Pupillage Training

During pupillage/work-based learning there are a number of compulsory courses and an assessment which pupils are required to undertake. This training is taken to ensure that all pupils can demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attributes set out in the Professional Statement for Barristers on ‘day one’ of practice.

Part 4 of the BSB Bar Qualification Manual contains these requirements for the pupillage/work-based learning stage of training to become a barrister, including the structure of pupillage, pupil supervisors, pupillage funding, pupil responsibilities and support & advice. Section 4J contains details of assessment of pupils and compulsory courses.

At present, pupils must:

• satisfactorily complete an advocacy course during the non-practising period of pupillage (usually during the ‘first six’) which is provided by your Circuit or Inn of court; and
• pass a Professional Ethics assessment, which is set and marked by the BSB. You will need to have completed at least 3 months of pupillage before undertaking the assessment, unless you are a transferring qualified lawyer (TQL) and have been granted a reduced pupillage.

A Negotiation Skills course and assessment is to be introduced for pupils in 2025.

The ICCA is committed to supporting pupils during their training for the Bar. In so doing, we have created Pupillage Ethics materials to help pupils prepare for their BSB assessment, and, with the help of the Inns, we hope to develop a Negotiation Course to prepare pupils for the new assessment.

For more information on Pupillage Ethics, and how to access materials, please follow this link.