Barrister
- Regulators
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- General Council of the Bar
- Bar Standards Board
- Nations
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- England
- Wales
- Sectors
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- Law
Regulatory or professional bodies
Primary regulator
- Regulatory authority
- Bar Standards Board
- Address
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289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ - Email address
- contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk
- Phone number
- +44 (0)2076 111 444
Additional regulator
- Regulatory authority
- General Council of the Bar
- Address
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289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ - Email address
- ContactUs@BarCouncil.org.uk
- Website
- https://www.barcouncil.org.uk
- Phone number
- +44 (0)20 7242 0082
Regulation
Regulation summary
All reserved legal activities (as defined by Legal Services Act 2007, ie a) the exercise of a right of audience, b) the conduct of litigation, c) reserved instrument activities, d) probate activities, e) notarial activities, f) the administration of oaths)) and any other legal activities (as defined by Legal Services Act, ie the provision of legal advice, assistance or representation in connection with the application of the law or with any other form of resolution of legal disputes) provided under the title "barrister".
Regulation type
Reserved activities
As defined in s12 of Legal Services Act 2007: a) the exercise of a right of audience, b) the conduct of litigation, c) reserved instrument activities, d) probate activities, e) notarial activities, f) the administration of oaths.
Protected titles
Barrister
- More about regulated activities and titles
- https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
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There are three components to training to become a barrister. These are:
1) the academic component;
2) the vocational component, and
3) the pupillage or work-based learning component.The academic study of the law in England and Wales is a very important part of the knowledge expected of all barristers. To complete the academic component of training, you need either a law degree or a non-law degree and the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Your degree needs to be award at Second-Class as a minimum (2:2). For the purposes of Bar training, your undergraduate law degree must cover the seven foundations of legal knowledge.
The vocational component covers a range of subjects to ensure that you acquire the specialist skills, knowledge of procedure and evidence, attitudes and competence to practise as a barrister. It is satisfied by completing a Bar training course. In order to enrol on a Bar training course, you must be fluent in English and be a member of one of the Inns of Court.
You must also attend a number of "Qualifying Sessions" with your Inn before you can be Called to the Bar. Your Inn will also undertake fit and proper person checks to determine your suitability to practise as a barrister; these checks are carried out when you apply to join an Inn and before you are Called to the Bar. Prior to being Called, the checks will also include a criminal records check. If you successfully complete the vocational component of training, you will be eligible to be Called to the Bar by your Inn. However, you may not practise as a barrister until you have completed the pupillage/work-based learning component.
Pupillage is divided into two parts: a non-practising period, usually of six months, and a practising period, usually of six months. Pupillage may take place in "chambers" or in an employed setting such as a government department (e.g. HMRC), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), or in a law firm. After completing the non-practising period of pupillage, you may apply for a Provisional Practising Certificate, which will enable you to practise as a Pupil Barrister.
Following completion of the work-based learning/pupillage component, you will be eligible to apply for your first full Practising Certificate as a Barrister.
- More about qualification
- https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/becoming-a-barrister.html
Professionals from other UK nations
- Routes to recognition within the UK
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If you are a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, qualified lawyer from another UK jurisdiction (i.e. Scotland or Northern Ireland), or a legal academic and you wish to practise as a barrister in England and Wales, you need to transfer to the Bar.
Depending on your qualifications and experience, you may be exempt from some or all of the requirements for training for the Bar. Some of these exemptions may be granted subject to passing academic and/or vocational component assessments as a Bar Transfer Test (BTT) candidate.
In order to be granted an exemption, you must submit an application to us which includes information on the qualifications and experience you have. The application forms and guidelines are available on our waivers, exemptions and applications page. We will look at your application and decide whether you may be exempt from some or all of the requirements for training for the Bar. If you are not granted a full exemption, we will tell you which Bar Transfer Test (BTT) assessments you will have to do, based on your qualifications and experience.
If you have been given an exemption from some of the academic and vocational requirements, you may still be required to complete a period of work-based learning/pupillage before you are granted authorisation to practise as a Barrister. If you are required to complete a period of work-based learning/pupillage as a transferring qualified lawyer, you may also be required to complete a Professional Ethics assessment during your pupillage.
All transferring qualified lawyers will also be required to join an Inn of Court and attend Qualifying Sessions before being entitled to practise as a Barrister.
- More about recognition within the UK
- https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/becoming-a-barrister/transferring-lawyers.html
Professionals from outside the UK
- Recognition for professionals outside the UK
- All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
- Summary of routes
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If you are a qualified lawyer from a jurisdiction outside the UK and you wish to practise as a barrister in England and Wales, you need to transfer to the Bar.
Depending on your qualifications and experience, you may be exempt from some or all of the requirements for training for the Bar. Some of these exemptions may be granted subject to passing academic and/or vocational component assessments as a Bar Transfer Test (BTT) candidate.
In order to be granted an exemption, you must submit an application to us which includes information on the qualifications and experience you have. The application forms and guidelines are available on our waivers, exemptions and applications page. We will look at your application and decide whether you may be exempt from some or all of the requirements for training for the Bar. If you are not granted a full exemption, we will tell you which Bar Transfer Test (BTT) assessments you will have to do, based on your qualifications and experience.
If you have been given an exemption from some of the academic and vocational requirements, you may still be required to complete a period of work-based learning/pupillage before you are granted authorisation to practise as a Barrister. If you are required to complete a period of work-based learning/pupillage as a transferring qualified lawyer, you may also be required to complete a Professional Ethics assessment during your pupillage.
All transferring qualified lawyers will also be required to join an Inn of Court and attend Qualifying Sessions before being entitled to practise as a Barrister.
- More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
- https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/becoming-a-barrister/transferring-lawyers.html
Registration
- Registration requirements
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The Bar Standards Board requires annual registration or Authorisation to Practise (AtP). You are required to complete the AtP renewal process through MyBar. During the process, you will be asked to: update any personal details; verify your practising details; declare the appropriate income band for the purposes of setting the appropriate fee, update your insurance information; declare your practice area information; make the declarations required for Youth Court work and the Money Laundering Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 ("the Regulations") and immigration supervision; make a declaration of truth; and select optional fees, make payment or delegate authority for payment.
- More about registration
- https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-barristers/authorisation-to-practise.html
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
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Legal Services Act 2007
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/contents