Bar Training Course (LLM)

Overview

We’ve delivered high quality training for the Bar since 1997, strongly supported by the local employed Bar, the independent Bar and the Judiciary. Our LLM Bar Training Course offers intensive, postgraduate-level studies to those who wish to qualify as a barrister but who also wish to undertake research at Master’s level. This course is taken after undergraduate study and before the period of work-based learning, known as pupillage. This programme enables you to acquire the skills, knowledge of procedure and evidence for you to meet the Bar Standards Board (BSB) criteria, as set out in their Professional Statement for Barristers. Our programme aims to foster a professional and ethical approach to practice as a barrister, whilst giving you an informed view of a barrister’s working life and the opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing the legal profession in today’s world. The teaching is timetabled between Monday and Thursday (i.e. no more than four days), to provide time for personal study. Advocacy and conferencing will be taught intensively in two-hour sessions to no more than six students. You will also be able to undertake a specialist advocacy option. You’ll be provided with guidance that will identify the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) Stage 1 knowledge for criminal litigation and dispute resolution covered during the teaching of the BTC and given additional guidance on that content where it has not been dealt with during the delivery of the programme. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake the BSB centrally set assessments in December, April and August during the academic year you are enrolled as a student. On successful completion, you will be eligible to be called to the Bar of England and Wales (subject to meeting the qualifying session requirement of your Inn of Court).

Course structure

The LLM Bar Training Course is a one-year course studied over two semesters. All modules within this programme are compulsory and comprise knowledge areas, core skills, an option and a research module. An attendance record is kept and 100% attendance at teaching sessions is expected. You will complete compulsory modules (that cover practice areas and course skills) and one elective. On successful completion of the taught stage of the programme, you will submit an 8000-word Research Project or Reflective Portfolio. The Research Project is available to all students on the LLM Bar Training Course, but only students with significant pro bono or legal work experience will be able to pursue the Reflective Portfolio.

Learning and assessment

You will be taught through a mixture of large and small group sessions. Large groups take the form of lectures to all students. A significant number of large group sessions are pre-recorded and accessed online.