Vocational Stage

The Vocational Stage is the next part of training after the academic stage. Until Autumn 2010 the vocational stage will take the form of the Bar Vocational Course. After this date the course is changing and will be named the Bar Professional Training Course. The following details relate in the main to the new course. If you would like details of the Bar Vocational Course, please contact us

 

Course Format and Assessment

The purpose of the BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) is to ensure that students intending to become barristers acquire the skills, knowledge of procedure and evidence, attitudes and competence to prepare them, in particular, for the more specialised training in the twelve months of pupillage. The full-time Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) runs for one academic year; the part-time course for two years. All students are required to be admitted to an Inn of Court before registration on the Bar Professional Training Course.

 

The full BVC course specification and guidance document for the 2009-10 course, including the specified outcomes, assessment framework and resource requirements is available in the downloads page.
Course Content

The main skills taught on the Bar Professional Training Course are:

  • Case Work Skills
  • Legal Research
  • General written skills
  • Opinion-writing (that is, giving written advice)
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Conference Skills (interviewing clients)
  • Resolution of Disputes Out of Court (ReDOC)
  • Advocacy (court or tribunal appearances)

The main areas of knowledge taught on the Bar Professional Training Course are:

  • Civil Litigation & remedies
  • Criminal Litigation & sentencing
  • Evidence
  • Professional Ethics
  • Two optional subjects, selected from a choice of at least six.

Assessment

Assessment takes several forms and may differ from institution to institution. Key areas of knowledge are often assessed through multiple choice tests. Written skills are evaluated by means of written papers, while advocacy, ReDOC and conference skills may be appraised by videoed performance of practical exercises. From 2012 three examinations will be set by the BSB. These are Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation and Ethics.

Quality Assurance of the BPTC

Each BPTC provider has been subject to validation by the Bar Standards Board. Validation ensures that the BPTC they offer satisfies the vocational stage of training for the Bar. Approval will only be granted if the course outcomes, content and resources comply with the specification set out by the Bar Council in the Wood Report. This report was used to form the basis of the current Bar Professional Training Course Handbook

Once running, all BPTC courses will be monitored through visits by the BPTC Sub Committee, of the Education & Training Committee. This group inspect the quality of provision and delivery, in conjunction with the Bar Standards Board's External Examiners who assure the standards of assessment.

Course information on BPTC Providers

Course Contact Information:  a table of all BPTC Providers with contact details, course numbers and course fees.

Institutions validated to run the BPTC

BPP Law School
68-70 Red Lion Street
London WC1R 4NY
Tel: 020 7430 2304
BPP website

BPP Law School - Leeds
Whitehall - 2 Whitehall Quays
Leeds.  LS1 4HR
T: 0113 386 8250
F: 0113 245 5177
BPP website

Cardiff Law School
Centre for Professional Legal Studies
Law Building, Museum Avenue
Cardiff CF10 3AX
Tel: 029 20874964
Cardiff  website

The College of Law
14 Store Street
London
WC1E 7DE
Tel: 0800 289997
College of Law website

The College of Law - Birmingham
133 Great Hampton Street
Birmingham
B18 6AQ
Tel: 0800 0159519
College of Law website

The City Law School (formerly Inns of Court School of Law)
4 Gray's Inn Place
Gray's Inn
London WC1R 5DX
Tel: 020 7404 5787
City Law School website

Kaplan Law School
Palace House
3 Cathedral Street
London
SE1 9DE
020 7367 6400
Kaplan Law School

Manchester Metropolitan University
School of Law,
All Saints West,
Lower Ormond Street,
Manchester M15 6HB
Telephone: 0161 247 3053
Manchester website

Nottingham Law School
Belgrave Centre
Chaucer Street
Nottingham NG1 5LP
Telephone 0115 848 2888
Nottingham website

The University of Northumbria at Newcastle
School of Law
Sutherland Building
Northumberland Road
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST
Tel: 0191 227 3939
Northumbria website

University of the West of England at Bristol
Faculty of Law
Frenchay Campus
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol BS16 1QY
Tel: 0117 965 6261 x3769
Bristol website