider this level of experience helpful or essential;
- Recognise how the work of barristers and solicitors both differs and aligns;
- Answer the question, “Why have you chosen to pursue a career at the Bar instead of a career as a solicitor?”
- Demonstrate experience and understanding of the largest branch of the legal profession.
Next
Working with solicitors and other legal professionals
Even though barristers can now obtain work direct from members of the public to a large extent the Bar is still a referral profession, meaning that a significant proportion of its work comes from solicitors, as well as legal executives.
The working life of most barristers involves a close working relationship with firms of solicitors and the individuals within them. To this end, having a good working knowledge of this side of the profession will place you at a real advantage with some sets of chambers when it comes to applying for pupillage. Indeed, some will not consider your application further if you do not have this experience. Working with solicitors and legal executives will not only allow you to experience what they do on a daily basis, but to understand that part of the legal ‘journey’ clients take before they ever see a barrister. You may get to know why a solicitor uses a particular barrister – is it because they are particularly good with clients, or with a particular ‘type’ of client, because they are efficient and respond quickly to emails, because they are fearless advocates, or because they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of a particular area of the law? You might even make contacts at this early stage in your career that will serve you very well for the remainder.
Next
Back
Choosing a firm to suit you
Many people training for the Bar apply for paralegal work both as paid employment and because of its natural affinity with a career at the Bar. Paralegals will work under the supervision of a qualified lawyer, usually in a firm of solicitors or the legal department of a business, and carry out a variety of tasks, from interviewing clients, conducting legal research, attending court and conferences, as well as administrative tasks. For the same reasons as set out above, this can prove to be extremely useful experience and has a well-deserved place on your CV.
Opportunities for work experience can be found by looking at the websites of individual firms and also at legal careers websites. Social media can be helpful for spotting opportunities. Networking is also important, since a contact from the Bar may be able to put you in touch with a colleague in a firm of solicitors, or you might meet a solicitor, legal executive or other employee of a firm during a mini-pupillage. The more you search, the more opportunities you will find.
A useful starting point to search for firms of solicitors is on legal careers websites which contain lists searchable by practice area and location.
Back
Next
Choosing a firm to suit you - Continued
When selecting a law firm to work in as a paralegal, consider factors such as the firm's practice areas, culture, size, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Practice Areas: Ensure the firm specializes in areas of law that interest you. This will give you greater insights into the areas that interest you and make it more likely that you will succeed in pupillage applications to practice in this field.
- Firm Size and Culture: Larger firms may offer more resources and opportunities for advancement but can also involve longer hours and a more competitive environment. In contrast, smaller firms can provide more opportunities to get involved in broader variety of cases. Consider what type of environment you thrive in.
- Opportunities for Growth: Look for firms that provide training and development opportunities for paralegals. This could include mentorship programs, continuing education, or chances to work on a diverse range of cases.
Next
Back
Back
Choosing a firm to suit you - Continued
- Reputation and Client Feedback: Research the firm's reputation in the legal community. Look for reviews and testimonials from current and former employees, as well as client feedback.
- Networking and Professional Development: once working for a firm, attend their networking events and engage with Barristers and other professionals in that field. Ask questions about their experiences and what they value in a Barrister or set of Chambers.
For additional information, please also see the section on the Employed Bar.
Back
Back
A useful starting point to search for firms of solicitors is
The Law Society – Find a Solicitor –
- allows you to search by practice area for information about organisations or people providing legal services in England and Wales that are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
The Legal 500
Chambers Student
LawCareers.net
The Lawyer Portal
- – Contains a list and details of featured law firms, including some of the top firms in the UK.
A useful starting point to search for firms of solicitors is
The Law Society – Find a Solicitor –
- allows you to search by practice area for information about organisations or people providing legal services in England and Wales that are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
The Legal 500
Chambers Student
LawCareers.net
The Lawyer Portal
- – Contains a list and details of featured law firms, including some of the top firms in the UK.
S6 - Alternative Working Opportunities
Amy
Created on September 22, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Relaxing Presentation
View
Modern Presentation
View
Colorful Presentation
View
Modular Structure Presentation
View
Chromatic Presentation
View
City Presentation
View
News Presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
Introduction
Working with solicitors and other legal professionals outside the self-employed Bar helps you to:
Next
Working with solicitors and other legal professionals
Even though barristers can now obtain work direct from members of the public to a large extent the Bar is still a referral profession, meaning that a significant proportion of its work comes from solicitors, as well as legal executives. The working life of most barristers involves a close working relationship with firms of solicitors and the individuals within them. To this end, having a good working knowledge of this side of the profession will place you at a real advantage with some sets of chambers when it comes to applying for pupillage. Indeed, some will not consider your application further if you do not have this experience. Working with solicitors and legal executives will not only allow you to experience what they do on a daily basis, but to understand that part of the legal ‘journey’ clients take before they ever see a barrister. You may get to know why a solicitor uses a particular barrister – is it because they are particularly good with clients, or with a particular ‘type’ of client, because they are efficient and respond quickly to emails, because they are fearless advocates, or because they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of a particular area of the law? You might even make contacts at this early stage in your career that will serve you very well for the remainder.
Next
Back
Choosing a firm to suit you
Many people training for the Bar apply for paralegal work both as paid employment and because of its natural affinity with a career at the Bar. Paralegals will work under the supervision of a qualified lawyer, usually in a firm of solicitors or the legal department of a business, and carry out a variety of tasks, from interviewing clients, conducting legal research, attending court and conferences, as well as administrative tasks. For the same reasons as set out above, this can prove to be extremely useful experience and has a well-deserved place on your CV. Opportunities for work experience can be found by looking at the websites of individual firms and also at legal careers websites. Social media can be helpful for spotting opportunities. Networking is also important, since a contact from the Bar may be able to put you in touch with a colleague in a firm of solicitors, or you might meet a solicitor, legal executive or other employee of a firm during a mini-pupillage. The more you search, the more opportunities you will find.
A useful starting point to search for firms of solicitors is on legal careers websites which contain lists searchable by practice area and location.
Back
Next
Choosing a firm to suit you - Continued
When selecting a law firm to work in as a paralegal, consider factors such as the firm's practice areas, culture, size, and opportunities for professional growth.
Next
Back
Back
Choosing a firm to suit you - Continued
For additional information, please also see the section on the Employed Bar.
Back
Back
A useful starting point to search for firms of solicitors is
The Law Society – Find a Solicitor –
The Legal 500
Chambers Student
LawCareers.net
The Lawyer Portal
A useful starting point to search for firms of solicitors is
The Law Society – Find a Solicitor –
The Legal 500
Chambers Student
LawCareers.net
The Lawyer Portal