Bar Professional Training Course
Encyclopedia
The Bar Professional Training Course (Bar Vocational Course or BVC prior to the 2010-2011 academic year) is a graduate
course that is completed by those wishing to be called to the Bar, i.e. to practise as a barrister
in England
and Wales
. The ten institutes that run the BPTC along with the four Inns of Court
are often collectively referred to as 'Bar School'.
This vocational stage is the second of the three stages of legal education, the first being the academic stage and the third being the practical stage, i.e. pupillage
. Only those who have successfully completed the course can practise as a Barrister.
with no less than lower second class (2:2) honours, or a degree
in another subject with no less than 2:2 honours in addition to a pass in the [Graduate Diploma in Law(GDL), applicants for the BPTC should demonstrate a strong academic profile (preferably upper Second Class Honours degree and above from a leading university and excellent extracurricular activities). Additionally, a suitable candidate should provide strong evidence of a commitment to the English Bar.
In 2008/09:
As a result of the apparent over-supply of barristers, the Bar Standards Board recently considered four controversial proposals:
As of 2008, only two of these proposals have been able to find enough support to be implemented.
Fees for the BPTC are now between £10000 and £15000, making the course a serious investment for future barristers.
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
course that is completed by those wishing to be called to the Bar, i.e. to practise as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The ten institutes that run the BPTC along with the four Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
are often collectively referred to as 'Bar School'.
This vocational stage is the second of the three stages of legal education, the first being the academic stage and the third being the practical stage, i.e. pupillage
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
. Only those who have successfully completed the course can practise as a Barrister.
Entry requirements
Although the minimum entry requirements for the BPTC is a qualifying law degreeLaw degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
with no less than lower second class (2:2) honours, or a degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in another subject with no less than 2:2 honours in addition to a pass in the [Graduate Diploma in Law(GDL), applicants for the BPTC should demonstrate a strong academic profile (preferably upper Second Class Honours degree and above from a leading university and excellent extracurricular activities). Additionally, a suitable candidate should provide strong evidence of a commitment to the English Bar.
In 2008/09:
- 2,540 students applied for the BVC,
- 1,749 received a place,
- 1,330 passed the BVC,
- 562 received pupillage,
- 497 gained tenancy.
As a result of the apparent over-supply of barristers, the Bar Standards Board recently considered four controversial proposals:
- Capping the number of BPTC places
- Deferring call until the completion of pupillage
- Raising the minimum entry standards to a 2:1 degree (implemented into some BPTC offering institutions)
- Mandating a minimum IELTS score of 7.5/9 for foreign students (implemented into some BPTC offering institutions)
As of 2008, only two of these proposals have been able to find enough support to be implemented.
Fees for the BPTC are now between £10000 and £15000, making the course a serious investment for future barristers.
Course options
The course bridges the gap between academic study and the practical work of a barrister by teaching subjects with which a practising barrister will need to be familiar. Core modules include:- Criminal Advocacy
- Civil Advocacy
- DraftingLegal writingLegal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.- Authority :...
- Opinion WritingLegal opinionIn law, an opinion is usually a written explanation by a judge or group of judges that accompanies an order or ruling in a case, laying out the rationale and legal principles for the ruling....
- Client Conferencing
- Alternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative dispute resolutionAlternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
- Criminal LitigationCriminal procedureCriminal procedure refers to the legal process for adjudicating claims that someone has violated criminal law.-Basic rights:Currently, in many countries with a democratic system and the rule of law, criminal procedure puts the burden of proof on the prosecution – that is, it is up to the...
and SentencingSentence (law)In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime... - Civil LitigationCivil procedureCivil procedure is the body of law that sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits...
and EvidenceEvidence (law)The law of evidence encompasses the rules and legal principles that govern the proof of facts in a legal proceeding. These rules determine what evidence can be considered by the trier of fact in reaching its decision and, sometimes, the weight that may be given to that evidence... - Professional Conduct and EthicsLegal ethicsLegal ethics encompasses an ethical code governing the conduct of persons engaged in the practice of law and persons more generally in the legal sector.-In the United States:...
- Two optional modules (these vary from institute to institute)
Grading
Students successfully completing the course may be awarded the overall grade of “Outstanding”, “Very Competent” or “Competent”.- To gain the award of “Outstanding” a candidate must have passed all assessments at the first attempt and must achieve either an overall mark of 85% or above, or six or more grades in the outstanding category.
- To gain the award of “Very Competent” a candidate must have failed no more than one assessment at the first attempt and must achieve either an overall mark 70% or eight or more grades in the very competent or outstanding categories.
- To gain the award of “Competent” a candidate must pass each assessment subject to the rules governing the opportunity to re-sit at 60% or higher.
Providers
| Institution | Location | Circuit | Approx. course fees | Report | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPP Law School BPP Law School BPP Law School is a UK-based provider of professional legal education and is one of the largest in the country, with branches in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, London , Manchester and Newcastle. In 2007, BPP Law School became the first privately owned, publicly traded firm in the... |
London | South Eastern | £15,750 | Report | BPP |
| BPP Law School | Leeds | North Eastern | £11,950 | Report | BPP |
| University of the West of England University of the West of England The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre... |
Bristol | Western | £11,600 | Report | BILP |
| Cardiff University Cardiff University Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based... |
Cardiff | Wales & Chester | £11,050 | Report | Cardiff |
| Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design... |
Nottingham | Midland Circuit | £11,850 | Report | Nottingham |
| The College of Law The College of Law The College of Law of England and Wales is a private educational institution in England and a registered charity which provides legal education for students and professionals.-20th century:... |
London | South Eastern | £14,670 | Report | CoL |
| The College of Law | Birmingham | Midland Circuit | £11,340 | Report | CoL |
| City Law School City Law School The City Law School is one of the seven schools of City University in the City of London, and includes the former Inns of Court School of Law.... (formerly ICSL) |
London | South Eastern | £16,000 | Report | City |
| Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the... |
Manchester | Northern | £9,650 | Report | MMU |
| Northumbria University Northumbria University Northumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :... |
Newcastle upon Tyne | North Eastern | £10,100 | Report | Northumbria |
| Kaplan Law School Kaplan Law School Kaplan Law School is a for-profit educational institution offering post-graduate legal training in London for those wishing to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.-History:... |
London | South Eastern | £15,000 | Report | Kaplan |
External Links
See also
- Law Society of England and WalesLaw Society of England and WalesThe Law Society is the professional association that represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important...
- Bar CouncilBar councilA bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
- BarristerBarristerA barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
- PupillagePupillageA pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
- List of areas of law