Change to Pupillage Gateway opening date may cause ‘logistical problems’ for chambers

The Bar Council, the disciplinary and regulatory body that also represents the interests of barristers, is to launch a consultation into the effects of bringing the Pupillage Gateway opening date forward.

The consultation follows the council’s announcement earlier this month that the opening of the Pupillage Gateway in 2016 will be moved from April to January, that has received a concerned response from a proportion of its members.

Keen to emphasise that it is a responsive and in-touch body that listens to those whom its decisions effect, a spokesperson for The Bar Council said:

“We are sensitive to the fact that for some chambers, moving the Pupillage Gateway opening to January for 2016 is too soon and that there will be logistical problems for chambers already in the process of recruiting pupils for next year.

Equally, some students have expressed a desire for us to hold off changing the date. Rather than turn a blind eye to what chambers and students are telling us, we are keen to take on board all concerns. It is therefore vital that we consult further on this matter.”

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> Read article: Pupillage Gateway opening brought forward to January in 2016
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However, the concern from members seems to regard the imminence of the change, rather than the change itself. In agreement, The Bar Council conceeded that the change must be "robust rather than rushed". In a defence of its original decision to bring the opening forward, the council released a statement reiterating the reasons for the change which were found following research involving BTPC students, chambers and students:

“We remain eager to help students get a better idea of their chances of securing pupillage before committing time and money to the BPTC. We urge students to apply as early as possible for pupillage to gage whether they have a realistic opportunity of beginning a career at the Bar and before making those costly commitments. Students shouldn’t go into the BPTC blindly.

By applying early, those who might previously have been put off by the financial risk associated with committing to the BPTC without some assurance of a pupillage in future, but who have the talent to pursue a successful career at the Bar, will get a better understanding of their chances before it is too late.”

Another motive for the change is so that applications for pupillage do not clash with the extremely busy exam period. The consultation will be launched in the autumn, so watch this space for updates on the situation!

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