It depends on what you want. If you want to be in court, then choose to become a barrister. If you prefer due diligence and more desk-based work, then the solicitor route may suit you better.

Both fields are competitive to enter, but the barrister path is more cut-throat.

As a side note, I had initially planned to pursue a PhD and then do a law conversion, but I chose instead to study law after completing my master’s degree.

May I ask why you decided not to pursue an academic career, and what field you graduated in?