Bar Course

In a demanding and rapidly changing legal landscape, the highest quality training is required to succeed as a barrister.

Northumbria University’s Bar Course Postgraduate Diploma will support you in acquiring the necessary knowledge and practical skills crucial to practice at the modern Bar.

The new Bar Courses will be available from September 2020 and will replace the existing Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). Teaching on Northumbria’s Bar Course will be led by a team of highly experienced barristers and supported by a well-established network of members of the Bar, Judges and other relevant practitioners.

You will study:

• Civil Litigation (incorporating evidence and alternative dispute resolution)
• Criminal Litigation (incorporating evidence and sentencing)
• Advocacy
• Conferencing
• Drafting
• Opinion Writing
• Professional Ethics
• Legal Research

You will develop the knowledge and skills to practice in a broad range of briefs focused on foundational areas of pupillage and early practice. From the outset you will be taught to think and behave like a barrister. You will be instructed in cases conducted as in practice – incorporating conferences, advocacy, drafting and opinion writing alongside both the knowledge you have developed and a sound understanding of your professional ethical obligations. This invaluable, practical experience will equip you to be immediately effective in pupillage.

You will benefit from generous contact hours throughout the course – including dedicated exam-focused teaching sessions - in which the teaching team will share their expertise to support you in preparing for the Bar Standards Board (BSB) centralised assessments. Alongside practice-focused teaching, students will also benefit from a year-long series of workshops designed to support knowledge, understanding and exam techniques and preparation for these assessments. You may also gain, at no further cost, an additional qualification in Mediation.

Northumbria delivers opportunities to develop distinctive and unique knowledge and skills with opportunities to undertake:

• Vulnerable witness training
• Practitioner advocacy masterclasses
• Teaching in respect of forensic science and forensic statistics
• Participation in international mooting competitions
• A mentoring scheme delivered in conjunction with the Bar

Together these opportunities will allow you to distinguish yourself in a competitive environment and ultimately thrive in this prestigious profession.

On successful completion of the Bar Course you will be eligible for Call to the Bar of England and Wales (subject to meeting the qualifying requirements of your Inn of Court)

All fees are inclusive of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) fee, practitioner texts required for study, external Mediation training & the Northumbria Qualifying Dinner.

Our flexible suite of Bar Courses offer you the opportunity to learn in the way that suits you best, with part-time, LLM and separate Bar Knowledge and Bar Skills options available.