of barrister training aimed at making it more flexible and accessible to a more diverse range of candidates. The Bar course may be taught in one or two parts, with formats and learning styles differing among providers. As universities and law schools now have more freedom to decide how their courses are taught and structured, you’ll find the Bar course advertised under a range of different names (eg, ‘ICCA Bar Course’, ‘Bar Practice Course’, ‘Barrister Training Course’ and more). However, completing any BSB-approved Bar course involves passing centralised assessments resulting in the same required postgraduate diploma. Graduates of a Bar course are ‘called to the Bar’ – making them eligible to apply for a pupillage, the final stage of qualifying before being able to practise as barristers. Course content The course content for each Bar course will vary depending on the law school, but they all combine teaching legal knowledge with practical skills. All Bar courses approved by the BSB prepare students to pass the same centralised exams. Depending on which course you choose, you may study the knowledge and skills elements simultaneously or separately. The main areas of knowledge taught on the Bar courses are criminal litigation, evidence and sentencing, civil litigation, evidence and alternative dispute resolution. Students will also learn the key barrister competencies of advocacy, conference skills, legal research and opinion writing and drafting, with ethics also forming part of the course. Some courses will offer the option to undertake extra electives or a dissertation to add a master’s qualification to the core Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Practice – this may be an attractive option for some students because it grants eligibility for postgraduate student loan funding.
and qualify as a solicitor under the existing route, or choose to qualify through the SQE if they prefer. However, many law firms have indicated that they’re likely to require all candidates to take the SQE from 2024 (or earlier). Meanwhile, the City Consortium (made up of six law firms) will be introducing the SQE from September 2022. If you’re part of this transitional cohort, talk to your target firms to identify what their preferred route to qualifying is. The total cost of sitting the SQE is £3,980, with SQE1 costing £1,558 and SQE2 costing £2,422. It should be noted that these are just the fees for taking the assessments. SQE preparation courses range in price depending on the provider and the content covered. For the latest information on the SQE, visit LawCareers.Net’s SQE hub, sponsored by The University of Law. Qualifying work experience Under the SQE, solicitors must still complete two years’ QWE before they can qualify, but unlike traditional training contracts, this can now be split over placements in up to four organisations. Candidates can decide to complete their QWE in one block, much like the traditional training contract route, or split across different organisations. Other forms of experience (eg, volunteering in a law centre or working as a paralegal) may also count towards the total experience needed to qualify. You can find out more about what counts as QWE and how to get it accredited on LawCareers.Net. Bar courses Anyone wanting to become a barrister must complete a Bar course, which effectively bridges the gap between the study of law and work as a pupil. Students seeking a place on a Bar course must apply direct to their desired institution. The introduction of these new Bar courses is part of a larger overhaul
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