Some have criticised the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) as being an expensive and even unnecessary stage in the route to becoming a barrister. Well, it is certainly expensive but, in my experience, the BVC is not only essential for the development of key advocacy skills, it is invaluable for experiencing a taste of life at the Bar.
Unlike a law degree or the graduate diploma in law, the BVC is an almost exclusively practical course. The focus is not on academia, but on the application of the law to real-life situations, especially those that will be most commonly faced in our fledgling years. A particular advantage of this approach is that everyone, regardless of their educational background, age or experience, starts the year in the same position and is able to bring something unique to the classroom.
