Inner Temple Careers Guide

THE HONOURABLE

SOCIETY OF

THE INNERTEMPLE

GUIDE TO BECOMING A

BARRISTER

CAREERS GUIDE | 03

SO YOU WANT TO BE ABARRISTER?Are you willing to argue an unpopular cause? Do you believe everyone has

rights that must be protected? Do you believe that no one should becondemned except by due process of law whatever the press might say?

WHAT IS THE INNER TEMPLE? 04HOW DO I BECOME A BARRISTER? 12

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE? 20WHAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE? 22

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY BAR COURSE? 26WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY BAR COURSE? 33

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION? 35

Skills required to become a barrister:• Intellectual capabilities• The ability to deal with a wide range of people• Presentation and advocacy skills• The ability to digest large volumes of information in ashort period of time and to handle the stress of long hours, tight deadlines and great responsibility

• Endurance, determination and motivation

Training for a career at the Bar• There are no specific subjects that you need to study atGCSE or A-level in order to become a barrister but youshould aim for good grades in academic subjects.

• Some chambers and employers include GCSE and A-level grades in their selection criteria as evidence of consistent academic achievement.

• You will need to decide whether to study for a law degree or a non-law subject followed by a conversioncourse. You will normally need to obtain at least an upper second class degree.

Photos Credits:Abhimanyu Bose Carys NelkonMichal KniecFrancesca Ellis

THE INNER TEMPLE

04 |CAREERS GUIDE

The first point of contact for those of youconsidering a career at the Bar is one ofthe four renowned and historic Inns ofCourt. The same has been true forentrants to the Bar for over 600 years.

The Inner TempleTo decide which Inn of Court to join, youshould consider exploring the websitesof each Inn of Court to see what servicesare offered to students and members.You might also wish to take a tour ofeach of the Inns to consider which onehas the atmosphere that appeals most toyou and contact the Education andTraining Departments should you haveany questions. A fundamental feature ofthe Inner Temple is its focus oneducation and training, from student toestablished practitioner. The dedicatedEducation and Training Department isresponsible for the training of studentmembers of the Inn, alongside theproviders of the Bar Professional TrainingCourse (BPTC, formerly known as theBVC), advocacy training for pupils andnew practitioners and the provision ofcontinuing professional development(CPD) courses.

For student members, the Inn organisesmany educational Qualifying Sessionsincluding residential weekend courses,staffed and directed by its seniormembers, lecture nights and variousvocational workshops such as those onpresentational skills. All of these enablestudents to qualify for Call to the Bar. There are regularopportunities to meet and talkinformally with members of the judiciaryand the practising Bar. The Inn has areputation for its approachability andfriendliness and we are here to help you through the early stages of yourjourney to the Bar.

The Department is also responsible forawarding scholarships for the lawconversion course, BPTC, disabilitygrants and internships. The Inn has astrong commitment to supportingpromising students from all walks of lifeand to give financial assistance whereappropriate to ensure that the cost ofbecoming a barrister is not a barrier.

Making an Informed DecisionIf you are intending to pursue a careerat the Bar, it is important that you arefamiliar with statistics regarding thenumber of people pursuing a career atthe Bar and the academic qualificationsrequired (see page 14). This will ensure

that you make informed decisions aboutyour future career.

As a competitive profession, academicmerit, work experience and extra-curricular activities will be essential insecuring that elusive pupillage andtenancy. Do not forget that upwards of20% of the profession are at theEmployed Bar, working in-house fororganisations such as the CrownProsecution Service, law firms orcorporations (see page 19).

The Inn offers a growing number ofevents for prospective studentsconsidering a career at the Bar. Theseinclude tours, large annualpresentations, regional receptions andworkshops (see page 20), all of which

can provide you with insight into theworking lives of barristers.

The Inner Temple is committed toremoving barriers to enter theprofession. In conjunction with theNational Education Trust and Pathwaysto Law, the Inner Temple Schools Projectwas launched in 2008 with the aim ofensuring that school students are awareof the career opportunities available tothem at the modern Bar (see page 9).

If you have any further questions, donot hesitate to make contact with theDepartment’s staff who will be happy toanswer any of your questions (seepage 35). Good luck on your journey tothe Bar. We look forward to seeing youat the Inn in years to come.

WELCOME TO THEINNER TEMPLE

THE INNER TEMPLE

efore you begin your Bar Professional TrainingCourse, you must join one of the four historic‘honourable societies’, the Inns of Court.

The four Inns of Court have distinct histories, coming intobeing around the middle of the 14th century. The Inns heldsole responsibility for legal education and therefore actedas gatekeepers to the profession. While much of thisresponsibility has been devolved to higher educationinstitutions, the Inns continue to play an essential part ineducation and training for the Bar.

The Inns of Court also continue to hold exclusive rights ofadmission to the Bar. This process, known as ‘Call to theBar’ or ‘Call’, occurs after you have successfully completedthe Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and haveundertaken a number of professional exercises in the form oftwelve ‘Qualifying Sessions’ at your Inn (see ‘Your BPTC Year’).However, Call does not entitle you to practise as a barrister asyou must first complete a year of pupillage – a form ofapprenticeship – and hold a practising certificate.

Students wishing to train for the Bar may choose which Inn tojoin but are only able to apply to one for scholarships. The Innsprovide a great deal of valuable financial assistance for thevarious stages of becoming a barrister (see ‘FinancialAssistance’).

Each Inn has three standard groups of members: students,barristers and Masters of the Bench, or ‘Benchers’. Masters ofthe Bench form the governing body of the Inn and newBenchers are chosen from existing members in addition tohonorary members, such as legal academics and usually atleast one member of the Royal Family.

The senior Bencher of the Inn is the Treasurer, a position heldfor one year. The Under or Sub-Treasurer is the acting chiefexecutive of the Inn. In 1974, the Inns formed a Council of theInns of Court to oversee matters of standards and legalreforms on behalf of all of the Inns. The General Council of theBar (‘Bar Council’) and the Bar Standards Board provide otherrepresentation and regulatory functions for the profession.

B

When?You must apply to join an Inn of Court by 31 Mayin the year that your BPTC commences. This is arequirement of the Bar Standards Board and theBPTC Providers. You will not be allowed to startthe BPTC if you have not joined an Inn. Pleasenote that you can only apply to join one Inn. Theadmission fees vary between the Inns but theInner Temple’s fee is £100, entitling you to lifemembership.

How?To apply to the Inner Temple:• Download the forms online or receive anapplication pack from the Education andTraining Department.

• You must be reading for or have completed alaw degree, or a non-law degree with theCPE/GDL.

• You will need two references frompeople of standing (such as aformer employer or tutor).

The Treasury Office is happy to giveprospective students advice on theirapplications: please call 020 7797 8250.The guidelines on applying to one of thefour Inns are also available on requestfrom the Treasury Office.

Overseas Applicants:If you are not reading for a degree in the UK,you must obtain confirmation from the BarStandards Board that your degree is of asuitable academic standard, and then supply acertified copy of this confirmation with yourapplication.

JOINING THEINNER TEMPLE

CAREERS GUIDE | 05

WHAT IS AN INN OF COURT?

THE INNER TEMPLE

06 |CAREERS GUIDE

1160 First recorded history ofland called the Temple when itwas acquired by the Knightsof the Temple of Solomon ofJerusalem (Knights Templar).

1312 The order of KnightsTemplar abolished and theirproperty seized on the ordersof Pope Clement V for allegedmalpractice.

1381 First record of lawyersoccupying the Temple whenWat Tyler’s followers destroytheir lodgings and burn theirrecords.

1388 The earliest reference tothe Inner Temple by name in alist of Sergeants-at-Law.

1506 First mention in the Inn’srecords of the Library. TheLibrary has been in continuoususe ever since.

1547 The earliest survivingregister of Inner Templeadmissions.

1608 James I grants theTemple to the Benchers of theInner and Middle Temple. Thegrant is of the whole Templesite, including the TempleChurch and other buildings,and is made to the Benchersof each of the two Inns byname.

1666 King’s Bench Walkdestroyed by the Great Fire ofLondon. Current buildings datefrom 1678 to the early 1800.

1732 The Temple ispartitioned by deed betweenInner Temple and MiddleTemple, with only the TempleChurch, Master’s House,Master’s garden and thechurchyard remaining jointlyowned.

1858 Dr Johnson’s Buildingsconstructed. Thesechambers commemorate theresidence of Dr SamuelJohnson, which formerlystood on the site.

1919 Membership of the Innsopened to women.

1922 Ivy Williams, the firstfemale barrister, called to theBar by the Inner Temple.

1940-41 Several buildings,including the Hall and Library,are destroyed by World War IIair raids. Part of the TempleChurch is also destroyed.

1952 Her Majesty the Queenlays the foundation stone forthe present Hall.

2008 400 year anniversary ofthe Inn’s first Royal Charter.

HISTORY OF THEINNER TEMPLE

THE INNER TEMPLE

CAREERS GUIDE | 07

NOTABLE INNER TEMPLEMEMBERSBar & Judiciary

6 Supreme Court Justices• The Rt Hon The Lord Hughes ofOmbersley

• The Rt Hon The Lord Mance(ad eundem)• The Rt Hon The Lord Reed• The Rt Hon The Lord Sumption • The Rt Hon The Lord Toulson• The Rt Hon The Lord Wilson of Culworth • The Rt Hon The Lord Collins ofMapesbury PC: former Supreme Court Justice (retired in 2011)

13 Lord Justices of Appeal• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Beatson FBA• The Rt Hon Lady Justice Black DBE• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Elias• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Floyd• The Rt Hon Lady Justice Gloster DBE• The Rt Hon Lady Justice Hallett DBE• The Rt Hon Lady Justice Eleanor King DBE• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Laws• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Moore-Bick• The Rt Hon Lady Justice Rafferty (ad eundem)• The Rt Hon Lady Justice Sharp DBE• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Tomlinson• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Vos

31 High Court Judges

155 Circuit Judges

Other Notable Figures• The Rt Hon Sir Anthony May: formerPresident of the Queen's Bench Divisionand Inner Temple Treasurer (2008-09)

• The Rt Hon The Lord Davidson of GlenClova QC: former Advocate General forScotland

• The Rt Hon The Lord Woolf PC: formerLord Chief Justice and architect of theCivil Procedure Rules

• Her Excellency Dame Rosalyn HigginsDBE QC: first female judge to beappointed to the International Court ofJustice, served as President of the ICJfrom 2006-2009

• The Rt Hon The Baroness Butler-Sloss ofMarsh Green GBE: first womanappointed as a Lady Justice of Appealand later appointed the first femalePresident of the Family Division of theHigh Court of Justice

• Dame Elizabeth Lane DBE (1905-1988):the first female judge in the County Court and later the first female High Court Judge

• Dr Ivy Williams (1877–1966): firstwoman to be called to the Bar, in 1922

• Leonard Woodley QC: first African-Caribbean to be appointed Queen’sCounsel

International• The Hon Justices Anthony Kennedy,Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia:Associates of the Supreme Court of theUnited States of America

• The Hon Mr Reginald Rhoda QC:Attorney General, Gibraltar

• Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye: The Honourable Chief Justice of Bhutan

• The Hon Justice Ikechi Ogbuagu:Associate Justice of the Supreme Courtof Nigeria

Politics• The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP: former LordChancellor and Secretary of State forJustice

• The Rt Hon The Lord Falconer ofThornton: former Lord Chancellor andSecretary of State for Constitutional Affairs

• The Rt Hon The Lord Irvine of Lairg:former Lord Chancellor

• The Rt Hon The Lord Mackay ofClashfern KT: former Lord Chancellorand Lord Clerk Registrar of Scotland

• The Rt Hon Michael Howard QC: formerMP, Cabinet Minister and laterConservative Leader of the Oppositionfrom 2003-2005

• Clement Attlee (1883-1967): BritishPrime Minister, known as the ‘founder ofthe Welfare State’

International• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948): architect of Indian independence

• Tunku Abdul Rahman (1903-90):founding father and first Prime Ministerof Malaysia

• The first three women from then BritishMalaya to be called to the Bar: BengHong Lim (1925), Soon Kim Teo (1927),and Lucy See (1929)

• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964): firstPrime Minister of India

• Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876-1948): firstPresident of Pakistan

• Sir Seretse Khama (1921-80): firstPresident of Botswana

• William Paca (1740-1799): signatory tothe United States Declaration ofIndependence as a representative ofMaryland

• Don Richard Wijewardena (1886-1950):leader in the Sri Lankan independencemovement

• Donald Barkly Molteno (1908-1972):South African parliamentarian, lawyerand champion of civil rights

• His Excellency the Hon Arthur D Hanna:past Governor General of the Bahamas

Royal• Royal Benchers have included James IIand George VI

• Currently: The Duke of Edinburgh andthe Princess Royal, who served asMaster Royal Treasurer in 2011

• His Majesty King Jigme Khesar NamgyelWangchuck, King of Bhutan

Arts & Literature• Sir Ian McKellen CBE: actor• Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400): author ofthe Canterbury Tales [reputed member]

• Bram Stoker (1848-1912): author ofDracula

• Sir John Mortimer CBE QC (1923-2009):author and playwright, creator of‘Rumpole of the Bailey’

• Sir W.S. Gilbert (1836-1911): dramatistand comic author who collaborated withSir Arthur Sullivan

• Arthur Brooke (d. circa 1563): poetknown for his work The Tragical Historyof Romeus and Juliet, considered to beWilliam Shakespeare's chief source forRomeo and Juliet

Academics• John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946):economist who played an integral role atthe 1919 Versailles Peace Conference

• Karl Pearson (1857-1936): credited withestablishing the discipline ofmathematical statistics

• Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634): jurist andauthor who defended the supremacy ofParliament

Religious Leaders• The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby:Lord Archbishop of Canterbury

• The Most Revd Vincent Nichols: Lord Archbishop of Westminster

• The Most Revd and Rt Hon Rowan Williams:former Lord Archbishop of Canterbury

• His Eminence Cardinal CormacMurphy-O'Connor: former LordArchbishop of Westminster

• Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks: Former LordChief Rabbi of the United Hebrewcongregations of the Commonwealth

THE INNER TEMPLE

Facilities and ServicesThe Library offers the following facilities

and services:• a quiet environment for study, with over 90reader places

• a comprehensive collection of Englishlegal materials, including the most up-to-date editions of major practitioner texts

• an extensive archive of old editions ofpractitioners’ works

• specialist Commonwealth & Scottishcollections

• collections which are all on-site and easilyaccessible

• a range of commercial legal researchdatabases

• PCs for online research, access to emailand word processing

• free Wi-Fi• photocopying, scanning and printingfacilities

• a document supply service for barristersin chambers

• an enquiry service (in person, bytelephone and by email)

• assistance with online searching and legalresearch

• an overnight loans scheme for barristers• legal research training for pupils• legal research FAQs on the Library’swebsite

• tours for students and pupils, plus a virtualtour on our website

• web access to the library catalogues ofthe four Inns

• AccessToLaw, a gateway site providingannotated links to selected UK,Commonwealth and worldwide legalwebsites (www.accesstolaw.com)

• Current Awareness blog for legal news,changes in legislation and new case law(www.innertemplelibrary.com)

• quarterly electronic newsletter• a Facebook page with information onLibrary services, news and events (www.facebook.com/innertemplelibrary)

• range of guides available in the Library orfor downloading from our websiteequipment and software for users withhearing or visual impairment

More information on the Library’scollections, services and contact details canbe viewed at ww.innertemplelibrary.org.uk.

The Inner Temple’s historic grounds,which include six Grade I listedbuildings, are in the heart of the legaldistrict in London, close to the RoyalCourts of Justice and St Paul’s Cathedral.Our extensive estate is predominantlyrented out to barristers’ chambers.

The Pegasus BarThe Pegasus Bar opened in May 2004and is on the ground floor of theTreasury Building. Access is via theLibrary Entrance to the building or viathe front of the Treasury Building. Thebar has a relaxing, modern atmosphere,complemented by an eclectic mix ofBritish cuisine and contemporary drinks.The bar is open to members of the Innsof Court and their guests.

HallLunch is served every weekday duringthe legal terms and includes a selectionof hot main courses, a salad bar and hotand cold desserts, all overseen by ourHead Chef, Martin Cheesman, who hasformerly worked for Prime Ministers,Royalty and well known media

personalities. Dress code of smartclothing is observed. Lunch is servedbetween 12.30pm and 1.45pm. Studentsmembers receive a 25% discount in thePegasus Bar and in Hall on anypurchases.

The Gardens The Inn benefits from three acres ofbeautiful gardens. The Inner TempleGarden is usually open daily between12.30pm and 3pm throughout the year.

Temple Church On the North side of our Hall is one ofthe most historic churches in London.Founded by the legendary KnightsTemplar, the Church was consecrated in1185 and has stood throughout theCrusades, the founding of the AnglicanChurch and the World Wars. In additionto being renowned for church music, it isalso a site for contemporary legaldebates. During the 400th Anniversarycelebrations, an important series onIslam and English Law was held in thechurch.

THE INNER TEMPLE LIBRARY& OTHER FACILITIESThe Library is open to all members of the Inner Temple and to members of the otherInns of Court. It is a legal reference Library, staffed by experienced informationprofessionals, which offers users access to a wide range of print and electronicresources in a comfortable working environment.

Other Facilities at the Inner Temple

08 |CAREERS GUIDE

CAREERS GUIDE | 09

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

The Inner Temple launched a pioneering Schools Project in2008 to ensure that all students, regardless of theirbackground or networks, are aware of the opportunitiesavailable to them at the modern Bar. It recently featured inthe Milburn Report on Fair Access to Professional Careers.

The programme consists of a number of events throughoutthe year for school students in years 12 and 13. Theseevents include talks from members on different areas of law,legal case exercises, a debating tournament andopportunities to interact informally with practisingbarristers.

The project was launched in conjunction with the NationalEducation Trust (NET), and now also works with the nationalPathways to Law programme. Pathways supports high-achieving state school students into law faculties and thelegal professions.

Tips for school students• Choose your A-level subjects carefully, having researcheduniversity entry requirements

• Obtain good grades at A-Level in ‘core’ traditionalsubjects

• Apply for work experience in a solicitors' firm, barristerchambers, legal clinic or Citizens Advice Bureau

• Participate in extracurricular activities such as mooting,debating, public speaking, drama and volunteering

• See if you are eligible for the Social Mobility Foundation'sAspiring Professionals Programme and Pathways to Law,both of which offer work experience placements

For School TeachersIf you would like a barrister to give a talk to your school students, please contact the Bar Council:[email protected] regarding the ‘Speak Up forOthers’ Scheme.

INNER TEMPLE SCHOOLS PROJECT

Pathways to Law schoolstudents from Manchesterattending a schools project day.Photo credit: Michal Kniec,University of Manchester

10 |CAREERS GUIDE

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

ROUTE TO THE BAR

LAW CONVERSION COURSE (GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LAW OR

COMMON PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION)

1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

NON-QUALIFYING LAW DEGREE

APPLICATION FOR INNS OF COURT SCHOLARSHIPS

See page 22 Deadline: 1st Friday in November the year before the BPTC

BAR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE AND INNS OF COURT QUALIFYING SESSIONS

See page 26: 1 year full-time / 2 years part time

CALL TO THE BAR

See page 32

BAR COURSE APTITUDE TEST

For more information see: www.pearsonvue.com/bsb/

PUPILLAGE

See pages 14-1612-18 months in chambers or other Approved Training Organisations

TENANCY / EMPLOYED POSITION

See page 19

QUALIFYING LAW DEGREE

JOIN AN INN OF COURT

See page 5 Deadline: 31st May in the year you commence your BPTC. Prospective students will have to complete the

Bar Course Aptitude Test before they commence the course.

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

CAREERS GUIDE | 11

Mini-pupillages

Before committing yourself to a career atthe Bar, it is helpful to get an idea ofwhat the profession entails on a day-to-day basis. The best way of doing this isby undertaking work experience inchambers. Formal placements areknown as ‘mini-pupillages’. These areshort placements, normally betweentwo and five days in duration, that willallow you to shadow one or morebarristers in order to get an idea of theirpractice area. Activities might rangefrom reading and discussing casepapers to attending conferences orcourt proceedings. Undertaking arange of mini-pupillages in various sets of chambers will also expose youto different practice areas, helping youto decide which areas you might want to specialise in. Even if you have a fairlygood idea of preferred practice areas, it is recommended that you get to see avariety of chambers – both in Londonand on Circuit. Undertaking ‘minis’ areessential for Inns of Court scholarshipand pupillage applications as theydemonstrate your dedication to a careerat the Bar. You should seriously considerundertaking at least three mini-pupillages before beginning thescholarship or pupillage applicationprocess.

Some chambers require applicants toundertake a mini-pupillage at their setof chambers in order to be eligible toapply to them for pupillage. If this is thecase, be mindful of deadlines so thatyou do not miss out on doing a mini-pupillage at that particular set ofchambers. Other sets will assess themini-pupillage and use it as part of theirselection criteria. Assessments willvary, but may be in the form ofsubmission of some written work orparticipation in a mock conference.

Visit the Pupillage Gateway(www.pupillagegateway.com) in orderto find out which chambers offer mini-pupillages. From there, you will be ableto visit the websites of the chambers which interest you to find out theirapplication process. Most chambers

invite prospective mini-pupils to sendtheir CV and covering letter, whereasother sets have application forms andothers operate a first-come, first-servedsystem. Timings of mini-pupillages alsovary, with some chambers runningthem throughout the year and othersrunning them only in specific periods ofthe year, each with their ownapplication deadlines.

While some chambers accept A-levelstudents, the majority prefer their mini-pupils to be studying for a law degreeor to be on a law conversion course.

Some tips for making a good impressionduring your mini-pupillage:• Be punctual• Dress appropriately (you cannot go wrong with a dark suit)

• Ensure the clerks have your mobile number and keep it with you at all times (but off in court)

• Take notes of every meeting and record who you worked with as it may be useful when applying for pupillages later

• Be sure to keep a record of who youare shadowing and ensure youremember their name

• On your last day be sure to thankeveryone who helped you especiallythe clerks. You may wish to follow upwith a hand written thank you note

Other work experience

Aside from mini-pupillages, there aremany other types of work experiencethat can be valuable. Work experiencein solicitors’ firms will not only help youmake an informed choice about whichbranch of the profession you wish toenter, but also give you a wider view of the legal profession as a whole. Other useful forms of legal experience include volunteering at a Citizens AdviceBureau or law centre, marshalling(shadowing a judge), or taking on casesvia the Free Representation Unit. If youdecide to take a year out to strengthenyour CV, you may be able to work as aparalegal, a judicial assistant or aresearch assistant.

Non-legal work experience,even if just casual or part-timework, should also be mentionedon applications as it can showdevelopment of relevant skills.Volunteering and positions ofresponsibility can be relevant to yourfuture practice as a barrister, especiallyif it involves a public speaking element.

Any experience, whether sitting in yourlocal court or participating in adebating competition, can potentiallyhelp strengthen your applications, somake sure you learn as much as youcan from each experience and beprepared to talk about it at interview.

WORK EXPERIENCE & MINI PUPILLAGES

Support from theInner Temple

(PASS)The Inner Temple,

in association with oversixty partner chambers, runs a scheme (PASS) to

help ensure that all capablestudents have the

opportunity to undertake a mini-pupillage.

University students fromunder-representedbackgrounds in the

profession are invited toapply and, if successful, are placed with one of theparticipating chambers. For full eligibility criteria and to apply, please visit

www.pegasus.me.

The Project has recently been highlighted

as good practice in the Legal Education &

Training Review.

12 |CAREERS GUIDE12 |CAREERS GUIDE

HOW DO I BECOME A BARRISTER?

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

Simon O'Toole (Master of the Bench) presents to students

Final Year Law

• Obtain a 2.1 or higher in yourdegree

• Apply for Inns’ Scholarships: theInns’ BPTC Scholarships deadline isthe first Friday in November

• Apply for BPTC through the CentralApplications system atwww.barprofessionaltraining.org.uk

• Join an Inn of Court (compulsory tojoin by 31st May before starting theBPTC)

• Undertake the Bar Course AptitudeTest (BCAT)

• Apply for 'deferred pupillages'(obtained prior to starting the BPTC)

• Attend Pupillage Fairs

Year 2 Law

• Investigate funding possibilitiesfor the Bar Professional TrainingCourse (BPTC)

• Check closing dates and obtainapplication details for the BPTC

• Apply for mini-pupillages andother law-related workexperience

• Attend Legal Careers Fairs(normally October–December)and Pupillage Fairs (normallyMarch/April)

• Enquire about pupillageapplications (summer)

LAW STUDENTS

Year 1 Law

• Research the legal profession and attend Inner Temple events (see page 20)

• Apply for work experience: inparticular mini-pupillages inchambers and placements in law firms

• Become involved in universitysocieties such as your law/Barsocieties, mooting or debating

Conversion Course Year

• Join an Inn of Court (compulsory to join by 31st May beforestarting the BPTC)

• Apply for BPTC through the Central Applications system atwww.barprofessionaltraining.org.uk

• Apply for Inns’ BPTC Scholarships by closing date (firstFriday in November)

• Apply for deferred pupillage via the Pupillage Gateway• Undertake the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT)• Attend Pupillage Fairs

NON-LAW STUDENTS

Final Year Non-Law

• Check law conversion course (CPE/GDL) closing datesfor applications to courses (application processnormally from November to February). Most institutionsallocate places through the Central Applications Boardat: www.lawcabs.ac.uk

• Investigate funding possibilities for the law conversioncourse. (The Inns’ Conversion Course Scholarshipsdeadline is the first Friday in May)

• Apply for mini-pupillages and other law-related workexperience

• Attend Legal Careers Fairs (normally October/December) and Pupillage Fairs (normally March/April)

• Enquire about pupillage applications (summer)• Obtain application details for BPTC (summer)

CAREERS GUIDE | 13

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

BPTC YEAR

Bar Professional Training Course

• One year skills-based course (two years for part-time students) designed to prepare students for their twelve months of pupillage and to lay thefoundations for future practice

• Taught at one of the validated BPTC Institutions inEngland and Wales (see page 36)

• Prospective students should research providersand see the Bar Standards Board’s reports ofmonitoring visits to the providers

• An aptitude test for entry onto the BPTC wasintroduced in 2013

PUPILLAGE

During your BPTC Year

Complete twelve Qualifying Sessions with your Inn in order to beCalled to the Bar.

These take the form of advocacy weekends, education days,lectures and collegiate dining (see page 26).

Take advantage of the Mentoring, Marshalling and Police LiaisonSchemes offered by the Inn (see page 29).

You may find the following useful in preparation for pupillageinterviews:• Mock interviews – arranged by the Inn• Mini-pupillages• Pupillage Advice Evening – arranged by the Inn

First three years of practice

New practitioners, whether in self-employed practice or at theEmployed Bar, are required to complete a minimum of 45hours of continuing professional development (CPD), includingat least nine hours of advocacy training and three hours ofethics training.The advocacy and ethics training is provided by the Inns ofCourt and Circuits. The Inner Temple course takes the form ofan Advocacy Residential Weekend and an Ethics eveningsession at the Inn (see page 34).

Tenancy or the Employed Bar

On completion of the New Practitioners’ Programme, allpractising barristers must complete 12 hours of CPD trainingper year for every year they continue to practise (see page34).

TENANCY & BEYOND

First six months

The first six months consist of shadowingone or more Pupil Supervisors and othermembers of chambers and usually involveundertaking legal research, draftingopinions and observing in court.

First six pupils must successfullycomplete the following training in order toreceive a practising certificate:

• Advocacy Training Course organisedby the Inns of Court and Circuits

• Practice Management Courseorganised by the Inns of Court andCircuits

In addition, pupils can embark upon theForensic Accounting Course (see page 33).

Second six months

During the second six months, pupilswill continue to shadow a PupilSupervisor but will also be allowed toaccept professional instructions. Onsatisfactory completion of the secondsix, pupils will receive a FullQualification Certificate.

Pupillage

In order to practise as a barrister youmust undertake a pupillage. This is a oneyear ‘apprenticeship’ with chambers orother approved organisation (e.g. CrownProsecution Service, Government LegalService, etc).

Your pupillage year is split into twoparts: a non-practising six months anda practising six months.

Pupillages are funded to a minimum of£12,000 per year, with some chamberspaying upwards of £65,000.

Undergraduate UK Universities of Inner Temple Pupils

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

n Post-1992 Universities n Other Pre-1992 Universitiesn Other Russell Group Universities n Oxbridge

(*note changes of Russell Group membership from 2012)

n Non-law n Law

n 2.2 n 2.1 n 1st

2005-6 2006-7 2007-8 2008-9 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

2005-6 2006-7 2007-8 2008-9 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

Degree Subject of Inner Temple Pupils

14 |CAREERS GUIDE

INNERTEMPLERESEARCH:CHARACTERISTICS OF PUPILS

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

HIGH ACADEMICMERIT REMAINS THELEADING FACTOR OFPROGRESSION TOPUPILLAGE. INADDITION, LEGALWORK EXPERIENCE,RELEVANT EXTRA-CURRICULARACTIVITIES (SUCH ASDEBATING, MOOTINGAND DRAMA) ANDOTHER ACCOLADESARE ALL IMPORTANT.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%2005-6 2006-7 2007-8 2008-9 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

2012-13 2013-14

Degree Classification of Inner Temple Pupilshe Inner Temple is a strongand diverse community. Ouroutreach initiatives look to

provide realistic careers advice andguidance so that you can make theright choice for you. Approximately 1 in 12 applicants successfully obtainsa pupillage at the Bar of England andWales, so it is essential that you have a realistic prospect of obtaining onebefore starting the Bar ProfessionalTraining Course.

Gender and raceIn the last eight years, more femalesthan males have been taken on as pupilbarristers, with a high of 62% in 2007-08. Over the same period, an averageof 15% of pupils were from ethnicminority backgrounds.

Undergraduate educationA law degree remains the leadingentry qualification into the Bar butsignificantly less so than in the past. Ahigh of 48% of Inner Temple pupils in2012-13 graduated in non-law degreesand subsequently completed the lawconversion course. This is compared to33% in 2004-05. However, highacademic merit remains the leadingfactor of progression to pupillage.It has become progressively moredifficult to obtain a pupillage with alower-second class degree. On average,around 3% now gain pupillage with a2:2, the majority of whom will have anumber of years of work experience.

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2014-15

CAREERS GUIDE | 15

TIPSFROM OUR PUPILSJOURNEY TO THE BAR

Katherine Duncan Pupil, 5 St. Andrew’sHill (2014/15)

I went to school and university in Scotland whichdoes not have a split profession as such, so I didnot really know very much about becoming abarrister. Before making any decisions, Iresearched as much as I could about becominga barrister.

You do not have to be in London, or even England and Wales, inorder to start building up your CV. I applied for any kind of workexperience with firms of solicitors and with my local court. Whenyou are trying to decide if the Bar is for you, it can be helpful toknow why it is you do not want to be a solicitor instead. I had twopart time jobs and spent most of my weekends debating for theuniversity. Evidence of oral advocacy is important; be thatdebating, mooting or some form of student politics. Whilst I wasat university, I was lucky enough to intern at the U.S. Navy Yard inWashington D.C. for three weeks.

Your route to the Bar will very much depend on the type ofpractice you want to develop. That means figuring out not just theareas of law that interest you, but also whether you want to be incourt everyday doing oral advocacy, or whether you wouldrather be in chambers working on complex legal problems anddeveloping your written advocacy. I did not know what areas oflaw I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to be in court every day,so I looked at gaining mini-pupillages in sets that specialised incrime, family and immigration. Mini-pupillages help you see

what day to day practice is like, and are also a great opportunityto find out what sets are looking for in their pupils.The Inns offer a great range of scholarships that help with thefinancial implications of becoming a barrister. I was luckyenough to be awarded a Major scholarship for the GDL and theBPTC.

I graduated with a first class degree, and then I moved to York tocomplete the GDL. While it may be a disadvantage to be livingoutside London, I regularly travelled down on cheap train ticketsto go to networking events, or slept on friends’ sofas so I couldcomplete mini-pupillages. The GDL is a really busy year. I wonthe mooting prize and did a lot of pro bono work. I ran advocacyworkshops for a refugee organisation and also worked as aMackenzie friend at social security tribunals.

I then applied for pupillage in the spring of my GDL year. Duringthe summer I finally moved to London and I was very fortunate tocomplete an internship at JUSTICE in EU criminal law. Afterinterviewing at a few sets in June and July, I was thrilled to beoffered a mainly criminal pupillage in a set of chambers.

After the GDL, I completed the BPTC. While you are there, useyour careers service as a way to scout out opportunities todevelop other skills.

I am now on my feet in my second six and it is great fun.Pupillage and chambers can seem very daunting but everyone isvery friendly and supportive and wants you to do well. It will takeyou a while to settle into yourself in chambers and the membersunderstand that. While it is hard work, it is a wonderful professionto be a part of.

Students taking part in the Inter-Varsity Moot

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

Mike Blitz Pupil, 5 Pump CourtChambers (2014/15)

I don’t believe I’ve met anyone at the Junior Barwhose decision to pursue their career wasbased on an in-depth analysis of strengths andweaknesses, hard and soft skills and theirMyers-Briggs personality type. Instead, thecommon thread is the innate feeling andknowledge that being a barrister is the only job

that will ever be satisfying. Whether that springs from watchingthe drama of a Crown Court trial, arguing your point to the bitterend in a moot or debate, or being distracted by an intriguing ornovel point of law that invariably never made the final draft ofyour essay, for most people, it’s a feeling that never really goesaway.

If that’s not how you feel about the thought of being a barrister,the road ahead is likely to be tough. Junior barristers work longhours under considerable pressure and – unless you’re one ofthe elite few who secure pupillage at a top commercial set ofchambers – the financial rewards, particularly in the early years,don’t always compare favourably to solicitors or otherprofessions, for which there is of course a larger market. If you’dlike to practise in a largely legally aided area such as crime,housing or public childcare, the future will be tough as funding isreduced in scope and amount. Sometimes you can be lucky toearn £150 for a day-long Magistrates’ Court Trial, and that’s likelyto reduce when the next round of cuts take effect.

The ‘health checks’ also make for some difficult reading, andshouldn’t be ignored. There are many good candidates withstrong degrees and other skills who fail to secure pupillage. A 2.1from a reputable university is now a basic pre-requisite, and abrief look at the chambers’ profiles of most junior tenants is agood indication of what is required. Many successful pupillageapplicants have not only extensive mooting, debating and pro-

bono experience, but have also published articles, beenawarded scholarships or worked with vulnerable children andadults. It’s very tough to get pupillage, and being honest withyourself and seeking trusted advice is never a bad decision. Ifnone of that has put you off, then you’ve probably got that feelingI was talking about.

As for me, I first studied law at A Level, and therefore knew veryearly into my undergraduate degree at the University of Bristolthat I enjoyed the subject in an academic sense. The Bar is one ofthe few careers that is a true application of what you study atuniversity (or on the GDL). Not only do counsel regularly advise(either in writing or face to face) on the law applicable to clients’situations, but appearing in court is as much about persuadingyour tribunal that the law is on your side as it is about skilfullyundermining opposing witnesses in cross-examination. If youenjoy untangling the intricacies of complex precedents to findthe answer to an interesting problem, you may do well at the Bar.

I went on to complete an LLM and then the BPTC (with thegenerous support of an Inner Temple scholarship), gaining theusual experience of mini-pupillages, pro-bono and mootingalong the way, as well as musically directing several pantomimes,singing in a barbershop chorus and appearing on The WeakestLink. The Bar is one of the few professions that, due to the self-employed structure, is truly made up of individuals - beingyourself, even if your interests are a little left-field, is a strengthnot a weakness.

If you’re unsure about whether to pursue a career at the Bar,there are plenty of opportunities to ‘have a go’ – writing journalarticles, mooting, mock trials and mini-pupillages will give you areal insight into what the role is about.

Obtaining pupillage is tough, but for those who are willing tostick through the inevitable rejection, the rush of excitement ofbeing on your feet in court awaits.

16 |CAREERS GUIDE

Academic excellence for business and the professions

Progress your journey to the Bar.Start here.The City Law School is one of London’s major law schools and original provider of the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).By choosing The City Law School you will:• be taught by expert sta�, including

authors of the BPTC manuals used by most course providers

• have access to a dedicated Pupillage Advisory Service

• gain more than three times the amount of Advocacy teaching than is required by the BSB regulations

• have the opportunity to put your skills into practice through our renowned Pro Bono Programme.

Find out how you could train with the leading provider of the BPTC and start your journey in September 2016.

Visit www.city.ac.uk/law

18 |CAREERS GUIDE

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

APPROACHES TO MINIPUPILLAGES AND INTERVIEWSAN INTERVIEW WITH TUNDE OKEWALE, BARRISTER AT DOUGHTY STREET CHAMBERS

Approaches to Mini Pupillages and InterviewsMini-pupillages are an important part of your journey to theBar, as it’s the only kind of work experience that puts you in abarrister’s working environment. Anyone who plans to applyfor a scholarship at Inner Temple should aim to have completedat least three or four placements of this kind to gain a sense ofhow different chambers work.

Many chambers offer a structured mini pupillage programme,advertised via their website, and may require you to completean application form. Others may offer mini-pupillages as andwhen they receive requests, so you will need to prepare aprospective covering letter, which you will send off with yourCV. When sending a prospective email, you might want todouble check the chambers’ website or call to see if there is aspecific person to direct your application to. Don’t bedisheartened if you aren’t successful in securing a placementstraightaway – there is usually very high demand for minipupillages and it is not unusual to have to send severalapplications.

Particularly in the case of chambers offering assessed mini-pupillages, you might be invited to interview for a placement.Tunde Okewale, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers andfounder of youth organisation, Urban Lawyers, provides usefulinsight on how to prepare for mini pupillage interviews.

What kinds of skills and competencies are chamberstrying to assess?Dedication to the profession evidenced through workexperience or writing articles or blogs. Also intellectualability usually evidenced through grades and academicqualifications.

Do you have any tips on interview technique?

Do your researchFail to plan, and you plan to fail. You are certain to be askedspecific questions about the chambers or organisation. Alsotake a look at the latest developments in the chambers' ororganisation's practice areas so you can converse withconfidence.

Practise your answersAlthough there is no set format that every job interview willfollow, there are some questions that you can almost guaranteewill crop up. You should prepare answers to some of the mostcommon interview questions about your personal strengthsand weaknesses, as well as being able to explain why youwould be the best person for the job.

Look the partAppearances shouldn’t matter, but the plain fact is that you areoften judged before you even utter a word. Make sure yourshoes are polished, your clothes fit correctly and that youraccessories are subtle.

Stay calmGood preparation is the key to staying in control. Plan yourroute, allowing extra time for any unexpected delays and geteverything you need to take with you ready the night before.Remember to speak clearly, smile and remember that yourinterviewers are just normal people, and they may be nervoustoo!

CAREERS GUIDE | 19

There are two main contexts in which barristers practise: theone that you are most likely familiar with is the self-employedBar, where barristers are based in chambers. The lesserknown option is the employed Bar, where barristers work aspart of an organisation. Although most barristers are self-employed, this doesn’t mean that there is a better or worseway of working: the perceived positives and negatives willdepend very much on your working style.

Approximately 80% of barristers are self-employed, takingcontrol of all aspects of their work, such as the areas in whichthey practise and their working hours. Carolina Bracken is abarrister at 5 Paper Buildings, practising in general crime andtrading standards. According to Carolina one of the mainbenefits to be gained from working at the self-employed Bar ishaving “far more control over the direction of your practice... Ifyou finish in court early, and would rather take the afternoon offand work in the evening, you can make that decision”.However, this level of freedom may not be best suited to thosewho prefer a more structured approach, and Carolina warnsthat although, “your time is your own, you must be able tomanage it effectively”. The culture of chambers and the freeflow of information is another important advantage: “You areable instantly to tap into the collective experience of allmembers who are more senior than you, and the relationshipsyou build with your supervisors and others in chambers can beas valuable a source of work as your contacts with solicitors.”

Despite these benefits, there are elements of the employedBar that Carolina would love to integrate into her own practice.

“Holiday pay! (I realise that’s unrealistic…) I would loveto be able to take holiday without having to make thecomplex calculations, not only to determine the moneyyou’re not earning, but also the opportunities you mightbe missing out on. At some point, I will have to thinkabout a pension – I would very much like to have anemployer who is already thinking about that for me! Butthose factors are inherent in being self-employed, ratherthan self-employed practice at the Bar specifically.”

It is important to emphasise that a barrister’s experience ofchambers will also depend on their practice area(s). Changesto legal aid in recent years mean that, some of those practisingin the areas most affected have been attracted to “relativecertainty of life at the employed Bar. The comfort of a salary isan undeniable attraction for many.”

The Employed Bar

While the majority of barristers are self-employed, there are anumber of opportunities to practise within a largerorganisation. Some of the institutions offering suchopportunities are:

• Government Legal Service • Crown Prosecution Service • Armed Forces • Firms • Commerce Finance and Industry

The experience of working at the employed Bar will bemarkedly different from working in chambers. Hannah Smith is a barrister, at Edward Hayes LLP, a criminal law firm with aninternational reputation. From her perspective, practising inthis context offers the opportunity to strike a healthier balancebetween your professional and personal life: “You are unlikelyto be given work at short notice, particularly work thatrequires much preparation, so your evenings and weekendsare generally work-free”. Earning a salary adds stability, andsome organisations will cover a barrister’s expenses. Hannahexplains that Edward Hayes covers the expenses that sheincurs in the course of her work such as, “travel, textbooks,etc.”. Additional features such as maternity/paternity leave,sick pay, annual leave and pensions are also available at theemployed Bar.

Having undertaken pupillage in chambers, Hannah canappreciate that there are also benefits to be accrued fromworking in this context that cannot easily be replicated at theemployed Bar, such as the close proximity to a range of moreexperienced practitioners that can provided advice andsupport, if needed:

The real advantage of the self-employed Bar andatmosphere in chambers is the ability to draw onexperience of senior barristers. I have been luckyenough to have kept good contacts with senior membersof the Bar, whom I can contact if I have a question. Inchambers there was much discussion betweenpractitioners and, even if not involved in the discussion,there was much I would pick up by osmosis. To replicatethis in a law firm would require a larger team ofbarristers including those of significant experience.

CAREERS AT THE BAR: THE EMPLOYED ANDSELF EMPLOYED BAR

JOURNEY TO THE BAR

FIND OUT MOREEVENT WHEN? WHO? REGISTRATION

Activities throughout the year

Tours of the Inner Temple Normally held at 10:30am onWednesdays and 2.30pm onFridays in alternating weeks

University students andgraduates considering acareer at the Bar

Please email: [email protected]

Group tours for studentsocieties

Monday to Thursdays duringthe legal term

University law or Barsocieties.

Please email the OutreachCo-ordinator

Local talks Throughout the academicyear

The Inn organises a localpractitioner to speak to yourlaw or Bar society

Please email the OutreachCo-ordinator

Activities at specified times

Careers at the BarPresentations andReceptions

A number of receptions areheld across England andWales each year

October - June

Undergraduates of alldisciplines interested in acareer at the Bar

Check the Inner Templewebsite under ForthcomingEvents

Law Fairs Various times and dates –check with your careersservice

October-December

Check with your careersservice

Check the Inner Templewebsite under ForthcomingEvents and with your careersservice

PASS Applications open Octoberto November

Undergraduates of alldisciplines interested in acareer at the Bar. Pleasecheck pegasus.me for fulleligibility criteria

Online application atpegasus.me

Intervarsity Moot & IVDebate, Inner Temple

Late January/early February

Any university mooting ordebating society

Please email theScholarships & StudentsManager

Pupillage Fair November Anyone seeking pupillageadvice

www.barcouncil.org.uk

Dinner to the Universities,Inner Temple

March Invited university law or Barsocieties

To register your society’sinterest, please email theOutreach Manager

Question & Answer Day,Inner Temple

May/June Undergraduates of alldisciplines interested in acareer at the Bar

Check the Inner Templewebsite under ForthcomingEvents

20|CAREERS GUIDE

HOW TO LEARN MORE

See Contact Detailson page 35

SETTING UP A BAR SOCIETYhe Inner Temple has links with many universities, whether through law, Bar or Inns of Court student societies. TheInner Temple helps societies to organise talks by barristers, moots, dinners and other events throughout the year.For those universities outside London, we often put societies in touch with local barristers or judges who are willing

to come and speak to them.Our Mooting and Debating Societies can give advice to university societies about organising moots and debates and may beable to assist with competitions. We can also send you information to distribute to fellow students who may be considering acareer at the Bar. Please get in touch with the Outreach Co-ordinator for further information and to register your interest.

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HOW TO LEARN MORE

Regional Receptions In addition to the four large universitypresentations that the Inn runs annually,smaller receptions are organisednationwide. These receptions bringtogether local practitioners withuniversity students in the area andprovide aspiring barristers withinformation about careers at the Bar inan informal atmosphere. The locationsof these receptions rotate annually.

Dinner to the UniversitiesDinner to the Universities is an annualevent for undergraduate students andthose on the law conversion course whoare interested in a career at the Bar.Students from a wide range ofuniversities are invited to this black tiedinner at the Inn where they meet

practising members and have theopportunity to ask questions about theBar and the Inner Temple.

Question and Answer DayQuestion and Answer Day is run inconjunction with the Junior BarAssoication. The full-day event, hostedon a Sunday in June, is open to thosewho have not yet started the BPTC orjoined an Inn. Information workshopsare held on a range of topics includinginterview tips, funding studies, theBPTC, life as a pupil, junior tenant andemployed barrister and more.

University PresentationsFour large university presentations arerun in London and at three otherlocations every year. Each

presentation includes a panel ofspeakers with a pupil, self-employedbarrister, employed barrister andjudge. During the subsequentreceptions, university students havethe opportunity to gain further one-to-one advice from members. In 2014,the chairs of the panels were: • The Rt Hon the Lord Toulson• His Honour Judge The ReverendJames Patrick

• The Rt Hon Lord Justice Moore-Bick• The Hon Mrs Justice Slade DBE

Law Fairs Between October and December, the Inner Temple and Bar Councilattend over twenty Law and CareersFairs throughout England and Wales.Hundreds of university students havethe opportunity to speak to members ofstaff from the Education and TrainingDepartment about pursuing a career atthe Bar, Inner Temple’s scholarships and education programmes, and moregenerally about careers at the Bar.

FOR UNIVERSITYSTUDENTS

CAREERS GUIDE | 21

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

or many years, the InnerTemple has sought to help itsstudents financially, both fromits current income and from

funds provided by the generosity of itsmembers, past and present, and otherbenefactors. In 2016, the Inn intends tomake awards to a total value of£1,658,625 divided between:

1 Scholarships and Exhibitions for the Bar Professional Training Course

2 Scholarships and Exhibitions for thelaw conversion course (CPE/GDL)

3 Duke of Edinburgh EntranceScholarships

4 Benefactors’ Scholarships & Prizes for Pupillage

5 Internship Awards and Sir JosephPriestley Scholarships

6 Disability Grants

Applications for Scholarships andExhibitions awards for either theCPE/GDL or BPTC may be made beforeor after joining the Inner Temple but anapplicant must not be a member of anyother Inn. Applicants can only apply toone Inn for awards per year. The closingdates for applications for such awardsare the same for all four Inns. Anycandidate who receives an Inner Templeaward must become a member of theInn before the disbursement of funds.

Applications for all awards (other thandisability grants) should be made onlinevia the Inn’s website. The onlineapplication form incorporates a financialstatement and is accompanied bystandard reference forms. A separateform is available from the Scholarships &Students Manager when applying solelyfor a disability grant.

General Criteria The Inner Temple welcomes applicantsfrom all backgrounds for its awards. TheInn has a long-standing commitment toequality of opportunity and diversity,reflected in the Inner Temple's Equality& Diversity Policy.The Inner Temple awards its funds on thebasis of merit: that is, on the basis of theScholarship Committee's assessment onthe evidence before it of the applicant’spotential to succeed at the Bar of Englandand Wales.

The amounts of our two senior CPE/GDLscholarships and our seven senior BPTCscholarships are fixed. However, indetermining the amounts to be awardedfor all our other CPE/GDL and BPTC MajorScholarships and Exhibitions, theCommittee will also take financial needinto account, based on the resourcesavailable to the successful candidate. Forthis reason if we do not receive fullfinancial details from the applicant and, ifappropriate, their parents, we will beforced to assume that the candidate hassufficient funding in place. Resources andneed may also be taken into account inmaking all of the Inn’s other awards.Details of the criteria that the Inn uses forassessing merit, resources and need maybe found on the Inn’s website. The criteriaused for assessing merit are the same forall of the Inns.

BPTC Scholarships and ExhibitionsMost of the Inner Temple’s Scholarshipsand Exhibitions are intended to supportstudents during their BPTC year.For the BPTC year, one Peter TaylorScholarship of £22,000, one StephenChapman Scholarship of £21,000 and fivePrincess Royal Scholarships of £20,000each are available. Up to a further£1,239,250 will also be awarded in MajorScholarships and Exhibitions, the amountsof which will be decided taking intoaccount the successful applicant’s financialneed. The Inn may also supplement theseawards with a range of smaller awards.

Application Procedure Candidates must apply online, using theform on the website. Applications must bereceived by the first Friday in November inthe year before the start of the relevantBPTC course. For 2016 BPTC entry (2016-17 FT or 2015-17 PT course), the closingdate is 6th November 2015.

We recommend that all applicantscomplete the financial statement. While it isnot compulsory, if it is not completed, anyaward received (other than the namedawards mentioned above) would be madeat the minimum level.

Three references are required: twoacademic and one personal. Please notethat members of your family cannotprovide references.

We intend to offer interviews to all eligiblecandidates who apply for a BPTC award.Interviews for the 2016 BPTC awards(2016-17 entry) will be held on the 5th and12th March 2016. As part of yourinterview, you will be asked questionsabout a recent unreported decision, acopy of which will be given to you to studyfor the 30 minutes prior to the start of yourinterview.

You will be asked to declare whether youhave received any help (paid or unpaid)or have used any material that you havecopied from elsewhere when filling in yourapplication form or preparing for yourinterview.

CPE/GDL Scholarships andExhibitions Students can apply for Scholarships andExhibitions for their law conversioncourse. Applicants who intend toundertake the two-year postgraduate LLBcourse are also eligible but successfulapplicants will only be funded for oneyear of the course.

For the CPE/GDL year, one Princess RoyalScholarship of £10,000 and one PrincessRoyal Scholarship of £7,500 are available.Up to a further £183,000 will also beawarded in Major Scholarships andExhibitions, the amounts of which will bedecided taking into account the successfulapplicant’s financial need.

Application Procedure Candidates must apply online, using theform on the website. Applications mustbe received by the first Friday in May.For 2016-17 CPE/GDL entry, the closingdate is 6th May 2016.

We recommend that all applicantscomplete the financial statement. While itis not compulsory, if it is not completed,any award received (other than thePrincess Royal Scholarships) will be madeat the minimum level.

Three references are required: twoacademic and one personal.

We intend to interview every eligibleapplicant. Interviews will be held in theInn in June, likely on a Friday evening anda Saturday.

SCHOLARSHIPS,EXHIBITIONSAND OTHER AWARDSF

22 |CAREERS GUIDE

You will be asked to declare whether youhave received any help (paid or unpaid)or have used any material that you havecopied from elsewhere when filling inyour application form or preparing foryour interview.

Guaranteed Funding SchemeStudents who receive a CPE/GDL awardfrom the Inn, and successfully completethe course, automatically receive anaward of the same amount for their BPTCyear (having obtained a place on thecourse) on application but without furtherinterview. CPE/GDL award holderstherefore have the certainty that aminimum level of funds will be availableto them from the Inn throughout theirperiod of study for the Bar.

Holders of CPE/GDL awards are,however, welcome to apply for a higheraward for their BPTC year. They will notjeopardise their right to the guaranteedamount by doing so.

Similarly, since more funds are availablefor awards for the BPTC year, unsuccessfulapplicants for CPE/GDL awards arewelcome to apply the following year for aBPTC award. Many such applications havebeen successful in past years.

Permission will not usually be given todefer the taking up of a CPE/GDL award.

Benefactors, Scholarships & Prizesfor PupillageThere are a small number of

Benefactors' Scholarships available forthose with a minimally fundedpupillage. Please see the Inner Templewebsite for further details.

Internships and Sir JosephPriestley Scholarships With the help of a generous grant froma trust set up in memory of Sir JosephPriestley, the Inn makes a small numberof awards each year for the purpose ofenabling students and newly qualifiedbarristers to pursue projects that willwiden their experience of the worldoutside the Bar, thereby enhancing theskills they can bring to their practice.Please see the Inner Temple website forfurther details.

Disability Grants Up to £10,000 is available annually toassist students or pupils of the Inn whoare affected by serious disability, whodemonstrate financial need and whocan show a reasonable prospect ofbeing Called to the Bar. Grants areawarded at the discretion of theScholarships Committee, withapplicants being interviewed at amutually convenient time. An applicationform is available from the Scholarships& Students Manager.

In addition to this sum, up to £5,000 isavailable annually to be distributed byway of supplement among successfulapplicants for Major Scholarships orExhibitions who are affected by seriousdisability and demonstrate financial

need. Applicants wishing to beconsidered for such assistance muststate the nature of their case in theappropriate section of the financialstatement incorporated in the generalscholarships application form.

Further Information For further details on all our awardsand important guidance on making an application, please go to theScholarships section of our website.


“Being awarded the StephenChapman Scholarship was animmense honour. As a self-funding mature student, financingthe Bar course was always goingto be a challenge: it is difficult tooverstate how important thisaward will be in enabling me torealise my ambition to practise atthe Bar. The interviewsthemselves were very wellpitched: the panel was friendly,but sufficiently challenging in itsquestions to probe myunderstanding and analysis. I amenormously grateful to the paneland to the staff at Inner Templewho dedicated so much time toensuring the process ransmoothly.”

Michael Conway, Stephen Chapman Scholar

CAREERS GUIDE | 23

AWARD CPE YEAR BPTCYEAR PUPILLAGE YEAR VALUE

Peter Taylor Scholarship 1 at £22,000 £22,000

Stephen Chapman Scholarship 1 at £21,000 £21,000

Princess Royal Scholarships 1 at £10,0001 at £7,500

5 at £20,000 £117,500

Major Scholarshipsand Exhibitions

£183,000 £1,239,250(includingguaranteedfunding)

£1,422,250

Sir Joseph Priestley Scholarship Up to £10,000 £10,000

Internships Fees available for livingexpenses

£24,250

Duke of Edinburgh EntranceScholarships

50 at £175 to cover admission and Call fees

£8,750

Benefactors' ScholarshipsAnd Prizes

Various sums £17,875

Disability Grants £10,000 available generally; £5,000 by way ofsupplement to a scholarship or exhibition

£ 15,000

Total £1,658,625

INNER TEMPLESCHOLARSHIPS,EXHIBITIONS, OTHER AWARDSANDPRIZES FOR 2016 ENTRY

BPTC Scholarship Statistics 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scholarship Applicants 299 371 365 376 359 362 372

Interviewed (applicants minus withdrawals) 276 317 321 342 340 306 314

Total Awards 107 119 101 102 97 99 101


24 |CAREERS GUIDE

INNER TEMPLESCHOLARSHIPS:TIMETABLE 2016-17LAST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY (WITH A NON-LAW DEGREE)

First Friday in May CPE Awards deadline. Online application goes live in March.

June Interviews and results

If successful, must apply to join Inner Temple before receiving funds

LAST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY (WITH A LAW DEGREE) OR CPE YEAR

First Friday in November BPTC Awards deadline (you are automatically considered for Duke of Edinburgh Awards &Benefactors’ Awards as part of this application). Online application goes live in September.

March Interviews and results

31 May Must apply to join Inner Temple before commencing the BPTC and before receiving funds

BEFORE PUPILLAGE & INTERNSHIP AWARDS

31 May Pupillage, Internship and Sir Joseph Priestley Awards deadline

AT ANY TIME

No closing date Disability Grants

"The Exhibition Inner Temple awarded me will mean that I am able to study the BPTC without amassing large debtsprior to commencing pupillage. The award was also a real confidence boost, even more so because the Inn wasclearly very fair and thorough in its selection process. The interview was challenging but enjoyable and I came awaywanting to be a barrister more not less. It is an absolute thrill to be awarded a scholarship and I cannot thank the Innenough for its generosity"

Jonathon Lodwick, Exhibition Award Winner and the Peta Fordham Scholar

CAREERS GUIDE | 25

nner Temple qualifying sessions complementstudents’ academic and vocational education andform a bridge to pupillage.

The sessions equip students to undertake the next stage oftraining and ensure that they are fit and proper to serve thepublic as barristers by meeting and learning frompractitioners the following:

•Professional Integrity, Ethos and Ethics•Professional Advocacy Skills•Professional Interpersonal and Communication Skills•Professional Development

In order to be Called to the Bar, you must complete 12Qualifying Sessions. They include residential advocacycourses, lectures, presentational skills workshops, playingwitness or counsel in mock trials as well as collegiate diningnights.

In addition to providing Qualifying Sessions, the InnerTemple also offers a range of support schemes. You maychoose to practise your debating, mooting and acting skillsin various Inn student societies. And after all that, you can letyour hair down at one of the many social events organisedby the Inn’s Students’ Association.

INNER TEMPLE AND THE BPTCI

EVENT WHAT WHEN

Introductory Evening (Free for Out of London)1 Qualifying Session

A compulsory Introductory Evening held at thestart of each academic year, one for studentsstudying the BPTC in London and one for studentsstudying outside London.

End of September /Beginning of October

BPTC Advocacy Days (Free)2 Qualifying Sessions

An opportunity to practise your advocacy skillsand be reviewed by practising barristers.

End of September /Beginning of May

Presentational Skills Course2 Qualifying Sessions

The Inn hosts three presentational skills courseseach year covering topics such as voiceprojection, posture and persuasion.

October and February

Residential Weekend3 Qualifying Sessions

The Inn holds three educational weekends eachyear, two at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor GreatPark and one at Highgate House in Northampton.

Early December, February and May

Education Day1 Qualifying Session

The Inn hosts one Education Day a year. February and March

Playing a witness or counsel on an AdvocacyTraining Course (Free)Up to 2 Qualifying Sessions

Acting as a witness and / or counsel in advocacyteacher training courses or pupil mock trials.

Varied

Local Qualifying Session for BPTC Studentsat Providers outside of LondonUp to 3 Qualifying Sessions

Students at BPTC providers outside London aregiven the opportunity to organise their ownQualifying Sessions.

Varied

Lecture Nights1 Qualifying Session each

The Inn holds several Lecture Nights in Hall eachyear.

Check Term Dining

Dinner at BPTC Provider1 Qualifying Session

Every BPTC provider outside of London organisesone dinner with an introductory lecture.

Varied

Mixed and Mentors' Dining Nights1 Qualifying Session each

A lecture at the Inn followed by dinner withmembers of the Inn.

Throughout the year.Check Term Dining

INNER TEMPLE QUALIFYING SESSIONS

26 |CAREERS GUIDE

THE INN AND YOUR BPTC

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMEFOR STUDENT MEMBERS

he Education and Training Department’s annualprogramme of events is specifically designed toenable student members to develop their legal

knowledge, advocacy skills and presentational skills as wellas to offer students opportunities to meet and learn frompractising barristers and judges.

BPTC Advocacy DayThis is one of the first Qualifying Sessions of the academicyear and gives the Inn’s new student members theopportunity to practise their advocacy skills in a supportive

and informal environment before beginning the Bar course.The event is taught by the Inn’s advocacy trainers as well asnew practitioners who have recently completed the Inn’sadvocacy training courses. A second BPTC Advocacy Dayis held later in the academic year.

Presentational Skills Courses Taught by professionally trained actors and vocal coaches,these three Qualifying Sessions give students theopportunity to develop skills such as voice projection,posture, awareness of space, improvisation and persuasion.

“It was a truly memorable weekend that gave us anopportunity to experience the legal world albeit in aninformal context and in an idyllic setting. The weekendoffered opportunities to hear renowned experts speak on aparticular theme and discuss those topics in greater detailand depth. Further, the advocacy exercise allowed us topractise our skills and get feedback from practising

barristers and judges. Aside from the intellectual pursuits theweekend offered, the informal setting also providednetworking opportunities with many practising barristersand judges. I also had the opportunity to meet with studentsfrom other course providers. Overall the weekend was afantastic experience and I would recommend it to everyone.”

RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND BY NIVEDITA SCUMBERLAND LODGE RESIDENTIAL, MARCH 2015PREVENTABLE DEATHS - LIFE IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE, DOES IT REALLY CARE?

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CAREERS GUIDE | 27


Student Residential Conferences

The Inn hosts three residential conferences a year, atCumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, and Highgate Housein Northampton. These weekends form a major element of theInn’s educational programme and each provides students withthree Qualifying Sessions. The weekends offer students theopportunity to hear from high profile speakers and experts inthe topic under discussion, as well as the chance to practisetheir advocacy skills.

This year’s conferences examined three topics at the forefront ofcurrent affairs: Care Proceedings, Social Media in Court andDeaths in Custody.

Education Day

This Qualifying Session is tailored especially for studentsstudying at providers outside of London. The dates is agreed inadvance with the other Inns and the BPTC providers so thatstudents can travel to London together. In previous years, asignificant number of students have attended sessions onethics, pupillage applications, pitfalls of the early years ofpractice and clinical negligence.

Lecture Nights

The Inn contributes to cutting-edge legal debates through itsLecture Nights. The 2015 Lecture Night programme included:

• Dr George Garnett, University Oxford - Why Good Lawyersare such Bad Historians: the Case of Sir Edward Coke

• The Rt Hon The Lord Boateng - Gandhi: Constitutionalismand the Legacy of Non Violent Direct Action in Sub-SaharanAfrica

• Master Straw (The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP) - Clement Atlee• Master Butler-Sloss (The Rt Hon The Baroness Butler-Slossof Marsh Green GBE) - The Legal Glass Ceiling - Broken orMerely Cracked?

• Master Bennett (Sir Hugh Bennett) - Family Arbitration

Playing a Witness and Counsel

Students are recruited to play witness and counsel on the Inn’sAdvocacy Teacher Training courses for members wishing tobecome advocacy trainers. This provides an opportunity forstudents to practise their advocacy skills in an informal andsupportive setting.

Local Qualifying Sessions

Students at providers outside of London are able to organise up to three Qualifying Sessions at their provider. These should beeither a talk on a legal topic followed by a dinner, a debate or amoot, or advocacy training. Each session must be approved inadvance by the Education and Training Department and beattended by at least two senior members of the Inn. Topics ofteninclude Pupillage and the Early Days of Tenancy, Family Advocacyand Criminal Evidence Sentencing or Advocacy Workshops.

"The Highgate House Residential Weekend was a stimulating retreat. I found it to have been aneffective tool in developing my advocacy skills. At the same time, it was greatly enjoyable…. Our interactions were thought provoking and rewarding."

QUALIFYING SESSIONS

Cyril Lightbourn, BPTC student 2014 -15

28 |CAREERS GUIDE


SCHEMES FOR BPTC STUDENTSThe following schemes are open to all BPTC students and are designed to help themto enhance their experience and learning as student members

The Inn runs a number of supportschemes to support student membersin their journey to the Bar. TheMentoring and Mock InterviewSchemes provide support andguidance, generally and for pupillageinterviews respectively, while the PoliceLiaison and Marshalling Schemesprovide valuable experiences uponwhich students can draw in the courseof the interview process and practice.

Mentoring SchemeThis is a scheme that pairs BPTCstudents with experienced practisingbarristers who can give advice andimpartial assistance.

"My mentor was absolutely fantastic andgave me some excellent insight thatproved useful in pupillage applicationsand interviews."

Police Liaison SchemeThis scheme gives BPTC students theopportunity to experience the day-to-

day running of a police station and/oraccompany officers on patrol.Participating police stations arepredominantly in London but we arehoping to expand the scheme to otherareas of the country.

"I understand the PACE codes a lotbetter now after seeing it from apractical side, especially during thearrest of the suspect. I understand theprocess of carrying out the interview,the handling of the evidence and howthe suspect is treated during thewhole process."

Marshalling SchemeThis scheme gives BPTC studentsthe opportunity to spend up to aweek with a High Court or CircuitJudge either in London or on Circuit.The judge shows students the casepapers and discusses theproceedings. The experienceprovides a valuable opportunity toobserve the workings of the court

from an entirely differentperspective. This scheme is open tostudents in the second half of theirBPTC.

"The judge was very open and honestwith me about the cases I observed, Iwas able to ask questions and felt asthough my opinions were valued."

Mock Interview SchemeThis scheme aims to help BPTCstudents develop their interview skills in preparation for imminent pupillageinterviews. Students are given theopportunity to practise their interviewtechnique and to build up confidence in front of barristers.

"The advice and encouragement I had…were absolutely brilliant. I think theexperience will really help me in thefuture."

CAREERS GUIDE | 29


STUDENT SOCIETIESAT THE INNER TEMPLEThe Inner Temple has four active student societies. They each organise a number ofevents throughout the year.

INNER TEMPLE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (ITSA)

ITSA is one of four Inner Temple student societies. All students areautomatically members of ITSA and are invited to all events. TheAssociation promotes collegiality between students and providesa welcome break from BPTC work and the hunt for pupillage.

This year has been wonderfully exciting for the Inner TempleStudent’s Association. The Society has had an outstandingresponse from the student body and experienced recordnumbers of students attending events. We are fortunate that theInn encourages and invests in creating a strong student body.The Society aims to develop this ethos by providing studentswith social opportunities to meet their peers and build astronger relationship with the Inn.

INNER TEMPLE DRAMA SOCIETY

The Drama Society is the youngest of the societies. In the last few years, it has expanded very quickly and iscurrently the only Society with two designated Masters of theBench. The Society is beneficial to students in many ways:confidence, clarity and projection being just three skills that canhelp to improve your advocacy.

Past performances have starred actors and actresses from all walks of legal life. With readings from Benchers toleading roles being performed by practising barristers andGDL students, this Society really is open to all. It is also a greatway to meet other members of the Inn.

“The traditional Christmas pantomime performance this yearwas Aladdin. A lot of fun was had by the whole Society and newmembers were welcomed into a friendly and supportiveenvironment which has continued to flourish throughout the year.

“After a successful debut in 2014, the Drama Society werepleased to be invited back to perform at the Supreme Court’sMuseums at Night event where we performed an improvisedpiece loosely based on the classic 12 Angry Men. The audiencewere invited into the Jury Room to see how a deliberation mightunfold and meet all of the varied personalities that help come to adecision.

“For the summer production we performed A MidsummerNight’s Dream outdoors in the Temple Church Court.”

Student Society President

30 |CAREERS GUIDE

Student Drama Society


INNER TEMPLE DEBATING SOCIETY

What is debating?Debating is the process of critically analysing and evaluatingarguments in a structured way. While debating is aboutspeaking persuasively, it is more importantly about thinkinglogically. At the Inner Temple, we are fortunate to be part of aglobal British Parliamentary debating circuit. In this format,each debate is stylised as a hypothetical House of Commonsdebate, both procedurally and linguistically.

A debate consists of four teams: two teams in proposition (theGovernment bench), and two teams in opposition to the motion(the Opposition bench). There are two speakers in each team.The object of the debate is to use your skills of advocacy, witand strategy to convince the judges of your case. Do so andyou win. Teams are given fifteen minutes to prepare their casesonce the motion is announced. Because motions can be on anytopic of any significance – from war with Iran to public fundingfor the arts, and from the abolition of wigs and gowns to therestoration of debtors prisons – we aim only to provide youwith the underlying skills to deconstruct an issue, apply yourknowledge effectively and construct a water-tight case.

Why debate?Playing an active part in the Inner Temple Debating Societyholds numerous benefits. Teams compete regularly in many ofthe world’s most prestigious tournaments, including the Worldand European Championships (held over the Christmas andsummer holidays respectively). If selected, the team isfortunate to have travel and registration expenses met by the Inn. In recent years we have sent members to WorldChampionships in India, Ireland, Turkey, Botswana and thePhilippines. Debating provides a fantastic opportunity to seeplaces and meet people from all over the world. Moreover,pupillage providers generally regard having represented yourInn at a national or international debating competition asamong the best CV experience. It demonstrates a commitmentto, and proficiency in, advocacy beyond the BPTC. Not only isthe experience useful for your CV, it is inherently worthwhilefor the skills you will develop: to think quickly and analytically,to speak with confidence, and to apply your knowledge of theworld to a range of issues.

“The Debating Society is one of the largest and mostactive debating societies in the UK. We meet weekly forlively, interesting and topical debates, and fund studentsto attend competitions nearly every weekend across theUK and abroad – Malaysia, India, Croatia and Austria! Inaddition to the fantastic debating experiences, theSociety fosters camaraderie and friendships – all in all,an excellent way to make the most of the BPTC year!”


INNER TEMPLE MOOTING SOCIETY

What is mooting?Moots are legal problems in the form of fictitious cases.Appearing before the Bench are two teams of two counsel – asenior and junior counsel on each. Counsel will routinely beasked a number of questions by the judge(s) relating to their

submissions. Judges for the Inner Temple’s MootingCompetitions are always barristers and, on occasion in the finalrounds, a High Court or Appellate Court judge. Areas of lawgoverning the moot problems will vary with each competition.The internal competitions are usually based on the core legalareas (e.g. crime, contract, property etc).

Of course, winning the moot is not the same as winning theargument. It really is a case of how you play the game rather than whether you win or lose. Clarity of argument andexpression, imaginative construction of flawless legal argumentand effective presentation are key to winning a moot.

Why moot?Inner Temple mooters compete in some of the world’s mostprestigious mooting competitions, for example, the Willem CVis International Commercial Arbitration Law Moot, Thomas AFinlay Moot Court, Intervarsity and the Manfred LachsInternational Space Law Moot among others. In recent years,the Inner Temple has sent its mooters to Vienna, Hungary,Dublin and Washington, DC. Mooting provides a fantasticopportunity to see places and meet people from all over the world.

“The Inner Temple Mooting Society is responsible fororganising all mooting related activates for the Inn. Thisincludes the annual Lawson and Inter-Varsity moots, regionalmooting and training sessions. In addition, the Societyprovides support to mooters who represent the Inn inexternal mooting competitions including the Jessup andTelders. The Society’s focus is on making mooting moreaccessible to student members of the Inn.”


CAREERS GUIDE | 31

all to the Bar is not only your‘graduation’ upon completionof the BPTC, it is also animportant stepping stone to

your career. It is the occasion on which youare officially welcomed to the professionand when you have the opportunity to thankthose close to you for their support in yourjourney to the Bar.

The ceremony itself is normally held in thehistoric setting of the Temple Church, builtin the 12th Century by the Knights Templar.While the organ plays, students processdown the aisle shortly followed by theMasters of the Bench. During the ceremony,students are Called to the Bar by one of theMasters of the Bench with the Treasurerawarding students their certificates in frontof guests. Afterwards, there is a champagnereception with a live band and a chance forstudents and their guests to celebrate.

We always aim for Call to the Bar to be ajoyous occasion for students, and theirfamilies and friends, to set them off properlyon their journey to becoming a barrister.

Call Night, July 2015

“Call Night marked both the end of ourformal education and entry into theprofession. It was only natural, then, thatit evoked a mixture of feelings. Therewas nervousness at donning court dressand the prospect of failing to bow at theappointed time. Happiness at having ourfamilies present, peeking out frombehind the columns of Temple Church totake aim at us with their cameras.

There was also reflectiveness followingMaster Treasurer's call to uphold theduties and standards of the professiontwinned with the excitement of finallyputting what we had learnt into practice.

And perhaps, on this day of all days,there was the slightest sense ofsatisfaction at the thought of thesacrifices made and obstacles clearedthus far.”

Edoardo Lupi

CALL TO THE BAR C


32 |CAREERS GUIDE

nce a pupil has begun the ‘first six’ months ofpupillage, he or she must successfully completethe following compulsory training in order to

obtain a practising certificate:• Assessed Pupils’ Advocacy Course provided by the Innsand Circuits

• Practice Management Course provided by the Inns andCircuits

• Pupils must also complete a minimum of 20 hourstraining in forensic accounts by the end of their firstthree years in practice (organised by the Bar Standards Board)

The Inner Temple advocacy course is made up of thefollowing elements:• Three evenings at the Inn on trial preparation and case analysis

• One Saturday at the Inn on civil interlocutoryapplications

• One evening at the Royal Courts of Justice conducting a mock trial

• A three-day residential weekend. This is the coreelement of the advocacy course during which pupilsparticipate in a presentational skills workshop run byLAMDA-trained actors, and sessions on witnesshandling, opening and closing speeches and pleas inmitigation. Pupils are video-reviewed throughout theweekend to give them the opportunity to identify andcorrect any bad habits which may be affecting theiroverall advocacy performance.

The sessions are taught by judges, Masters of the Bench andbarristers of all levels, who are accredited advocacy trainers forthe Inn.

The Practice Management Course advises pupils on therunning of a successful practice. The course includes sessionson financial management, ethics and marketing, as well as asession from judges and new practitioners giving tips forpupils' first days in court, and talks from clerks and solicitors onwhat they expect from pupils and those who have recentlytaken up tenancy.

COMPULSORY ADVOCACY TRAINING FOR PUPILS

BEYOND THE BPTC:FURTHER EDUCATION

he Inner Temple runs anextensive programme ofadvocacy training for pupils,

new practitioners and establishedpractitioners alike. Anyone joining theInner Temple can look forward tooutstanding training from committedtrainers. The Inn is fortunate to have ahugely dedicated membership, bothbarristers and judges, who are willing togive up countless hours in the evenings and over weekends to assist

with the training.

An independent report by the AdvocacyTraining Council, which monitorsadvocacy training in England and Wales,stated that “…those in charge of advocacytraining at Inner Temple are among themost experienced advocacy trainers atthe Bar. The use of the Handbooks forPupils/New Practitioners and Trainers iseloquent testimony to the enormousamount of time, thought and care which

goes into the preparation of advocacytraining at Inner Temple…” The InnerTemple Handbook mentioned in thereport has become the foundation for ahandbook now approved for use here andabroad by the Advocacy Training Council.

For further information on the Inn’scourses, please contact the ProfessionalTraining Manager.

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his event, aimed at members who have completedthe BPTC but have yet to secure pupillage, offers

those attending the opportunity to practise advocacy skills,take part in a mock interview and have pupillageapplications and legal CVs reviewed. The trainers runningthe session are from the junior Bar and, as such, have hadrelatively recent experience of pupillage.

Taking place in February, the event, in conjunction with thePupillage Advice Evening, aims to assist members inpreparation for the next round of pupillage applications.

“The Advocacy and Pupillage Applications day was one ofthe most valuable events I have attended. The barristers whogave up their time provided unique insight into the strengthsand weaknesses of our applications. It is rare to receivefeedback after a pupillage interview and even more sofollowing a written application. It was exceptionally useful tohear how panels were likely to respond to certain answers.After fine-tuning my own application following the event Ihave had my best year so far in the number of invitations tofirst and second round interviews. I am very grateful toeveryone involved.”

ADVOCACY & PUPILLAGE APPLICATIONS DAY

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BEYOND THE BPTC

CAREERS GUIDE | 33

NEW PRACTITIONERS’ADVOCACY & ETHICSCOURSE

his course comprises an ethics evening at the Inn and an intensive advocacytraining residential weekend. At the core of the weekend is a case allowing

criminal and civil new practitioners to gain experience in handling expertwitnesses played by accountants and medical doctors. The ethics session providesparticipants with the opportunity to discuss a range of ethical questions and relatedissues under the guidance of established practitioners and solicitors, and referringto the Bar Standards Board’s new Code of Conduct, launched last year.

Together, the two parts of the Inn’s New Practitioners Programme provides the fullrequirement of advocacy and ethics hours, as well as eight general CPD hours.

CONTINUINGPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT

n completion of the NewPractitioners’ Programme, all

practising barristers, whetheremployed or self-employed, arerequired to complete 12 hours ofcontinuing professional development(CPD) each year. The Inner Templeprovides several CPD courses tohelp its members meet thisrequirement.

NEW PRACTITIONERPROGRAMME

fter a barrister has completedpupillage and gained tenancy,

either in self-employed practice orat the Employed Bar, he or she willbecome a ‘new practitioner’. In theirfirst three years of practice, newlyqualified practitioners are requiredto complete 45 hours of ContinuingProfessional Development (CPD)including at least nine hours ofadvocacy training and three hours ofethics training.

The Inn’s New Practitionersprogramme, which is run twice eachyear in April and June, provides thehighest possible standard of trainingfor barristers in their first threeyears of tenancy.

CPDWEEKENDSach year, the Inner Temple holds a CPD event for established practitioners,often organised in conjunction with a Specialist Bar Association. The

programme is typically split into a series of lectures by high profile speakers andpractical advocacy exercises conducted by the Inn's trainers and is accreditedwith six CPD hours.

Past sessions have covered topics such as Serious Sexual Offences, PracticalGuidance for Appellate Advocacy and Employment Law. A recent day onHandling of Vulnerable Witnesses featured trained actors playing the witnessesalongside the Inns' trainers.

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"Pupillage is a tough and tiring 12 months where time off is a treasured commodity.With that in mind, my first reaction when faced with the prospect of giving up aSaturday to listen to the complexities of the tax system was not one of unrestrained joy.However, the Practice Management Course – like all of the courses put on by the Innduring Pupillage – was informative and well run. With talks from practitioners, judges,solicitors, and clerks, there was a real chance to understand the pressures and pitfallswe would soon face as newly-minted baby barristers from every perspective."

Andrew Lomas, 1 Essex Court

34 |CAREERS GUIDE

Fiona FultonHead of Education and Training Tel: 020 7797 [email protected]

Julia ArmfieldEducation Co-ordinator and Assistant to the Head of Education and Training Tel: 020 7797 [email protected]

Outreach

Struan CampbellOutreach ManagerTel: 020 7797 [email protected]

Lacara Barnes-RoweOutreach Co-ordinatorTel: 020 7797 8262 [email protected]

[email protected]

Scholarships and Students

Eamonn O’ReillyScholarships and Students ManagerTel: 020 7797 [email protected]

Paul ClarkScholarships and Students Co-ordinatorTel: 020 7797 [email protected]

Professional Training

David MillerProfessional Training ManagerTel: 020 7797 [email protected]

Kerry UphamEducation Co-ordinatorTel: 020 7797 [email protected]

USEFUL CONTACTS: EDUCATION & TRAINING

WHO’S WHO IN EDUCATION & TRAINING? Education and Training Department, Treasury Building, Inner Temple, London EC4Y 7HLTel: 020 7797 8208 • Email: [email protected]

CAREERS GUIDE | 35

USEFUL CONTACTS: FURTHER INFORMATION

36 |CAREERS GUIDE

Follow the Inner Temple on:

• Websitewww.innertemple.org.uk

• Twitterwww.twitter.com/TheInnerTemple

• Facebook:www.facebook.com/TheInnerTemple

• LinkedIn:Group: ‘The Inner Temple’

Approved Bar ProfessionalTraining Course Providers

• BPP Law School - London*, Leeds*,Manchester and Birminghamwww.bpp.com/law

• Cardiff Law Schoolwww.law.cf.ac.uk

• The University of Law – London * andBirminghamwww.college-of-law.co.uk

• City Law School*www.city.ac.uk/law

• Manchester Metropolitan University*www.law.mmu.ac.uk

• Northumbria Law School*†www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/law/

• Nottingham Law Schoolwww.ntu.ac.uk/nls

• University of the West of EnglandBristol*law.uwe.ac.uk/

* Also offers the BPTC part-time† Also offers the BPTC as part of the LLB Exempting Degree

Approved Law ConversionCourse Providers

Please see the full listing on the SolicitorsRegulation Authority website at:www.sra.org.uk/students/courses/CPE-GDL-course-providers.page

Other Useful Websites

• Bar Standards Board (For informationon qualifying as a barrister)www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

• Bar Council (For information on theprofession including Specialist BarAssociations and the Circuits)www.barcouncil.org.uk

• BarSAS (To apply for the BPTC)www.barsas.com

• Law Courses Central ApplicationsBoard (To apply for the CPE / GDL)www.lawcabs.ac.uk

• Pupillage Gateway (Online PupillageApplication System)www.pupillagegateway.com

Further Sources of Information

• Your Career as a Barrister(available from the Bar Council)For information on becoming a barrister,life at the Bar and the Inns of Court

• Pupillages Handbook (available fromthe Inn or most career services)For information on becoming abarrister, applying for mini pupillage,pupillage and finance

USEFUL CONTACTS

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Work Experience

Citizens Advice Bureau: an organisation thatprovides free and confidential advice on a varietyof issues.

Free Representation Unit (FRU): the largestprovider of pro bono services in the UK,representing the disadvantaged in areas such asemployment, social security and compensationtribunals.

Law Centres: community based centres thatprovide legal representation to those who cannotafford a lawyer.

Mini-pupillage: work experience, shadowing abarrister, typically in chambers.

Mooting: a mock legal hearing, which involvesstudents playing the role of defence or prosecutioncounsel, and presenting a legal issue verbally.

Studying and Pupillage

BA Law: Bachelor of Arts Law is a type of lawundergraduate degree. Depending on where youstudy this subject, you may have to complete theGDL before being able to start the BPTC. Thisdiffers from LLB Law (please see below).

LLB Law: Bachelor of Laws is a qualifying lawdegree, enabling a student to move straight ontothe BPTC (or LPC if they wish to become asolicitor).

LLM: Master of Laws is a type of postgraduatedegree (or masters) that allows a student tospecialise in a particular area or areas of the law. Itis not necessary to gain this qualification to becomea barrister.

CPE: former name of the GDL.

GDL: Graduate Diploma in Law, a law conversioncourse that must be undertaken by those who havea non-law undergraduate degree if they intend todo the BPTC.

LPC: the Legal Practice Course is a qualificationtaken by those who aspire to be solicitors.

BCAT: acronym for Bar Course Aptitude Testwhich must be passed in order to progress to theBPTC.

BPTC: acronym for the Bar Professional TrainingCourse, a course designed to equip aspiringbarristers with the relevant skills and knowledge.

Qualifying Sessions: 12 educational eventsorganised by your Inn of Court that must becompleted before Call to the Bar.

Scholarship: a sum of money awarded to astudent, based on academic merit and financialneed.

BVC: Bar Vocational Course (former name for theBar Professional Training Course).

Call to the Bar: a ceremony at which the ‘Degreeof the Utter Bar’ and the title ‘Barrister’ areconferred on those who have completed therequired academic, vocational, and Inns’ qualifyingsession stages of training and who have satisfiedtheir Inn that they are fit and proper to be called.

Inns of Court: the Inns of Court provide a range ofservices and resources to those practising at theBar and those who aspire to do so. The Inns havethe sole authority to call barristers to the Bar ofEngland and Wales. You must join an Inn before youbegin the BPTC.

Pupillage: pupillage is the final stage of trainingfor those who wish to be authorised to practise as abarrister. Pupillages are structured in two phases,the first six and second six.

Pupillage Gateway: The website that allowsprospective barristers to apply to chambers forpupillage.

First Six: the first six months of pupillage, whichinvolves shadowing a barrister in court and doingtasks such as legal research.

Second Six: the second six months of pupillagewhere a pupil barrister can take on their own workwith the support of their pupil supervisor.

CAREERS GUIDE | 37

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38 |CAREERS GUIDE

Nottingham Law School has a proven track record in practical skills training.

With our internationally recognised expertise in advocacy training, award-winning pro bono scheme, Legal Advice Centre and dedicated careers support, it’s no wonder that our BPTC is renowned for helping so many graduates become high fliers in law.

See how our BPTC could work for your career at www.ntu.ac.uk/bptchighfliers

The sky’s the limit at Nottingham Law School

FOR THE HIGH FLIERS

OUR BPTC WORKS FOR YOU

It takes an exceptional lawyer to educate one.At BPP University Law School our students reap the benefit of being taught by legal professionals who have pursued outstanding careers at leading Chambers such as 6 Pump Court and 2 Hare Court in London, St John’s Buildings and Garden Court North Chambers in Manchester, No. 6 in Leeds and St Philips Chambers in Birmingham. This means that as a student you get the benefit of real world professional experience from day one.

Get in to practiceCall 0333 220 7847 or visit us at bppuniversity.ac.uk/bptc

Eleanor Hutchison, BPTC Lecturer and Barrister

o prGet in tCall 333 20visit us at

eactico pr7 8420 7333 2 or

.ac.uk/bptysiter bppuniv

c.ac.uk/bpt

Inner Temple Careers Guide

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