UK Bar Careers: Essential Advice for Securing a Pupillage

By Legal Cheek on Aug 21 2026 8:56am Chasing a career at the bar? Future pupil barrister and Legal Cheek writer Saul Agar-Ward explains what worked for him, and what didn’t Last year 3,912 candidates applied for pupillage through the Gateway. Only 287 got it. Entry to the bar has never been more competitive, so what can aspiring barristers do to improve their odds? Applying for pupillage takes more than a strong CV: candidates need knowledge, grit, and a healthy dose of luck. So, what should first-time applicants (or those going again) bear in mind? Legal Cheek’s Lydia Fontes is joined by fellow LC writer and future pupil barrister Saul Agar-Ward, who talks through his own path to pupillage: what worked, what didn’t, and the advice he’d give to anyone else taking the plunge. You can listen to the podcast in full via the embed above, or on YouTube , Spotify or Apple Podcasts . The Legal Cheek Podcast is proudly independent. Thanks to our sponsor Simpson Thacher , home of the private equity training contract , for making that possible . Exclusive: Potential £2k+ increase Sanction subject to appeal