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I am a barrister who for over ten years was previously a solicitor. I am not unique as many barristers are former solicitors. I would go further and state that I obtained far more advocacy experience as a trainee solicitor than I would have done in my second six months as a pupil barrister. Far more!! I also learnt much more and handled clients.

The BSB's regulations already enable a seamless transfer for any solicitor-advoacte of five years or more PQE with both criminal and civil higher rights. If only civil or criminal higher rights then if you intend to practise in the other camp you do a three month pupillage.

I do not therefore see what all the fuss is about!

There will always be those with an Oxbridge first who go straight to the top sets just as there are those with a high Oxbridge or redbrick 2:1 who go straight to the top City firms. The point about the Bar is that, cynacism aside, it is a meritocracy which means that there is a route in under the existing regulations for all those who are determined and industrious enough to choose to take it.

If a solicitor-advocate wants to be a barrister they should just go for it and transfer. They will find that when they approach sets of chambers in the quest for a tenancy, their experience as a solicitor is valued. I would say though that the job and the culture are both different, as it the work ethic. You also learn that the solicitors control the flow of work and that you exist to keep them happy, otherwise no more work.