Update 13/10/26: The Bar Council's Pupillage Fair is now sold out, but you can click here to register for the webinars running this week, from Monday 13 October to Thursday 16 October.
Tickets for Pupillage Fair North on Saturday 21 November 2026 (Leeds Beckett University), run by the Northern and North Eastern Circuits and supported by the Bar Council, are still available but going fast.

 

If you’re an aspiring barrister, the Bar Council’s annual Pupillage Fair is the number one event for you. It’s the largest recruitment fair run by the Bar, for the Bar of the future. The Bar Council is the voice of the barrister profession – representing and supporting the nearly 18,000 barristers in England and Wales and championing the rule of law and access to justice. A key part of our work involves inspiring and supporting you, the next generation of barristers.

Our Pupillage Fair is the one place where you can find everything you need to know about joining us at the Bar under one roof. Whether you’re just beginning to explore a career at the Bar, or are already preparing for the pupillage application period, this Saturday 17 October is your chance to access expert guidance, practical resources, and network all in one place.

Get tailored advice from a barrister

One of the most popular parts of our fair is the CV and application clinic. You can bring along a copy of your CV or an application and discuss it one on one with experienced barristers. You’ll have 10 minutes to sit down with the barrister you’re paired with and talk through your CV or application. They will then give you feedback and advice so that you can leave confident you’re putting your best foot forward. We have a virtual queuing system that you can join online as soon as you arrive so that while you’re waiting to speak to a barrister, you can maximise your time exploring the rest of the fair.

Map out your route to becoming a barrister

At the fair, you’ll be able to speak to those who know the profession best. You’ll be able to ask any questions you might have, whether you want to know how to begin your journey to the Bar or are applying for pupillage. This year, we have more than 120 exhibitors from across the profession – chambers, organisations and employers, all the Inns of Court, all six Circuits and Specialist Bar Associations. You’ll be able to discuss opportunities with a range of pupillage providers including criminal, family, Chancery, commercial, general civil and mixed practice and will come away with a better understanding of the different areas of law. Plus, you can find out more about funding and support so that you can leave assured of your path to becoming a barrister.

We also have a community space where you’ll be able to speak with organisations committed supporting diversity at the Bar and connect with your community. Not only will you be able to network with those working in and around the Bar, but you will be able to connect with other aspiring barristers in the exact same position as you.

Top tip: There’s no such thing as a silly question. Every barrister you speak to at the fair was once where you are now. Whatever your question, however big or small, there will be someone at the fair who can answer it.

What if I’m not able to come to the in-person event?

There are plenty of ways you can find out more about a career as a barrister. In the week leading up to the Pupillage Fair, we host a ‘Life at the Bar’ webinar series. You can attend whichever session you’re interested in from wherever you are. The sessions cover all the different practice areas as well as advice on pupillage applications, funding and support from the Inns of Court and much more. The Bar Council also has more information about a career at the Bar over on its ‘Becoming a barrister’ careers hub.

The Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee Chair, Amelia Clegg, shares why she believes the Pupillage Fair is one of the most valuable opportunities available to aspiring barristers:

‘While online research and chambers’ websites are important resources, nothing compares to speaking directly with barristers, pupils and recruitment teams about what chambers are really looking for and what life at the Bar is like.

‘The Pupillage Fair is an opportunity to explore different practice areas, gain a better understanding of the culture and work of individual chambers, ask informed questions about recruitment processes, and receive advice on how to strengthen applications and prepare for interviews.

‘I remember how daunting pupillage applications can feel, and sometimes it can feel like everyone is better informed about the process than you are (even though that is rarely true). The Pupillage Fair helps level the playing field by bringing together chambers, specialist Bar associations and support organisations in one place, giving aspiring barristers direct access to insights and guidance from across the Bar.

‘The Bar is at its strongest when talented individuals from every background can see a clear path into practice. I encourage anyone considering a career at the Bar, whether they are just beginning to explore the profession or are actively preparing applications, to make the most of the information and goodwill the Pupillage Fair provides. I’m really looking forward to meeting the future of the profession at this year’s Pupillage Fair – you’ll find me at the Bar Council stand dispensing chocolate and support!’

What is the Bar Placement Scheme?
The Bar Council’s annual Bar Placement Scheme gives students in years 12, 13 and first-year undergraduates a real-life insight into a career as a barrister. If you secure a place on the scheme, you’ll spend up to four days shadowing a barrister in chambers across England and Wales and will also accompany them on visits to courts. You’ll also do an advocacy course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, where many barristers receive their training.
It’s an excellent opportunity to see what life is like as a barrister, gain experience and new skills to enhance your CV and work out whether a career at the Bar is something you’d like to pursue. Applications typically open in April with the scheme taking place in July.
Hear from one participant themselves…
Xia Khan, who took part in the scheme in 2026, is a first-year law student and aspiring barrister:
‘Before the placement scheme, I thought success at the Bar meant becoming the finished article – speaking a certain way, fitting the cookie cutter mould I had imagined.
‘[The Bar Placement Scheme] taught me the opposite. It taught me that there isn’t one route to the Bar. There isn’t one background that belongs there. There isn’t one type of person capable of becoming a barrister.
‘The greatest thing the placement gave me wasn’t simply an insight into life at the Bar but the permission to believe that someone like me could have a place there too.
‘If there is one thing this experience has reinforced, it’s this: don’t decide you’re not good enough before someone else has the chance to decide. Apply. Ask the question. Take the opportunity. Sometimes the longest shots are the ones most worth taking.’
You can find out what a day in the life is like on the scheme by reading Xia’s blog.
Find out more about the scheme here.