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Pupillages dropped below 400 for the first time in decades while the number of students applying for the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) fell below 3,000, statistics from the profession’s regulator revealed.
There were only 397 first six pupillages offered in 2013/14, down 23% from 514 the previous year, according to the latest figures published by the Bar Standards Board.
The BSB pointed out that the spike in numbers in 2012/13 was due to a change in the registration timetable rather than a resurgence in the number of places.
The overall trend in first six places has been downwards over the last five years, dropping from 431 in 2009/10, while the number of second six places has remained steadily in the mid-400s.
Commenting on the figures, a Bar Council spokesman said: “Where there is less work available, especially as we are seeing in the publicly funded Bar, there is greater competition for that work.
“The Bar Council has always said that pupillages should only be created where there is enough work to sustain the pupil as tenant.”
Creating more pupillages than there are potential tenancies, he said, prolongs the period of insecurity and potential exposure to mounting levels of debt for prospective barristers.
He added that the “shrinking pupillage pool” will have a disproportionate impact on students from less advantaged backgrounds, who cannot afford the risk, which will in turn reduce the diversity in the profession.
The number of graduates willing to fork out up to £18,000 for the year-long BPTC has also fallen over the last five years, from 3,097 in 2009/10 to 2,941 in 2013/14.
The number of barristers called to the Bar annually dipped, from 1,754 in 2009/10 to 1,346 in 2012/13, before rallying slightly up to 1,456 in 2013/14.
The statistics show that men and women are joining the profession in about equal numbers, while the percentage joining from a BME background has dropped slightly.
Pupillages dropped below 400 for the first time in decades while the number of students applying for the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) fell below 3,000, statistics from the profession’s regulator revealed.
There were only 397 first six pupillages offered in 2013/14, down 23% from 514 the previous year, according to the latest figures published by the Bar Standards Board.
The BSB pointed out that the spike in numbers in 2012/13 was due to a change in the registration timetable rather than a resurgence in the number of places.
The overall trend in first six places has been downwards over the last five years, dropping from 431 in 2009/10, while the number of second six places has remained steadily in the mid-400s.
Commenting on the figures, a Bar Council spokesman said: “Where there is less work available, especially as we are seeing in the publicly funded Bar, there is greater competition for that work.
“The Bar Council has always said that pupillages should only be created where there is enough work to sustain the pupil as tenant.”
Creating more pupillages than there are potential tenancies, he said, prolongs the period of insecurity and potential exposure to mounting levels of debt for prospective barristers.
He added that the “shrinking pupillage pool” will have a disproportionate impact on students from less advantaged backgrounds, who cannot afford the risk, which will in turn reduce the diversity in the profession.
The number of graduates willing to fork out up to £18,000 for the year-long BPTC has also fallen over the last five years, from 3,097 in 2009/10 to 2,941 in 2013/14.
The number of barristers called to the Bar annually dipped, from 1,754 in 2009/10 to 1,346 in 2012/13, before rallying slightly up to 1,456 in 2013/14.
The statistics show that men and women are joining the profession in about equal numbers, while the percentage joining from a BME background has dropped slightly.
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
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
Chair of the Bar reports back
