An apprenticeship route was approved as one of the permitted pathways to qualification as a barrister by the Board in 2018. The Authorisation Framework sets out the four permitted pathways to training for the Bar, of which apprenticeships is one.
In December 2024, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) published the Barrister Apprenticeship Standard. IfATE is an Arm’s Length Body of the Department for Education that works with employers to develop and approve apprenticeships. An occupational standard describes the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed. Their aim is to ensure that apprenticeships are of the highest quality.
The Standard for barristers is based on the Professional Statement.
The Barrister Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group (TBG) has led the development of the Barrister Apprenticeship Standard with IfATE. The TBG consists of representatives of potential employers of future barrister apprentices from chambers and the employed Bar, and providers of apprenticeship training such as the vocational Bar training course providers, as well as other stakeholders including the Council of the Inns of Court and the BSB. It is an IfATE requirement that the development process must be led by employers and not by a regulator or representative body.
The next step is for the TBG to meet to discuss what is required to move towards implementation. This includes key decisions such as the timing of joining an Inn and Call to the Bar, and will involve the key stakeholders listed above as well as the Inns, Bar Council and others. In line with our current approach to other areas of Bar training, the BSB will not be prescribing a specific structure for apprenticeships, beyond setting the parameters in the Authorisation Framework and the Curriculum and Assessment Strategy. It will be for prospective providers to propose a structure for training.
Whilst the standard has been approved by IfATE, this means that there are currently no apprenticeships available for individuals to apply for. In order to get to this stage, prospective apprenticeship providers will need to apply to the BSB under the Authorisation Framework to be authorised to deliver an apprenticeship route.
Any organisation that is interested in participating in the discussions regarding implementation should contact the TBG ([email protected]).
