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The Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned the Bar’s regulator against increasing the qualification threshold to come to the Bar.
The panel said that increasing the current requirement that students have attained a 2:2 to a 2:1 would ‘unduly restrict access to the profession’.
Responding to the Bar Standards Board’s consultation on Future Bar Training, the panel said the change was ‘disproportionate’ and could prevent ‘meritorious’ students from joining the profession at a time when the Bar is seeking to improve access to the profession.
It said there is ‘little or no evidence’ that those who achieve a 2:2 ‘would deliver poor outcome for consumers’ or ‘offer inferior services’.
While the universities classification process might have ‘passed its sell by date’, said the panel, the ‘flaws in the system cannot be used to justify a blanket ban’.
In its response, the Bar Council said that a lower second class degree should remain the minimum requirement.
Importantly, it suggested the creation of a two part Bar Professional Training Course whereby only those who pass the first part may continue to the second, in order to cut down on the number of students paying huge fees and expenses who have no hope of securing a pupillage.
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned the Bar’s regulator against increasing the qualification threshold to come to the Bar.
The panel said that increasing the current requirement that students have attained a 2:2 to a 2:1 would ‘unduly restrict access to the profession’.
Responding to the Bar Standards Board’s consultation on Future Bar Training, the panel said the change was ‘disproportionate’ and could prevent ‘meritorious’ students from joining the profession at a time when the Bar is seeking to improve access to the profession.
It said there is ‘little or no evidence’ that those who achieve a 2:2 ‘would deliver poor outcome for consumers’ or ‘offer inferior services’.
While the universities classification process might have ‘passed its sell by date’, said the panel, the ‘flaws in the system cannot be used to justify a blanket ban’.
In its response, the Bar Council said that a lower second class degree should remain the minimum requirement.
Importantly, it suggested the creation of a two part Bar Professional Training Course whereby only those who pass the first part may continue to the second, in order to cut down on the number of students paying huge fees and expenses who have no hope of securing a pupillage.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Switching from a physical blue book to OneNote is simple, secure and game-changing, says Elizabeth Bowden – you’ll wonder how you managed without it...
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
