The Vocational Stage is the next part of training after the academic stage and takes the form of the BVC (Bar Vocational Course).
Course Format and Assessment
The purpose of the BVC (Bar Vocational 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 Vocational Course (BVC) 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 Vocational Course.
The full BVC course specification and guidance document for 2006-7, including the specified outcomes, assessment framework and resource requirements is available in the BVC downloads page.
Course Content
The main skills taught on the Bar Vocational Course are:
The main areas of knowledge taught on the Bar Vocational Course are:
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, negotiation and conference skills may be appraised by videoed performance of practical exercises.
Quality Assurance of the BVC
Each BVC provider has been subject to validation by the Bar Standards Board. Validation ensures that the BVC 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 Elias Report. This report was used to form the basis of the current BVC Course Specification Requirements and Guidance.
Once running, all BVC courses are monitored through visits by the BVC Sub Committee, of the Education & Training Committee. This group inspect the quality of provision and delivery with the Bar Standards Board's External Examiners who assure the standards of assessment.
Revalidation of BVCs
Each report, and the conditions upon which each institution may continue to run the BVC in the current validation period, is available from the File Downloads page of this section.
Course information on BVC Providers
Within the File Downloadspage of this section, you will note a table of all BVC Providers with contact details, course numbers and course fees. Please select "Course Contact Information".
Institutions validated to run the BVC
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
Inns of Court School of Law/City University
4 Gray's Inn Place
Gray's Inn
London WC1R 5DX
Tel: 020 7404 5787
ICSL Website
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
