One of the proposals being floated by the Bar Standards Board, called the ‘Bar Specialist’ option, would introduce a qualifying exam for aspiring barristers as a prerequisite to qualification. Moreover, the exam would be open to ‘any candidate’, including those without a law degree. Candidates would be free to prepare for the exam in ‘any way they choose’, but would still be required to undertake an abridged version of the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) after passing the exam. ‘We want to make sure, as far as is practical, that the only requirement for qualification and authorization as a barrister is having the requisite knowledge, skills and attributes to meet the standards of the professional statement,’ said BSB director of education and training Dr Simon Thornton-Wood, adding that a more flexible approach to qualification would open up to the profession to a more diverse candidate pool. The proposal will be up for debate by ‘invited delegates’ at the BSB ‘Future of Bar Training’ discussion of 7 July.
Source: Legal Cheek
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