The Bar Practice Course (BPC) Explained

If you are planning to become a barrister in England and Wales, the Bar Practice Course (BPC) is your gateway. It is the postgraduate vocational qualification that sits between your law degree and pupillage (apprenticeship). This guide walks you through what it is, who runs it, what you will study, and what happens next.

The short version

The BPC is a one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) postgraduate course that teaches you the practical skills of being a barrister: advocacy, drafting, conferencing, and legal writing. You will also study criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and professional ethics. After you pass, you sit the vocational assessments, get Called to the Bar by your Inn of Court, and then hunt for pupillage. It is demanding; fees are around £14,000 to £20,000, and the Bar Standards Board recognises around seven major providers across the UK.

At a glance

What the BPC is

The BPC (Bar Practice Course) is the vocational stage of barrister training in England and Wales. It comes after your academic legal education (a law degree or conversion course) and before you're Called to the Bar and hunt for pupillage.

Its purpose is simple: to teach you the practical skills of advocacy, legal writing, and client interaction that you cannot fully learn in a lecture hall. Every barrister (whether you go into commercial law, crime, family, or personal injury) will need to draft pleadings, write legal opinions, cross-examine witnesses, and confer with solicitors and clients. The BPC trains you to do all of that under supervision, with feedback from practising barristers.

You are expected to arrive with solid legal knowledge (which your law degree gives you). The BPC builds on that. It is vocational, not academic. The focus is on what you do on the job, not the theory behind it.

From BPTC to BPC: the 2020 reform

Until 2020, the course was called the Bar Practice and Training Course (BPTC). The Bar Standards Board reformed the qualification to align it with the new vocational training route. The key changes were:

• Clearer module structure: Eight core modules covering skills and knowledge areas.
• More focus on practice: More recordings, submissions, and scenario-based learning. Less pure examination.
• Flexibility: Providers were able to innovate in how they taught, as long as they hit the learning outcomes.
• Call to the Bar is separate: You used to be Called automatically after passing BPTC. Now you pass the BPC, meet all requirements, then apply to be Called. (This gives you a breather between passing the course and the formal Call.)

Functionally, the BPC and old BPTC teach much the same skills. The reform focused on quality control and flexibility more than on a radical overhaul.

Length

Full-time: 1 year. Most people do this. It is intensive: usually four days a week in class or seminar, plus self-study. You will attend advocacy workshops, join mock trial simulations, and produce written submissions outside of timetabled hours. A full-time year typically runs September to June.

Part-time: 2 years. This is offered by most providers. It is useful if you are working as a paralegal, in a law firm, or juggling other commitments. You typically attend two days a week or take classes in the evening. The same modules and assessments apply; the pace is slower.

Providers

The Bar Standards Board has approved around seven providers to deliver the BPC. The major ones are:

• City Law School (London). Part of City, University of London. Strong reputation, large cohort, range of electives.
• ULaw (multiple campuses: London, Birmingham, Manchester). Commercial training provider. Large intake, high student numbers.
• BPP University (London). Part of BPP Group. Established and well-resourced.
• Northumbria University (Newcastle). Good for students in the North East.
• Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester). Another regional option.
• Kaplan Law School (London, and distance learning options). Competitive fees.
• University of Nottingham (Nottingham). Smaller, more selective provider.

All approved providers meet the same Bar Standards Board standards. Choice often comes down to location, fees, electives offered, and student feedback on the quality of advocacy training (this is a common variable).

Modules: civil litigation

Civil litigation teaches you how to conduct a case through the courts from claim to trial. You'll study the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), how to draft statements of case, respond to claims, manage disclosure, prepare for trial, and conduct evidence at trial. You'll apply these skills in a scenario-based civil case, producing real documents and recordings of your performance. Assessment is usually a combination of coursework (written submissions) and recorded oral performance.

Modules: criminal litigation

Criminal litigation covers the same practical journey, but for criminal cases. You'll study the Criminal Procedure Rules, bail, disclosure, plea and case management, sentencing, and trial procedure. The scenario usually involves preparing a defence or prosecution case, drafting documents, and participating in recorded conferences and hearings. You'll learn the differences between magistrates' and Crown courts, and how to handle serious crime (indictable) versus summary cases.

Modules: advocacy

Advocacy is the heart of barrister practice. This module teaches you to represent clients in court or tribunal. You'll learn cross-examination technique, examination-in-chief, how to open and close a case, how to deal with judicial interventions, and how to handle evidence. Much of this is learned through live simulations and video feedback. You'll be recorded cross-examining mock witnesses, opening a case to a mock judge, and responding to judicial questioning. A practising barrister will watch your recording and give you detailed feedback on your body language, questioning technique, and legal argument. Over the course of the year, you'll take part in a dozen or more advocacy exercises. Some providers also use tribunal scenarios and small claims court to vary the experience.

Modules: drafting

Drafting teaches you to write the legal documents that barristers produce in practice. This includes pleadings (claims, defences, replies), applications and supporting evidence, and formal letters. You will learn the court rules that govern the format and length of these documents, how to plead facts in compelling and persuasive language, how to structure complex claims, and how to respond to draft documents from opposing counsel. Assessment is usually pass/fail on submitted drafts, with detailed feedback. Some providers grade drafting exercises; most just mark them as satisfactory or needing revision. By the end of the module, you will have produced 15 to 20 complete drafts.

Modules: opinion writing

Opinion writing (or "writing opinions on counsel") is a core barrister skill. You will be asked to read a brief set of facts and give a written view on the law, merits of a claim, or tactics. This is not a court document; it is advice to a solicitor or client. You will learn to structure opinions with precision, apply law to facts concisely, and flag risks and costs. Assessment is usually on three or four written opinions you produce during the course. Feedback focuses on precision, legal accuracy, and commercial sense (that is, understanding that the law costs money and has practical constraints).

Modules: conferencing

Conferencing is the one-on-one skill of talking to clients and solicitors. You'll learn to explain complex law in plain language, listen to the client's priorities, and manage difficult conversations (e.g. telling a client their case is weak, or that the hearing date has moved). This is often taught through role-play. You'll be filmed conferencing with an actor playing a client, and a barrister will give you feedback on your listening, communication, and professionalism. Most barristers say this is the skill they wish they'd had more practice in during training.

Modules: ethics

Professional ethics covers the Bar Standards Board's Handbook (the rulebook for barristers) and how to apply it in real scenarios. You will study independence (a core principle), conflicts of interest, confidentiality, discrimination, money laundering, and how to handle complaints. Assessment is usually an open-book exam or multiple-choice test. This module is less popular than advocacy, but it is fundamental: ethics breaches can end careers.

Modules: evidence

Evidence teaches the law of evidence that applies to court hearings. You'll cover hearsay, opinion evidence, privilege, bad character, how to cross-examine on evidence, and how to use evidence law tactically. This is partly legal doctrine (what does the law say) and partly practical (how do you object in court, what's admissible, how do you handle a witness who goes off-script). Assessment is usually a combination of essays and practical scenarios in advocacy sessions where evidence rules apply.

Fees

BPC fees typically range from £14,000 to £20,000, depending on the provider and on full-time or part-time mode (part-time is sometimes fractionally more because you use the provider's facilities for longer). Some providers offer discounts for early payment or for students in their network. Part-time students sometimes pay slightly more because the course runs for two years instead of one, but some providers charge the same total fee split across two years.

Fees do not include living expenses, accommodation, travel, or books. A full-time year in London will cost you significantly more than fees alone. Budget a minimum of £5,000 to £10,000 additional for living costs (more if you're not already London-based).

Some providers offer payment plans to spread the cost over the course. Few offer the ability to pay termly; most ask for fees upfront or as a two-stage payment.

Scholarships from Inns of Court

The four Inns of Court (Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Gray's Inn) offer scholarships and awards to BPC students. These are not automatic; you have to apply and be selected. Awards typically range from £500 to £5,000, depending on the Inn and the year.

You must be a member of one of the four Inns (you join during or before your BPC; joining is a formal but simple process). The Inns offer scholarships on the basis of academic merit, financial need, or "suitable character and outlook for the Bar" (a vague but sometimes applied criterion).

Law firms and the Legal Education Foundation also sometimes offer scholarships, particularly to students from underrepresented backgrounds or to graduates who have worked in the firm during university.

Scholarships are not enough to cover the full course, but they do help with fees or living costs. Competition is stiff, and not all students get an award.

What comes after the BPC

Once you pass the BPC (or rather, once you have completed all the coursework, assessments, and recorded submissions and they have been marked), you:

1. Request your Call to the Bar from your Inn of Court. This is a formal ceremony where you are called to the Bar (historically, you are literally called to the bar of the courtroom). The moment you are authorised to practise as a barrister. There is a fee (currently around £200 to £500) and you will attend a ceremony or virtual call. This happens shortly after you pass the course.

2. Start your pupillage applications. Pupillage is a one-year (sometimes two-year) apprenticeship with a practising barrister. You need to find a pupil supervisor who will take you on. This is competitive. Most people apply to 20 to 100 chambers (law firms) over the course of the year. Interviews are in the autumn (July to September). Pupillage usually starts in September the following year.

3. If you don't get pupillage immediately, you may pursue other paths: work as a barrister's clerk, a legal researcher, a paralegal, or a pupil supervisor's assistant. Some people take a year out and reapply. The Bar does not have a formal "how long can you look for pupillage" rule, but most people expect to find something within 12 to 18 months of Call.

4. Once you are in pupillage, you are on the path to being a fully qualified barrister. Pupillage is largely unpaid (or poorly paid at the start) in the early weeks; by the second six months, you are usually earning a small wage. At the end of pupillage, your supervisor will ideally invite you to tenancy (a permanent position in their chambers). If not, you look for a tenancy elsewhere, or you leave the Bar.

BPC pass rates and difficulty

Most providers report pass rates around 85% to 90%. This means roughly 10 to 15% of students are referred (asked to do more work and resubmit) or do not pass and have to retake the course.

Referrals usually happen for poor advocacy performance, weak drafting, or ethics concerns (plagarism is taken seriously). If you are referred, you will typically be asked to resubmit coursework or repeat an advocacy exercise within a few months.

The BPC is not as academically rigorous as a law degree (there are no essays requiring you to engage with complex legal theory). It is more practically demanding, however. If you lack attention to detail, you will struggle with drafting. If you are anxious about speaking in public, advocacy will be challenging (though many people find it improves dramatically with practice). If you are careless with ethics, you will be referred.

Most providers are lenient on a first pass of a module. You have room to improve. But the attitude from providers and the Bar Standards Board is: if you can't demonstrate basic competence in advocacy, drafting, and ethics during training, you shouldn't be a barrister.

Day to day: a typical week

A typical full-time BPC week looks like this:

Monday: Two hours of criminal litigation seminar. You review the facts of your ongoing criminal scenario, discuss a recent procedural case, and draft a response to the Crown's latest application. Homework: finish the draft by Wednesday.

Tuesday: Advocacy workshop (three hours). You are split into groups of five. Each person does a 15-minute cross-examination of a mock witness on a pre-set scenario. A practising barrister runs the workshop, and you are filmed. After the workshop, you watch your recording and make notes on what to improve. This can be uncomfortable (seeing yourself on video is rarely enjoyable), but it is the core of your training.

Wednesday: Evidence lecture and civil litigation seminar combined (two hours). You cover a new section of the Civil Procedure Rules and apply it to your civil scenario. You submit your draft from Monday for feedback.

Thursday: Conferencing role-play (two hours). You confer with an actor playing a client. You're filmed. This is lower-stakes than advocacy, but feedback is always useful.

Friday: Self-study or electives. Many providers have optional sessions on topics like commercial arbitration, employment law, or public law. You may also be working on essay assignments (ethics, evidence) that are due later in the week.

Outside of timetabled hours, you're producing drafts (10 to 15 per module), watching recordings of yourself, reading case law, and preparing for your next advocacy workshop. Most students work 35 to 45 hours a week during the BPC, including study time.

Common misconceptions

"If I pass the BPC, I'm a qualified barrister." No. You're called to the Bar, which authorises you to practise as a barrister, but you're not yet fully qualified. You need to complete pupillage (one year) to be a qualified barrister.

"I can do the BPC part-time while working full-time as a lawyer." Technically yes, but it is demanding. The BPC is taxing, especially advocacy, which requires live attendance and is difficult to pursue in the evening. Most people who do the BPC part-time have deliberately chosen lighter roles (e.g. legal research, paralegal work) so they have mental space for the course.

"The BPC is harder than the law degree." Not harder in terms of intellectual content, but more demanding in terms of practical performance. You will be judged on how you argue, not what you know. This can feel more intimidating because it is so visible.

"After the BPC, I am guaranteed to find pupillage." No. Pupillage is competitive. You will compete with your cohort and many others for limited positions. Some providers have better placement records than others, but even the best providers do not guarantee pupillage.

"The BPC teaches you everything you need to know as a barrister." No. The BPC is an introduction. Your actual learning happens in pupillage, when you are in court for real, with real clients and real stakes. The BPC gives you the foundations.

Related concepts

• Pupillage: The one-year apprenticeship after the BPC where you learn on the job. Most people do two six-month pupils (with two different supervisors or the same one for both six months).
• BPTC: The predecessor to the BPC, phased out in 2020. Functionally the same, but slightly different modules and structure.
• Law degree: The academic qualification before the BPC. Required before you apply to the BPC.
• Law conversion course: For non-law graduates. A one-year course that gives you the legal knowledge needed before the BPC.
• Vocational stage: The BPC is the vocational stage of barrister training. The law degree is the academic stage.
• Call to the Bar: The formal ceremony where you're authorised to practise as a barrister. Happens after you pass the BPC.
• Tenancy: A permanent position in a barristers' chambers (the barrister equivalent of partnership in a law firm). Usually offered after pupillage.
• Bar Standards Board: The regulator of barristers in England and Wales. They set the rules for the BPC and all barrister conduct.
• Inns of Court: The four ancient professional associations (Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Gray's Inn) that barristers must join. They offer scholarships and networking events.
• Pupil supervisor: The barrister who trains you during pupillage. Usually experienced and responsible for teaching you the job.

Sources

• Bar Standards Board, 2024. Bar Practice Course: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
• Bar Council, 2024. Becoming a barrister: https://www.barcouncil.org.uk
• UK Government, 2024. Legal professions and courts: https://www.gov.uk

Disclaimer: This page provides information about the UK Bar Practice Course. It is not legal or career advice. Rules, fees, and processes change; always check the Bar Standards Board website and your chosen provider's current information before applying.

Written by Peter Kolomiets, founder of CaseCalm. UK legal education content reviewed 2026-05-28.