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• Pupillage

Pupillage
A new Barrister must spend a minimum of 12 months gaining practical experience "on the job" before obtaining a full practice certificate, after being Called to the Bar. Pupillage is the term for this period of "in house" training for a Barrister. The trainee Barrister is called a Pupil Barrister.

The first 6 months must be spent in a set of Chambers. During this period, the Pupil is not entitled to represent any clients nor take on work themselves.

The final 6 months may be served at the same set, another set or at the employed Bar. At the discretion of the Pupil Supervisor, the Pupil will obtain a provisional practice certificate entitling him or her to take instructions in their own name. At this stage the Pupil is given provisional rights of audience in the higher courts and could take on any case as a Barrister in England and Wales. However, they remain supervised by their Pupil Supervisor.

After successful completion of the final 6 months of Pupillage, the Pupil is awarded a full practice certificate. The Pupil Supervisors are registered at the Bar Council and Pupillage content and standards are monitored by the Bar Council. During their Pupillage, the Pupil has to complete the Bar Council's compulsory training in advocacy and practice management.

The newly qualified Barrister has the task of finding a tenancy - a permanent position as an independent Barrister in a set of chambers - having successfully completed all training.

Post-qualification continuing professional development

There is a program of continuing professional development for both the Bar Council and Law Society.

Qualified Solicitors undertake Continuing Professional Development CPD, after admission. The training can be completed in a number of approved ways such as writing books or articles, formal structured training courses and distance learning.

After completion of Pupillage, those who have obtained a tenancy undertake a program of continued professional development for 3 years at the Bar. This involves training, procedure, advocacy, accounting, professional conduct and case preparation.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC RULES FOR COMPLETING THE COMMON PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION (CPE) ?

1. Students are not permitted to attempt any part of a Common Professional Examination on more than 3 occasions. This does not give a student a right to 3 attempts as the institution has the right to refuse a student admission to a 3rd attempt at the examination. Additionally, the three attempts must be completed within a 3 or 4 years period depending on the mode of study the student is taking - Full-time or part-time or distance learning course.
   
   
2. Students taking CPE by way of a one year full-time course are required to complete the examination in not more than 3 years.
   
   Example : Commencing your studies in September 2001, you must complete the CPE in not later than 1st September, 2004.
   
   
3. Students taking CPE by way of part-time or part-time distance learning course must complete the examination in not more than 4 years.
   
   Example : Commencing your studies in September 2001, you must complete the CPE in not later 1st September 2005.
   
   Note : The CPE Board expects that part-time or part-time distance learning course will be normally completed in 2 consecutive years. Only in exceptional circumstances will a student who has completed his or her first year studies be allowed to defer taking his or her second year studies in the year following completion of the first year examinations. Under no circumstances is a student taking the CPE by way of part-time or part-time distance learning course is permitted to commence the second year of the course without having complete the full diet of first year examinations.
   
   
4. A student is normally not allowed to transfer between institutions. This rule particularly applies where students who have attempted but failed the examination of an institution and seek to re-sit the examination of another institution.