There had been concerns that software problems with the Pupillage Portal, the online applications system, would derail the offer date. A glitch in the system caused the pdf print versions of about two per cent of applications to go missing. Each applicant makes up to 12 applications and more than one in ten applicants were affected. However, the pdf files were not lost or corrupted, but still available on the Portal, run by GTI Recruiting Solutions.

The Bar Council said it had been assured that the overwhelming majority of applications have not been prejudiced, and that it was contacting the very small number of applicants still affected by the error. The Bar Standards Board is to review pupillage recruitment procedures, with the help of the Bar Council.