Universities

Let me start at the beginning of the story with Universities. I will start with a statement that as I was choosing a University I did not believe, however, I am beginning to agree more with it as I get older; it doesn't really matter what University you go to, as long as you get a good degree.

Of course there will be amazing stories where barristers have got thirds and gone on to become QCs and there will be tragedies of students that have gone to Oxbridge, got firsts and still no interviews. However, the bar is trying to open up its doors to a wider amount of people; taking account of individual's circustances. Just this week 'Target Group' released its 2007/8 statistics that said the majority of students who want to be barristers are female and from an ethnic minority (although with all the funding available for this group of people, its no wonder they think about it seriously).

The most important thing is that wherever you go you get the best degree you possibly can. Do not sabotage your life to achieve it (then you wont be well rounded, so you wont be impressive anyway), but do take into account that when you apply for mini pupillages/bvc/pupillages they will want individual module marks.

Do take this with a pinch of salt; obviously if you can go to Oxbridge, why wouldn't you, and if a Russell group University will take you, then of course go there. But if something happened, if you were meant to get 3 As but something happened don't give up hope... you have a long way to go and a lot of things you can do to improve your chances tobecome a barrister.