The Application Process

Online Application Questions and Criteria

In the online section of your application you will enter your personal details and degree/GDL grades (actual or predicted). References are not required for predicted grades, but all offers will be conditional on meeting our minimum academic entry requirements.

If (at the time of application) you have already received your degree or GDL but have not achieved our minimum grades, you can apply for mitigating circumstances when completing this form. For more information, please also see our  Entry Requirements.

During this online application you will also be asked 4 specific questions. We are not looking for the “finished article” but rather a candidate with the individual qualities to develop and succeed on the ICCA Bar Course and into the profession. Below we have set out those questions we ask you (during the application window) together with the criteria we apply when assessing each candidate for shortlisting.

1. Motivation
Questions:
(i) Why do you wish to qualify as a barrister? In answering this question, please include an experience you have had within a legal or non-legal environment which has influenced and informed your decision to train for the Bar and why.  

(ii) Why do you feel that the two-part ICCA Bar Course model would suit your individual learning style? In answering this question, please address the need to work independently and remotely with limited tutor support on Part One, and then on Part Two to attend a fast-paced in-person course delivered over 4 days a week in London for a period of 5 months. 

Marking Criteria: 

• Reasons for wishing to qualify as a Barrister are considered and well thought out.
• Justifies how the decision to train for the Bar has been influenced and informed.
• Has a good understanding of the ICCA two-part Bar Course model and provides considered reasons why both parts would suit their individual learning style. 

You must answer this question using a maximum of 2100 characters, including spaces. This equates to approximately 300 words. 

2. Oral Communication Skills
Question:
Please provide an example of public speaking where you have sought to persuade an audience to agree with the proposition you were advancing. In answering this question, include how you used your oral communication skills to connect effectively with your audience. 

 Your example can be in a legal or non-legal field and could include (but is not limited to) a work-based presentation or an event at school or university where you have communicated with an audience individually or as part of a group on any subject, or taken part in a debate, mock trial or a moot. Please note that losing an argument is not in itself a negative indicator in our assessment of this part. 

Marking Criteria: 

• Experience of public speaking, including seeking to persuade an audience to agree with the proposition being advanced. 
• Provides a logical and considered explanation of using oral communication skills to connect effectively with an audience  

You must answer this question using a maximum of 1400 characters, including spaces. This equates to approximately 200 words. 

3. Written Communication Skills
Question:
An application which is well written, clearly structured, succinct and grammatically correct.  Please provide an example of when you have impressed an audience (individual or group) with a piece of written work, which can be in either a legal or non-legal context.   

Your example could include, but is not limited to, persuading someone to your point of view, settling a dispute or gaining a prize in a competition.  

Marking Criteria: 

An application which is: 

• Well written. 
• Clearly structured. 
• Succinct. 
• Grammatically correct. 
• Demonstrates the ability to impress an audience with a piece of written work. 

You must answer this question using a maximum of 1400 characters, including spaces. This equates to approximately 200 words. 

4. Resilience and Determination
Question:
Part Two of the ICCA Bar Course requires you to attend an intensive, fast-paced in-person course delivered over 4 days a week in London for a period of 5 months.  Bearing this in mind, please give one example of when you have shown resilience and determination to achieve a goal to a high standard, which required you to work under pressure.  

 This could be in a legal or non-legal context and could include, but is not limited to, overcoming a hurdle to achieve a desired outcome within a work, university, sporting or personal context. 

 Marking Criteria: 

• Demonstrates resilience and determination in pursuit of a goal. 
• Accepts responsibility to achieve that goal to a high standard. 
• Ability to work under pressure. 

You must answer this question using a maximum of 1400 characters, including spaces. This equates to approximately 200 words. 

Selection Appointment Information and Criteria

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet us at an online selection day/evening where we will ask you to take part in an advocacy exercise (10 minutes) and an interview (10 minutes). You will also be invited to an introductory talk by the Dean of the ICCA, where you will be able to ask questions of current ICCA students and staff. If you are unable to attend this introduction a link to a recording will be provided to you.

Your invitation will be sent to your registered email address which will include all the information you require to book your selection day/evening appointment. You will be able to notify us of any reasonable adjustments at this time. Appointments are booked on a first-come-first-served basis. All the information you require for your advocacy exercise will be sent to you at least 24 hours before your booked appointment.

The advocacy exercise will consist of a ‘brief’ in a civil or criminal case, requiring you to advance an argument on behalf of your client. Legal research outside the material provided will not be required, since the advocacy exercise is not a legal test, but rather an asessment of effective communication skills and analysis.

The questions for the interview are not provided in advance. However, rest assured in the knowledge that this is an exercise in getting to know you, in understanding your motivation, judgment and integrity and effective communication skills; it is not an exercise in tripping you up or seeking to unsettle you. You can expect a friendly welcome from your assessor and it will be a pleasure to meet you. Please note that you will be meeting a single trained assessor rather than a panel for both the advocacy exercise and interview.

Criteria

• During the advocacy exercise we assess your skills of Effective Communication and Analysis.
• During your interview we assess your Motivation, Judgment & Integrity and Effective Communication.

These criteria are set out below:

Effective Communication (advocacy and interview) 

Marking Criteria: 

• Speaks with clarity and fluency 
• Speaks at an appropriate volume and pace 
• Follows a clear, logical order to aid understanding 
• Not overly reliant on notes 
• Maintains appropriate eye contact  
• Adopts an appropriate manner for the audience 
• Delivers arguments or views with confidence and impact

Analysis (advocacy and interview) 

Marking Criteria: 

• Demonstrates understanding of the material provided or question asked 
• Ability to identify and focus on the real issues 
• Ability to distinguish between strengths and weaknesses 
• Provides meaningful justification for views or arguments advanced 
• Builds strong, logical arguments

Motivation (interview) 

Marking Criteria: 

• Demonstrates motivation and commitment to qualifying as a barrister. 
• Identifies a personal key skill or attribute and why this would be useful in practice at the Bar. 
• Demonstrates an understanding of the profession.

Judgment & Integrity (interview) 

Marking Criteria: 

• Demonstrates integrity. 
• Ability to make considered decisions and reach sensible conclusions. 
• Inspires trust and confidence. 

After all shortlisted candidates have been seen at a selection day, offers to attend the ICCA Bar Course will be sent to successful candidates at their registered email address.

All offers will be conditional on meeting the ICCA’s academic entry requirements.

Applications for places on the ICCA Bar Course commencing in September 2025 and January 2026 open on 14 October 2024, 12pm (and will remain open until Monday 13 January 2025, 12pm).

Applications for places on the ICCA Bar Course commencing in September 2024 and January 2025 are now closed.

Applications can be made through a link provided on this page when the application window opens.

• Mon 14 October 2024, 12pm – Applications open
• Mon 13 Jan 2025, 12pm – Applications close
• Tue 4 Feb – Selection Day invitations and appointment booking details sent out (appointments are made through an online booking system)
• Fri 14 Feb – Selection Day acceptance deadline
• Selection Week 1 – Tue 18 to Sat 22 Feb – Online selection appointments, with evening slots on Tue 18 Feb (30-minute appointments)
• Selection Week 2 – Tue 25 to Fri 28 Feb – Online selection appointments, with evening slots on Tue 25 Feb (30-minute appointments)
• Fri 14 March – Notification of offers
• Fri 11 April – Acceptance deadline