Bar Standards Board’s latest data release well worth a look for aspiring barristers

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published a detailed breakdown of pass rates according to Bar Course provider and students’ prior undergraduate degree results.

The data gives aspiring barristers a sense of where they are most likely to pass their vocational training at the first attempt according to what degree classification they got.

The other standout finding from the wider report was the growth in Bar Course student numbers. 2,378 students were enrolled on courses between July 2023 and June 2024, a 6% increase on the previous year and a 12% rise from July 2020 to June 2021, when 2,120 students enrolled on the course. It’s worth noting that a sizeable proportion of these students are international and intend to return home to practise. Pupillage numbers in in England & Wales rose 10% to 638 in the most recent figures published by the Bar Council.

Gearing up for pupillage applications in the new cycle? Check out Legal Cheek’s Chambers Most List, featuring profiles of 50 top sets.

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BPP University Law School (BPP) has confirmed the fees for its new bar course.

Legal Cheek exclusively revealed in September that the legal education heavyweight was set to launch the Barrister Training Course (BTC) — a shorter (eight months, as opposed to 12), more flexible version of its current Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).

But the cost of the new course has, until now, remained unknown.

BPP today confirmed costings for the new BTC will be £13,870 in London and £12,620 elsewhere, inclusive of Bar Standards Board (BSB) fees. This means its London offering is £5,200 cheaper (or 27%) than the current £19,070 price tag on its BPTC.

To aid accessibility and flexibility — two of the four core principles at the heart of the BSB’s reforms — the law school says aspiring barristers will have the option of committing to one part at a time, with fees for part one set at £5,075 in London (£4,575 in the regions) and those for part two at £10,795 in London (£10,295 in the regions). It’s worth noting that this split payment option costs slightly more.

The course, which has been approved by the BSB, is divided into two distinct, four-month teaching blocks, with students able to pause their studies upon completion of stage one. BPP will offer the BTC in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester. Part-time study will also be available in London. The two course will be available from September 2020.

Tricia Chatterton, commercial director at BPP, said: “Following a rigorous scrutiny process by the regulator we are delighted that we have received authorisation to deliver our BTC without any conditions attached, enabling us to start taking applications from today.”

She continued: “The changes to the regulation of training for the bar have enabled us to really innovate and to find new ways of delivering our programmes, generating efficiencies which we have been able to pass onto students. We are passionate about giving the talented students that walk through our doors the knowledge and skills to succeed, especially in what is one of the most fiercely competitive professions in which to secure a career.”

BPP’s market rival, The University of Law (ULaw), confirmed last month it will offer a new bar course that will be up to 31% cheaper than its existing offering. The new Bar Practice Course, or BPC, will cost £13,000 in London and £11,750 outside of London — inclusive of course fee and textbooks.

The shake-up comes after the BSB approved a series of new training rules aimed at making the route to qualification as a barrister more flexible and affordable.

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) revealed earlier this year it will deliver a new training course for barristers priced at £13,000 in total.

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