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Authorisation to Practise (ATP)
This section contains key information for barristers about the annual ATP process.
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Here, you can read all about barristers including why they play such a vital role in the administration of justice.
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This page includes general information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the work of the Authorisations Team.
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This page is updated weekly (or more frequently) to reflect changes to our service, including the volume of work being completed by the team.
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On this page, you can find details about our current vacancies.
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From this page, you can download a register of the specialist legal services businesses which we regulate.
Our regulatory decision-making policies
From this page, you can access all our regulatory decision-making policies.
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Here you can find our published research reports, including regular statistical publications, research undertaken by the BSB Research team, and commissioned research reports.
2C: Completing the academic component (conversion courses)
This section includes information on requirements for completion of the academic component of training through a conversion course including the minimum standard (degree classification), time limits for completion of a conversion course, credit transfer, and progression to the vocational component. Overview 1 In order to complete the academic component of training based on a conversion course, you must: hold a UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate degree awarded at (or above) the minimum standard; or have been granted a Certificate of Academic Standing (see Part 2D of this Bar Qualification Manual) by us. 2 If you complete a conversion course without holding a UK/Republic of Ireland degree of the required standard or a Certificate of Academic issued by us, you will not ...
8A: Review applications and procedures
Individuals or organisations may submit a request for review of a decision of the Bar Standards Board, and a further appeal to the High Court, in line with the Bar Qualification Rules (Rules Q35-Q40). This section includes information on requests for review of decisions of the Bar Standards Board, the Bar Council Records Office, the Inns of Court, and the Inns’ Conduct Committee (ICC). Bar Qualification Rules
BSB Handbook
Rule Q35 Where provision is made under this Section for a review by the BSB of a decision, any request for such a review must be accompanied by:
.1 a copy of any notice of the decision and the reasons for it received by the person requesting the review (“the applicant”);
.2 where the decision is a decision of an Inn or the ICC, copies of all documents submitted or received by the applicant which were before the Inn or the ICC;
.3 any further representations and evidence which the applicant wishes the BSB to take into account; and
.4 payment of such fee or fees as may be prescribed.
Rule Q36 Where the decision under review is a decision of an Inn, the BSB will invite the Inn to comment on any further representations and evidence which the applicant submits under Rule Q35.3.
Rule Q37 On a review under this Section the BSB:
.1 may affirm the decision under review or substitute any other decision which could have been made on the original application;
.2 may in an appropriate case reimburse the fee paid under Rule Q35.4; and
.3 will inform the applicant and any other interested person of its decision and the reasons for it.
Rule Q38 Where provision is made under this Section for a review of a decision by the BSB, this review may be delegated to an Independent Decision-Making Panel, where specified by the BSB.
Rule Q39 Where under this Section provision is made for a review by the BSB of a decision, no appeal may be made to the High Court unless such a review has taken place.
Rule Q40 An individual who is adversely affected by a decision of the BSB under Section B.2 may appeal to the High Court against the decision.
4L: Exemptions and waivers (pupillage/work-based learning)
This section includes information on exemptions and waivers that may be granted from part (or all) of the work-based learning component of Bar training (pupillage). Overview 1 The rules regarding exemption from any of the individual components of Bar training are set out in the BSB Handbook at Rules Q7-Q12 . 2 In addition, Rules Q13 to Q28 cover exemptions relating to: Qualified Foreign Lawyers (QFLs) Qualified European Lawyers (QELs) Registered European Lawyers (RELs) Transferring Solicitors Teachers of the law of England and Wales Individuals who have been granted rights of audience by another Approved Regulator. 3 The types of exemptions available and the application processes are explained in Parts 7B and 7C of this Bar Qualification Manual. Other variations ...
4E: Pupillage funding
All pupillages of self-employed barristers, chambers and BSB entities must be funded in accordance with the Pupillage Funding Rules in the BSB Handbook. The responsibility to fund pupils lies with the AETO. The purpose of these rules is to ensure that pupils receive a regular, minimum income throughout pupillage and it supports equality of opportunity. Other types of AETOs must abide by the National Living Wage legislation. Minimum pupillage funding requirements 1 All pupils must be paid no less than a minimum amount, specified by us. 2 The minimum pupillage award is set annually, having regard to the Living Wage Foundation’s hourly rate recommendations, which are announced in November each year. The annual increase applies from January each year to ...
9B: Amendments
The Bar Qualification Manual was first published on 1 April 2019. An updated and reformatted version of the entire manual was published on 9 November 2020. The table below will include details of amendments made to the Bar Qualification Manual after 9 November 2020 by section number/page title and by date. Date Section Number and Page Title Details of Amendments 17/11/2020 Part 3D - Centralised Assessments Amended link at paragraph 3 to 2020 version of standard setting technique document. 14/12/2020 Part 7A - Types of transferring lawyers Added links to new online application for transferring qualified lawyers via MyBar (para 5). 17/12/2020 Part 7A - Types of transferring lawyers Added links to new online application guidelines and amended 'valid to' dates ...
2B: Completing the academic component (law degrees)
This section includes information on law degree requirements for completion of the academic component of training including the minimum standard (degree classification), time limits for completion of a law degree, credit transfer, and progression to the vocational component. Overview 1 In order to complete the academic component of training based on a law degree awarded in the UK/Republic of Ireland, you must hold a degree which meets the following requirements.
UK/Republic of Ireland Law Degrees:
- must be awarded at Level 6 (or above) of the ‘Framework for Higher Education Qualifications’, by a recognised degree-awarding body;
- must comply with the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Law (Nov 2019);
- must incorporate study of the foundations of legal knowledge subjects (see Part 2A of this Bar Qualification Manual);
- must be awarded at (or above) the minimum standard; and
- must not considered to be a stale qualification (see Part 2F of this Bar Qualification Manual).
2D: Certificates of academic standing
This section includes information on Certificates of Academic Standing issued by us, including when and how to apply for a Certificate. Overview 1 If you hold a degree from an institution based outside the UK/Republic of Ireland and wish to undertake the GDL for the purpose of qualification as a barrister, you must apply to us for a Certificate of Academic Standing . 2 If you hold a UK/Republic of Ireland postgraduate degree but have not obtained a UK undergraduate degree, you must also apply to us for a Certificate of Academic Standing. If you hold a UK medical, dental or veterinary degree, you should contact the Authorisations Team for further advice. 3 If you do not hold any degree ...
2E: Exemptions from individual foundation subjects
This section includes information on obtaining exemptions from the individual foundations of legal knowledge subjects, including the types of qualifications that will or will not be accepted by us. Overview 1 The rules regarding exemption from any of the individual components of Bar training are set out in the BSB Handbook at Rules Q7-Q12 . 2 You may apply to us for exemption from the individual foundations of legal knowledge subjects which must be passed for completion of the academic component of Bar training (see Part 2A of this Bar Qualification Manual). Application – Certificate of Exemption 3 You may apply to us for exemption on a subject-by-subject basis. If the application is successful, you will be granted either: a ...
2F: Stale academic qualifications
This section includes information on the time limit for progression to the vocational component after completion of the academic component and the process to reactivate qualifications which have become ‘stale’. Overview 1 Students proceeding to the vocational component must be able to rely upon legal knowledge which is reasonably current. For this reason, both law degrees and GDL courses have a time limit after which they are regarded as ‘stale’. 2 You must start the vocational component within five years of completion of the academic component, whether by means of a law degree or GDL. The same time limit applies to any of the foundations of legal knowledge subjects passed individually following the award of a Certificate of Partial Exemption ...
