Navigation trail

• Home page
• Types of jobs
• Legal profession
• Barrister, private practice (Northern Ireland): Job description and activities

Barrister, private practice (Northern Ireland): Job description and activities

Similar to barristers practising in England and Wales, and advocates in Scotland, barristers in Northern Ireland are specialists in legal advocacy.

Typical work activities include:

• understanding and interpreting the law;
• advising on matters of law and evidence;
• drafting legal documents;
• negotiating settlements.

The greatest differences are in the training procedures required to qualify in Northern Ireland.

Law graduates wishing to practise in Northern Ireland should apply for the one-year Vocational Certificate course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Northern Ireland , which is part of Queen's University, Belfast. The Council of Legal Education set up a pilot scheme for the academic years 2007-8 and 2008-9, offering six Bar trainees the chance to study this over two years. Details of the outcome of this trial will be available on the Institute's website. Applications must be submitted by 15 November each year and selection is based upon degree result and a test conducted in the Christmas vacation. There are currently 30 places available each year. All law graduates must have studied eight core subjects. Intending barristers must attain at least second class honours. Further details of the non-law degree route can be found in Notes for the Guidance of Intending Students on the website of The Law Society of Northern Ireland .

Bar traineers are required to be admitted as students to the Inn of Court before starting their Professional Legal Studies Certifcate course. After graduation from the Institute, Bar trainees must undertake a twelve-month pupillage with a Master. After 3 months barrister pupils are able to take on cases with the permission of the Education Committee.

For more information see Barrister.

AGCAS

Written by Jonathan Bainbridge, Thames Valley University

Last updated:

January 2009

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd | Disclaimer