The vocational course to qualification as a barrister
What is the bar course?
The Bar Course is the vocational training undertaken after completing a law degree or law conversion course by those wishing to practise as a barrister in England and Wales.
Previously known as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), the programme has since been restructured following regulatory reforms approved by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the profession’s regulator, with the aim of creating a more flexible and accessible route to qualification.
These reforms mean that all current programmes are now collectively referred to as qualifying Bar Courses, although the specific title varies depending on the institution at which the course is studied. Common course names include the Bar Practice Course (BPC), the Barrister Training Course (BTC) and Bar Vocational Studies (BVC).
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) does not affect the pathway to becoming a barrister, which continues to require completion of a law degree or law conversion course, followed by the Bar Course and the successful completion of pupillage.
Entry requirements
Membership of an Inn
The Inns of Court, also referred to as ‘Inns’, are professional membership associations for all barristers practicing in England and Wales. These are largely non-academic societies which provide support for aspiring and practicing barristers, including libraries, events and dining facilities.
Prior to starting a Bar Course, it is mandatory that you become a student member of one of the four Inns of Court. The four Inns are Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple, all of which are based in London.
Academic requirements
The minimum academic requirement for the Bar Course is a 2:2 at degree level and to have passed a law conversion course, if applicable — although some providers set their own entry requirements and may require a 2:1 or higher. It is advisable that you check these requirements at the individual institution you are seeking to apply to well in advance.
Course content and structure
One of the most notable features of the current Bar Course framework is the option, offered by many providers, to complete the course in two parts. This structure, which was not available under the former BPTC, is intended to reduce overall costs, increase flexibility, and improve accessibility to the profession. That said, some law schools continue to offer a single, integrated course that closely mirrors the traditional one-part model.
As a result, the route to qualification can vary by provider. Depending on where you choose to study, qualification may follow either a three-stage pathway — comprising a law degree or law conversion course, a one-part Bar Course, and pupillage — or a four-stage pathway involving a law degree or law conversion course, a two-part Bar Course, and pupillage.
Three-stage route example: The University of Law’s Bar Practice Course (BPC)
1) Law degree or law conversion course
2) Bar Course
3) Pupillage
The University of Law’s BPC is taught as a one-part course. The course covers all the required knowledge subjects including criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and sentencing, alongside skills subjects such as advocacy, conference skills, legal research, opinion writing and drafting.
Students also have the option to combine the BPC with an LLM. This is done through supplementing the BPC with one of The University of Law’s three distinct pathways: the pro bono pathway, the dissertation pathway, or the optional modules pathway.
Four-stage route example: The Inns of Court College of Advocacy’s ICCA Bar Course
1) Academic stage
2) Bar Course –part one
3) Bar Course — part two
4) Pupillage
The ICCA Bar Course is spilt into part one and part two. Part one is delivered through online learning and self-study, covering knowledge subjects including criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and sentencing. Part one of the course takes roughly 12-16 weeks, although there is inbuilt flexibility around these timings. Part two focuses on practical skills such as advocacy, conference skills, legal research, opinion writing and drafting.
One of the main benefits of the two-part approach is that students pay the fees for each part of the course separately. Students are not required to pay part two fees until they have successfully passed part one of the course. This seeks to reduce the level of financial risk associated with the old BPTC route, where students were responsible for the full course fee prior to starting the programme.
Qualifying sessions
During the Bar Course, students are also required to attend qualifying sessions with their respective Inns of Court, which they join prior to commencing the course. These sessions are designed to build on academic and vocational study and include professional development and educational events such as lectures, advocacy courses, moots, dinners and residential weekends.
The number of qualifying sessions required as a student member of an Inn is prescribed by the BSB and is currently set at 10. You can find out more about qualifying sessions here.
How long does it take?
Full-time Bar Course (one year): The most common Bar Course is the full-time course starting in September each year. Although, some institutions also offer start dates in January and July.
Part-time Bar Course (two years): This covers exactly the same content as the full-time course, but the learning is spread over the course of two years, with teaching only taking place one day a week.
Bar Course with integrated LLM (one year): Studying the Bar Course with an LLM is a popular route for students which have not secured funding prior to starting the course, as these combined options are usually eligible for postgraduate loans.
Where can I study?
Across the UK, nine law schools offer a mixture of one-part and two-part Bar Courses. You can view a full list of approved Bar Course providers here.
How much does it cost?
The cost of the full course varies significantly between providers, ranging from around £12,000 to more than £19,000. The two-part course option therefore offers greater pricing flexibility, as students are not required to pay for the more expensive second stage until they have successfully completed the first. Fees for part one typically start at around £3,000, while part two usually begins at approximately £9,000. This means that students who do not pass part one are not committed to paying the fees for part two. In addition, the staged structure gives candidates the opportunity to secure and complete relevant work experience between stages one and two.
Bar Course fees vary quite significantly, depending on the institution chosen, course location, and whether it is split up into two parts.
Funding the Bar Course
The most common funding route for the Bar Course is through Inns of Court scholarships. In total, there are four different Inns of Courts, and each has its own set of criteria for course funding. For example, Lincoln’s and Gray’s Inn offer their Bar Course scholarships on merit alone, whereas Middle Temple and Inner Temple take a greater range of factors into consideration. You can find out more about scholarship opportunities on the Bar Council’s funding and scholarships page.
If you secure a pupillage prior to starting the Bar Course, some chambers will allow you to use a portion of your pupillage award (essentially your trainee salary) to help cover the costs of the course. This is known as a ‘draw down’. However, as this reduces the money available to cover your living costs during your 12-month pupillage, this funding option is only feasible for students who secure a pupillage with a sizeable award.
Next steps to qualification
Upon completion of the Bar Course, you will be ‘called to the Bar’ by your Inn. This is a mandatory ceremony, and the Inns of Court are the only UK institutions with the formal powers to do this. Pupillage is the final part of the qualification process to becoming a qualified barrister in England and Wales.