Course summary
Maximise your chances of securing pupillage by building your legal knowledge and skills side by side. You'll embed your understanding through regular application of your knowledge to scenarios you are likely to experience when advising clients or in court. By undertaking and successfully completing the UWE Bristol Bar Training Course (BTC), you will develop, and be able to demonstrate, the competencies required to be called to the Bar, as set out by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). Why study the Bar Training Course? The BTC provides the foundation to your career as a barrister. Part of the vocational component of training for the Bar of England and Wales, it covers the advocacy skills, and detailed knowledge of the law, required to be able to confidently work with clients and present legal cases in court. Why UWE Bristol? Choosing to undertake your BTC (Combined) at UWE Bristol offers you the assurance of studying with a well-established education provider. Taught by highly experienced tutors, who are all qualified barristers or solicitors, you will benefit from substantial face-to-face teaching, feedback and formative assessments, to embed your learning, hone your skills and give you the strongest foundation for your legal career. Opting to study this course means that the knowledge and skills elements of your training will be taught together, in a way that is most reflective of life in Chambers, with both parts taught face to face to maximise your potential to succeed. We place a strong emphasis on personal and academic support, giving you regular contact with your personal tutor at all stages, to support you with the rigorous demands of the course, alongside access to extensive university-wide resources. Our well-established links to the local and national Chambers and Bar also open the door to significant career-enhancing opportunities, such as competitions, mock pupillage interviews, career talks, guest lectures and pro bono work, all designed to help you gain maximum value from your training. Where can it take me? The BTC prepares you for a successful career as a barrister, giving you the necessary skills, knowledge and network to maximise your chances of securing pupillage. Many of our graduates go on to work as barristers, while others take this sought-after qualification into careers as legal associates, managers or legal advisers, or into other sectors.
Modules
LLM full-time course: you will undertake the seven compulsory modules required for the vocational component which will take up to nine months. You then have a choice of further options, project or dissertation modules leading to the master's award. These modules are designed to reinforce your development as a reflective practitioner with responsibility for your own self-development. Depending upon your optional choices/dissertation, this could take up to an additional 12 months to complete the master's qualification. Eligible students will be able to apply for postgraduate loan funding to complete the LLM course. LLM part-time course. Over two years, you will undertake the seven compulsory modules required to complete the vocational component. Nearly all your tuition will be timetabled at weekends. You will then have a choice of further options, project or dissertation modules leading to your eventual master's award.
Assessment method
Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation assessments are set by the Central Examination Board, on behalf of the Bar Standards Board, and examined using multiple choice questions. Professional Ethics is set by UWE Bristol as an unseen assessment in controlled conditions. All other assessments are also set locally and are either completely seen or partially seen, in that you will receive information in advance to research the relevant areas of law. In most assessments, you will be graded as either Outstanding, Very Competent, Competent, or Not Yet Competent. We use mock assessments with feedback to help you monitor and improve your performance, and prepare effectively. Our tutors have extensive experience of the centralised assessments, so are well placed to support you. For added flexibility, there is some choice about when you take your assessments, although we structure the teaching to allow you to complete them at the earliest opportunity.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Bar Standards Board
Entry requirements
Entry requirements As stipulated by the BSB you will need: To hold a law degree/conversion course, which meets the requirements for study of the foundations of legal knowledge subjects A degree classification (minimum 2:2) Membership of an Inn of Court English language ability (see below). All students who apply for a place on the UWE BTC course will be considered for the offer of a place by reference to the extent their application form demonstrates: The potential to fulfil the BSB Professional Statement Competences A commitment to a career at the Bar/in law A record of legal work experience or other law related activity during their studies. These criteria will be assessed by reference to a prospective student's answers on the online application form. English Language Requirement All prospective barristers must be able to demonstrate that their English language ability is at least equivalent to: 7.5 in the IELTS academic test (all sections) 73 in each part of the Pearson test of English (academic) All applicants should have an effective command of the language and be able to use it appropriately, accurately and fluently so as to handle complex and detailed argumentation. International students will be required to produce a certificate evidencing the necessary IELTS or Pearson test scores. Barristers should: Use correct and appropriate vocabulary, English grammar, spelling and punctuation in all communications Speak fluent English. The method for verifying that a prospective barrister has met this requirement will be determined by UWE, Bristol. Potential exemptions International students will be required to produce a certificate evidencing the necessary IELTS or Pearson scores unless they are a current UWE student and have: an actual 2:1 or predicted 2:1 LLB at the point of application for a place on the BTC, or an actual LLM with merit or above at the point of application for a place on the BTC, or an actual commendation or above in the GDL. UWE Bristol reserves the right to require any candidates who successfully self-certify to undertake the IELTS academic test or Pearson test if they do not subsequently demonstrate the English language requirement set out above. Deferred entry We do not accept deferred entry applications for this course.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
Fee information is to be confirmed. All fees are subject to final approval. Please visit our website for further information.
Provider information
Bristol, University of the West of England
Coldharbour Lane
Frenchay
Bristol
BS16 1QY