The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (Bar Course)

For September starters, there is a three-month gap between Part One and Part Two, running from January through to March. Insiders say that for those without pupillage, this is a great opportunity to work on those all-important applications. “I found this very helpful for pupillage applications as I was able to do a massive amount of applications, and make sure they were as good as I could possibly make them as I had the time to do it”, one aspiring barrister explains. For those lucky enough to have already secured a coveted training spot, you may wish to take well deserved holiday after those tricky centralised exams.

Once students have successfully completed Part One, they are able to move onto Part Two. This is taught face-to-face in London within the precinct of the historic Inns of Court and is full-time, four days a week, and runs for roughly 20-22 weeks. This of course means you will need to factor in the additional costs of accommodation in or around London.

Part Two focuses on the practical skills of a barrister including advocacy, conferencing, legal research, opinion writing and drafting, alongside an online professional ethics module. There is also vulnerable witness training and mock trials “which really bring everything together”, a former student reports. Advocacy performances (where you must wear court attire) are recorded and are conducted in small groups of six, which can run for up to three hours when peer performance reviews and particularised tutor feedback are factored in. One student tells us there was a great variety of tasks including appellate advocacy, cross examining experts and dealing with litigants in person, which meant they “really got the feeling ICCA were trying to train us to be barristers and not to just pass exams”. Feedback is “no holds barred: the good, the bad and the ugly”, according to insiders, but is provided “in a way that means you don’t feel crushed” if it hasn’t gone to plan.

The mock exams “are as close as possible” to the real deal and feature professional actors. “I felt like I learned a lot, I have done an undergraduate, masters, GDL and bar course, and this is the one I enjoyed the most, it was so fulfilling!”, one former ICCAer tells us. All Part Two assessments are conducted over July and August which is said to be “pretty hard going” although “well spaced out” to help ease the burden. Revision wise, with the practical nature of the bar course, there is no formal syllabus as such, so “you need to be on the ball in making notes in class”.

The standard of teaching is described as “top quality” with “different characters between the different teachers”. One student tells us: “It is brilliant how prepared I feel before I start pupillage, knowing I had the best quality teaching”, while another insider explains that students are “very much treated as adults”. Tutors are described as “very responsive” and “always there if you needed any extra assistance and are always very prompt”. The academic staff as “dedicated and genuinely interested in the course and our progress”, one student adds.
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The administrative support is described as “top class”, with students “extremely supported and informed”. Studying during the pandemic was tough, but one ICCA student tells us they “were always made aware of what changes might have to be made, even before they were made… nothing was ever sprung on us and we were never in the dark”.

ICCA seeks to strengthen student bonds with Whatsapp groups — which we are told create a “nice sense of community” — as well as a garden party before term starts and an induction get together ahead of Part Two of the course. One student tells us: “I feel like I know everyone from the course, if I haven’t met them in person, I’ve spoken to them on Zoom or Whataspp”. Support is also provided by designated personal tutors, with meetings scheduled into student’s timetables.

ICCA provides a career service too, including a “fantastic” and “very accessible” practising barrister to assist with pupillage applications and interview prep. Further support is provided through the provision of an interview technique specialist who helps students with body language. Regular in-person and pre-recorded extra-curricular talks are also provided, with previous guests including former Supreme Court President Lady Hale and Court of Appeal Judge Justice Singh. There is also an advocacy committee, volunteering opportunities with pro bono charity Advocate, as well as mooting and legal journalism competitions. One student tells us they feel the ICCA is “very focused towards getting you pupillage, and getting you ready for pupillage”.

Shortlisted applicants are invited to attend a selection day which involves an in-person interview, written exercises and an advocacy tasks — a more intense process compared to other providers. International students are welcome and are charged the same fees as domestic students, but should note that ICCA is not a student visa sponsoring institution. Check out ICCA’s Youtube channel here.