The University of Law Bar Practice Course lead Nigel Booth shares his tips for aspiring barristers while reflecting on his own career at the criminal bar
Nigel Booth spent more than two decades at the criminal bar before stepping into a new role that draws on the same skills of communication, judgement and advocacy that shaped his time in practice. Called to the bar in 1994, Booth spent 26 years as a criminal barrister, working across a wide range of cases before moving into legal education. He is now Programme and Student Lead for the Bar Practice Course at The University of Law (ULaw), where he plays a central role in training aspiring barristers for the realities of practice.
Booth’s route into criminal law was shaped at an early age by a combination of environment and personal interest. His mother worked as a secretary at Stockport Magistrates’ Court, and as a teenager he would often sit in the public gallery observing proceedings, gradually becoming familiar with the rhythm and drama of courtroom life. That exposure coincided with a strong interest in performance, developed through school plays, theatre productions and speech and drama competitions, which together planted the idea of advocacy as both a profession and a vocation.
“When I was a kid, I did a lot of drama, school plays, theatre productions, speech and drama festivals,” Booth recalls. “I liked performing. I liked being in charge of the arena, if you like, and I think it’s the performance edge of it that I liked.” That instinct for performance eventually found a natural outlet in the courtroom, where persuasion, presence and preparation all come together in real time.
By the late 1990s, Booth was regularly on his feet in court, first as a prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service in Manchester and later as a self-employed barrister. Over the course of his career, he dealt with the full spectrum of criminal work and built a practice that was both demanding and varied. Reflecting on that period, Booth describes criminal advocacy as work that is often emotionally draining but also uniquely rewarding, not least because of the responsibility it carries.
Criminal cases, he explains, frequently involve people at the most difficult points in their lives, whether they are defendants, victims or witnesses, and that reality can take its toll over time. The work can be exhausting and, at times, gruelling, yet Booth says it was precisely that sense of importance and consequence that kept him committed to the profession for more than two decades. There was a strong sense of satisfaction in knowing that he was playing his part in a system designed to reach fair and lawful outcomes, even when the subject matter was challenging.
Now working in legal education, Booth is keen to pass on the lessons he learned through years of practice. One of his clearest messages to aspiring barristers is the importance of “keeping an open mind”, particularly in the early stages of legal training. Students, he cautions, are “often tempted to fixate on a particular area of law before they have had the chance to experience alternatives”.
“Never assume that what you’re interested in is what you would like to do for a career,” Booth advises. He encourages students to explore areas of law beyond their initial preferences, whether through mini-pupillages, court visits or informal networking. Someone convinced they want to practise criminal or family law may discover an unexpected interest elsewhere, while trying something unfamiliar can be just as instructive when it confirms what you do not want to do.
Booth’s own experience illustrates the point. As a student, he undertook a summer placement at a City law firm, an experience he now recalls with frankness. “I hated it,” he admits. While the placement did not suit him, it proved valuable because it helped him articulate clearly why the solicitor route was not for him and reinforced his determination to pursue the bar instead. “Whether an experience confirms or challenges existing ambitions”, Booth believes that “exploration ultimately leads to better, more confident career decisions”.
When it comes to pupillage applications, Booth stresses the importance of “clarity, structure and precision”. He recommends “structured approaches such as the STAR method”, which focuses on situation, task, action and result, but stresses that whichever format applicants choose, their answers must be “concise and purposeful”.
“No waffle. Be direct and use your best examples,” he says. Pupillage panels review a large volume of applications, so strong candidates are those who communicate effectively and demonstrate impact rather than offering vague descriptions. Booth also highlights the importance of “explaining outcomes clearly, showing not only what you did but why it mattered and what you achieved as a result”.
Attention to detail, he adds, is critical. “Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors or careless copy-and-paste slips, such as referring to the wrong chambers, create an immediate negative impression and can undermine an otherwise strong application,” he says. “In a highly competitive process”, Booth warns, “candidates cannot afford to lose opportunities through avoidable errors”.
Another area where the former barrister believes students often underestimate themselves is in the value of non-legal experience. He is keen to dispel the idea that only formal legal work is relevant when applying for pupillage, pointing out that the core attributes chambers look for can be demonstrated in a wide range of settings.
“Almost any summer job or work placement that you’ve done in any arena can be deployed to show the attributes that barristers need to have,” he explains. He recalls the example of a now-King’s Counsel who had little legal experience when applying for pupillage and instead drew on work in pubs to demonstrate communication skills, conflict management and the ability to deal calmly with difficult situations.
What matters, Booth says, is not where the experience was gained but how it is presented. As long as applicants can clearly evidence qualities such as judgement, resilience, professionalism and advocacy potential, the context is secondary. The belief that only legal experience counts is, in his view, a misconception that unnecessarily limits candidates.
As Programme and Student Lead for the Bar Practice Course, Booth places advocacy at the centre of training. “Advocacy is such an important part of what we do on the BPC,” he says. “The course is designed around practical learning, with frequent mock advocacy exercises that require students to perform in simulated court settings and receive detailed, individual feedback.”
Cross-examination workshops, mooting competitions and advocacy-focused extracurricular activities all form part of this approach, supported by advocacy scholars across ULaw’s campuses. The aim is to help students develop confidence, refine their technique and find an authentic advocacy style. Booth knows from experience that advocacy is both a technical and performative skill, one that improves with practice and reflection.
For students coming to the bar through non-traditional routes, including non-law graduates and career changers, Booth’s advice is reassuringly practical. He acknowledges that the bar can appear opaque and intimidating from the outside, but stresses that there are accessible ways to gain insight and confidence. Law schools frequently host events involving barristers and judges, many of which are open to students who are not yet on a bar course.
He also encourages aspiring barristers to attend court in person whenever possible. “Just go along and watch,” he says. Sitting in on hearings allows students to observe advocacy in practice and develop an intuitive understanding of courtroom dynamics, often without realising how much they are absorbing.
Those who attend regularly may find further opportunities arise naturally. Judges often notice repeat visitors and may be willing to speak during breaks, while some barristers are open to polite questions after hearings. Although introducing yourself can feel daunting, Booth believes these interactions are invaluable in demystifying the profession and building confidence early on.
Wellbeing is another theme Booth returns to frequently. Training for the bar is demanding, and success depends not only on intellectual ability but also on organisation, discipline and resilience. Time management, he says, is one of the areas that most commonly catches students out.
“The thing that can catch people out unawares is time management, because the course is very busy,” Booth explains. The strongest students tend to plan their weeks carefully, scheduling classes, preparation and revision time, while also protecting space for rest. This structure helps prevent work from creeping into every evening and weekend, which in turn supports long-term wellbeing.
Booth notes that attitudes towards mental health at the bar have changed significantly since he began practising, with wellbeing now recognised as a core professional issue rather than an afterthought. He encourages students to develop healthy habits during training and to seek help early if they are struggling.
At ULaw, support structures are in place to assist students throughout the course. Each BPC student is assigned an academic coach who can offer guidance on coursework, revision strategies and study skills. Dedicated wellbeing teams provide confidential support for personal or health-related concerns, and the university runs study skills programmes to prepare students for assessments, including multiple-choice exams.
There are also digital resources, including a wellbeing app, designed to help students manage stress and maintain balance. Booth emphasises that these initiatives are there to help students thrive, not simply to cope.
Having spent years in criminal practice and now guiding students through professional training, Nigel Booth offers a rare dual perspective on life at the bar. His career illustrates that while advocacy is demanding, it can also be deeply rewarding, particularly for those who approach it with curiosity, preparation and resilience.
As we round off the interview, Booth jokes, “Don’t forget I am a barrister and we do like talking about ourselves.” Students should have no fear in approaching barristers and talking to them — such efforts are in fact likely to be well received! His insights offer aspiring barristers a realistic, encouraging view of the profession and a reminder that, with the right support and mindset, a career at the bar remains an achievable and fulfilling ambition.
Nigel Booth will be speaking at ‘Pupillage application masterclass — with, Henderson, Keating, Landmark Chambers and ULaw’, a virtual event taking place this coming Monday (12 January 2026). APPLY NOW.
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