Every profession uses confusing jargon, and the Bar is no exception. With its array of Latin phrases and specialist legal language, it can be easy to feel intimidated. At Serjeants’ Inn we believe in the importance of improving access to the Bar, and that means everyone should feel included in the conversation. Here are just some of the common words and phrases you might come across as you consider applying for pupillage:
Bar Council: the representative body for barristers. Its core work focuses on lobbying the government and Whitehall on matters of relevance to the present status and future of the Bar. Its website contains further guidance on matters such as becoming a barrister, practising ethically, and training opportunities that are available to you.
Bar Standards Board: the body that regulates barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. You can find out more about its work here.
Bar: the general name for barristers and their profession.
Bundle: a folder containing all the documents the court may need to refer to in the course of proceedings.
Chambers: the offices from which barristers work, or the private place for a judge to deliberate.
‘Con’: a ‘conference’ or meeting the barrister conducts with someone involved in a case, such as the instructing solicitor or client.
Court of Protection: the Court that deliberates and decides on issues relating to the Mental Capacity Act. Cases that come before the Court of Protection often involve vulnerable people with complex physical and mental health needs who lack the capacity to make decisions about their own treatment.
Lay person: a person who is not legally qualified.
Lay client: the client (whether an individual or organisation) who instructs the solicitor, who in turn instructs the barrister on a legal matter or issue.
‘On your feet’: the term used when a pupil barrister starts practising in their own right, usually in their second six months of pupillage. The pupil can expect to be instructed by solicitors and advocate before the courts themselves, that is ‘on their feet’.
Pupil supervisor: a more senior barrister who the pupil shadows during the course of their pupillage.
Robing room: a room at court where barristers gather before or after a hearing, and in particular don their gowns and wigs (if applicable) before appearing in court.
Tenancy: at the end of pupillage, if successful, the pupil will be offered tenancy. This is an invitation for the pupil to operate out of Chambers as a junior barrister.
Third six: sometimes a pupil will finish pupillage at a set and not be offered tenancy, and sometimes they will decide to practise in another area of law altogether. When this happens, they may undertake a fixed-term period of practice at another set, known as a ‘third six’. There is nothing to stop the pupil from undertaking further ‘third sixes’ at other sets for whatever reason.
To instruct: when a solicitor retains a barrister to advise and/or appear in court in relation to their lay client’s case.
