What should I do if I can't decide whether to be a barrister or a solicitor?

The first place to start is to think about why youre having trouble deciding. If its because you dont have a clear idea of what being a barrister or a solicitor would mean, then you need to find out (through research, a mini-pupillage, work experience, open days etc). Ask yourself what you are best at. What do you most enjoy? Which arm of the profession are your unique set of experiences, qualifications and skills more suited to? Would you like to follow one route or the other, but theres something you can identify (for example, the financial implications of following either route) thats putting you off? Is there anything you can do to allay your worries (eg checking out funding for both routes)? Research your chances of success: getting into both areas of the profession is a competitive business, but remember youre statistically more likely to succeed as a solicitor than as a barrister. Do you have a secret passion for the bar? We dont see many undecided BVC students: if a student isnt sure which route to take, nine times out of ten, theyre a solicitor in the making rather than a barrister. A final word - a wrong choice now neednt be the end of the world: remember you can cross-qualify from one side of the profession to the other.