Future of Bar training

Future of Bar training

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has decided that it will authorise a limited number of future training routes for prospective students to qualify as barristers, including a new training course proposed by the Council of the Inns of Court (COIC) and the Bar Council.

Following its recent Future Bar Training consultation, the Board decided:

  • to allow a limited number of alternative training routes for the Bar;
  • that the Bar should remain a graduate profession normally requiring at least a 2:2 classification;
  • that the BSB should continue to specify the seven foundation subjects which make up a qualifying law degree;
  • that there is no need at present to change the need for a barrister to be called to the Bar by one of the Inns of Court;
  • that the Bar Course Aptitude Test should be retained; and
  • that the BSB should review the way in which Ethics is taught and assessed.

The consultation generated an unprecedented level of interest and response, with over 1,100 respondents, including an open letter in support of the COIC/Bar Council model signed by over 500 barristers. A key aspect of this proposal is to split vocational training (which is currently undertaken through the Bar Professional Training Course) into two parts. The aim of this proposal is to make training for the Bar more affordable and more flexible while maintaining high standards.

The BSB states that it will prepare and publish an Authorisation Framework in consultation with stakeholders in order to assess all future training routes.

Further details can be found on the BSB web site

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