Steps one and two
There has been plenty of talk but little action about introducing common education for both sides – barristers and solicitors – of the legal profession. Other than a university degree, the only qualification taken by both is the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for those who do not have qualifying law degrees. Details are the same as for solicitors.
After that, it is make-your-mind-up time.
Total cost so far: University tuition fees plus living expenses can add up to £18,000. The CPE costs of between £2,000 and £4,800 plus living expenses can bring the cost to £10,000, bringing the cost so far to £28,000 for the year.
Funding: While there are a number of charities that give small bursaries, the main source of income will be from career development loans from the banks (see box, right), although the banks generally want repayments to start after the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) rather than pupillage. The Bar Council grants nine scholarships per year – interest-free loans of £4,000 – to those in financial hardship. Those headed for the armed services, the Crown Prosecution
Service or the government legal service may
get sponsorship.
Step
three: Bar Vocational Course
The full-time BVC lasts for one year, the part-time course lasts two years. All students must join one of the four Inns of Court (see box, page 61) before registering on the BVC. The course is offered by eight educational establishments (details on the Bar Council website at www.barcouncil.org.uk). Before the 1997-98 academic year it was offered by only one institution: the Inns of Court School of Law.
Although there is some variance between the courses, the main skills taught on the course are divided into three groups. The first is case work, which covers fact-management legal research. The second is written skills, which comprises general word skills, opinion writing (giving written advice) and drafting of documents. The third is interpersonal skills, which concentrates on interviewing clients, negotiation and advocacy.
From a legal knowledge point of view, the BVC covers civil litigation, criminal litigation, evidence, sentencing and two optional subjects selected from a list of at least six. Assessment is done by a combination of multiple choice papers, written papers and by video-recorded performance for the interpersonal skills modules. Applications are made centrally through the Centralised Applications and Clearing House (CACH), which can be contacted on 020 7440 4015 in the autumn of the year prior to starting the course, at the beginning of the final year for qualifying law students, or at the beginning of the CPE year for everyone else. The closing date is the first week of November.
For the 2000/2001 academic year, 2,034
candidates applied for 1,540 full-time BVC places. The pass rate is around 80%.
The primary consideration when awarding places is academic achievement and the minimum degree grade is a 2:2, although most students have a 2:1.
When deciding between candidates with
similar academic achievements, preference
is given to those who have demonstrated a
commitment to a career in law through work placements or time spent with the advice agency network. Pupillage must be started within five years of completing the BVC.
Total cost so far: The BVC costs up to £7,000 which, with living expenses, brings the total for the year to £12,000. Running total: £40,000
Funding: As CPE.
