7 May 2019
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is writing to key stakeholders to ask whether it should be made mandatory for Chambers and other Authorised Education and Training Organisations (AETOs) providing the pupillage / work-based learning component of Bar training to bring their recruitment timetable into line with the Pupillage Gateway. Currently, the gateway timetable is between November and May. All pupillages must currently be advertised on the Gateway but the BSB believes that obliging all those offering pupillage to recruit to the same timetable would make recruitment fairer for all candidates.
The regulator is also asking for views on whether written agreements between pupils and AETOs should be compulsory so that both the AETO and the pupil have a clearer record of what is expected of them.
BSB Director of Strategy and Policy, Ewen MacLeod, said: "The recent introduction of the new Bar Qualification Rules aims to make Bar training more accessible, affordable and flexible while sustaining high standards. By directly contacting relevant stakeholders, we are now seeking views on whether further changes are needed to the ways in which Chambers and other AETOs advertise their pupillages and recruit pupils. Irrespective of whether we have contacted them or not, we would welcome views from anyone on this matter."
All views should be submitted to the BSB by 5pm on Wednesday 31 July 2019.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
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