Course overview
At The University of Law, we pride ourselves in offering the best legal training, and our new Bar Practice Course (BPC)* is no exception.
Previously known as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), our BPC is designed to help you secure pupillage and prepare you for life as a barrister. You can expect high standards of tutoring by qualified practitioners with unparalleled experience in delivering advocacy.
You’ll receive dedicated support from our specialist careers service from the moment you accept your place, giving you the best chance of securing pupillage and acquiring as much varied experience as possible. This is why 58% of our students secured a pupillage within one year of successfully completing their course.**
You can also add an internationally recognised Master’s qualification to your CV and pupillage applications with our Bar Practice Course LLM, in which you could be eligible for an SLC Postgraduate Loan.
* Subject to approval and subject to Bar Standards Board (BSB) authorisation.
** 58% of our full-time UK/EEA Bar Practice Course students graduating in 2018 secured a pupillage within one year of successfully completing their course. Previously the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).
Campus locations
Study method
- Blended
- In-class
- Online
Locations
- England
- Birmingham
- London
- Bloomsbury
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Manchester
- Nottingham
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Duration study load
- July – 9 months
- September – 8 months
Entry requirements
To be eligible to take up your place, you must comply with the requirements for commencing a Bar Practice Course (BPC) set out by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
- You will be required to pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test by August of the year you commence your studies
- You will need either a qualifying law degree (QLD) 2:1 minimum or an undergraduate degree in any other subject (2:1 minimum*) and a Graduate Diploma in Law/CPE
- For qualifying law degrees, all offers based on predicted grades will be conditional upon achieving a 2:1 or above
- All applicants who meet the basic eligibility criteria will be required to attend a Selection Interview at one of our centres
- * For non-QLD applicants with a 2:2, offers based on predicted GDL grade will be conditional upon achieving distinction or commendation selection interview
English language requirement
- You must be fluent in English and you will need to be able to demonstrate your oral and written English is equivalent to:
- IELTS (academic): Score of 7.5 in all four areas
- ISE IV (Trinity College London): Pass in all four components
- IELTS (academic): Score of 7.5 in all four areas
UK or Republic of Ireland award:
- Qualifying Law Degree – 1st or 2:1
- GDL – distinction or commendation
- Medical, dentistry, veterinary degree – Pass
- Please note: The University will not accept TOEFL English Language test as a proof of students’ English proficiency until further notice due to Home Office investigation
Course features
- Excellent pupillage rates: 58% of our student’s secured pupillage within one year of successfully completing their course**
- Gain up to 50 hours of advocacy training, so you’re fully prepared for the Bar: test your skills in front of real barristers and judges at prestigious mooting competitions organised by our Advocacy Committee and also at our mock trials in courts
- You’ll study in small classes alongside the brightest students. That’s why we require all students to undergo a live selection process before being offered a place
- All of our tutors have practised as Barristers or Solicitors with advocacy experience and can bring their experience of practice into the classroom
- Our blended learning delivery means you’ll have access to an engaging and innovative online learning environment, plus face-to-face tutor and peer support when you need it most
- Flexible study options to suit you: choose to study with us full-time or part-time at a number of locations across the UK
- Succeed in pupillage applications and beyond with our Future Pupil Programme, part of our award-winning Careers and Employability Service, available from the moment you accept your place
- Choose from three pathways to success with our Bar Practice Course LLM: complete real-life legal work experience via our Pro Bono clinics, write a dissertation or study additional modules and sit the exams after you finish your Bar Practice Course. You could also be eligible for an SLC Postgraduate Loan
- Exclusive access to our Synap learning and revision tool: complete multiple-choice questions to monitor and review your progress
** 58% of our full-time UK/EEA Bar Practice Course students graduating in 2018 secured a pupillage within one year of successfully completing their course. Previously the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)
Assessment
There are 10 assessments in total with practice assessments held for every module spread across the course. Some prizes, sponsored by chambers, are available for the highest-scoring student in each subject.
BPC LLM assessment
You will keep a reflective journal throughout the year about your pro bono work, and then submit your Critical Reflective Report at the end of the course.
Our Bar Practice Course LLM
To ensure our students get the best legal training you can also complete a Master of Laws (LLM) as part of our BPC programme.
Choose to study this award and you will have the opportunity to add an internationally recognised LLM qualification to your CV and pupillage applications.
You can choose to complete your LLM via three routes:
- Complete real-life work experience via our Pro Bono clinics – you will advise, manage and represent clients on a variety of cases in legal areas. You will also be paired with a Master’s Supervisor, who will guide you through a reflective learning process so that you can complete your reflective assessment and obtain your Master’s Degree
- Study additional modules – increase your knowledge of legal practice areas which are of interest to you and can help shape the direction of your career. You will sit the exams once you’ve finished your Bar Practice Course.
- Write a dissertation – immerse yourself in an area of law and become an expert in it, allowing you to demonstrate your knowledge in your applications to chambers and beyond
If you decide to study our Bar Practice Course LLM, there is an additional course fee, but you could be eligible for a Student Loans Company (SLC) Postgraduate Loan to help cover the cost.
Delivery
BPC: Full-time (48 hours of training & study per week)
- Up to 8 hours of formal training face to face per week, including individual sessions of up to 2 hours
- This course is organised across two days in most weeks and sometimes three, giving you time in your week to dedicate to consolidating your learning or undertaking a pro bono activity of your choice
- You will expect to devote around 40 hours to private study every week
BPC LLM: Full-time and Part-time weekend
Depending on the route you choose, the structure of the course will vary.
- If you choose the Pro Bono route, you will need to anticipate working on cases for approximately 4 -5 hours a week, with more in some weeks e.g. where there is an initial interview or a hearing
- If you choose to study additional modules, you will need to anticipate classes for an extra 4 hours per week. This will be on top of the hours you are already doing on the Bar Practice Course, or additional hours after, depending on how you choose to study these additional modules. There will also be preparation and consolidation required for the classes you attend
- If you choose the dissertation route, you may choose to complete this after you’ve finished the main Bar Practice Course qualification
Subjects
- Civil litigation evidence and resolution of disputes out of court
- Criminal litigation, evidence and sentencing
- Professional ethics
- Advocacy, including examination-in-chief, cross-examination and civil applications
- Conferencing
- Drafting
- Opinion writing
- Legal Research
We give you as many opportunities as possible to hone your essential advocacy skills and put what you learn into practice:
- Participating in mock trials in real courtrooms with real judges and senior barristers
- Online advocacy skill demonstrations with feedback from practising barristers
- Visits to the High Court, Magistrate’s Court, Crown Court and County Courts
If you choose to study our Bar Practice Course LLM, you can choose from three routes:
- Complete real-life work experience and increase your chances of pupillage via our Pro Bono clinics.
- Study additional modules, and sit the exams once you’ve finished your Bar Practice Course.
- Write a dissertation.
About The University of Law
The University of Law can trace its heritage back to 1876, with the formation of leading tutorial firm Gibson & Weldon. As the UK's longest-established specialist legal education provider, we've trained more practising lawyers in England and Wales than anyone else
The University has committed itself to ensure that students only ever learn in a realistic, professional, and contemporary context, with the support of tutors, over 90% of whom who are qualified solicitors, barristers, and judges, all with extensive practical experience. With a rich legacy and a reputation for innovative teaching practices, the University of Law retains a firm focus on developing the very best legal minds.
