BVC Conference 2009

The BSB held its annual Bar Vocational Course (BVC) Conference on 9 and 10 July at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. The event, in its eleventh year, was opened by Baroness Ruth Deech, Chair of the Bar Standards Board. The conference placed great emphasis on the future of barrister training and Derek Wood QC - Chair of the BSB Pupillage Review Working Party, talked about the new Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), which will replace the BVC in 2010. There was also a session titled ‘The Evolution of the Bar Course: where next?’ conducted by Nigel Cooper - Vice-Chairman of the BSB Education & Training Committee and Dr Valerie Shrimplin – Head of Education Standards BSB. 

Olav Ernstzen – member of the Bar Council Disability Sub-Group and Jane Rumens – Royal National Institute for the Blind, facilitated a BVC accessibility training workshop. Other speakers at the event included: Mandie Lavin – Director BSB, Dr John Carrier – Chairman Education & Training Committee, James Welsh – BPP Law School, Jill Frances – College of Law, Colin McCaul QC, Patrick Maddams – Sub-Treasurer Inner Temple, Tom Macdonald – King’s Inns, Simon Monty QC – Chair of BSB Qualifications Committee and Nigel Waddington – College of Law.