BSB examines role of the Inns of Court in the future of Bar training

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has agreed the ways in which the Inns of Court will continue to perform their role in the training and qualification of barristers in England and Wales. Detailed in a policy statement published on 23 March, the regulator has confirmed that the Inns will continue to play a pivotal role in the process.

Among other things, the policy statement explains that the BSB will:

• continue to oversee students intending to become barristers, but with strengthened oversight arrangements between the Inns and the BSB;
• continue to require student membership of an Inn;
• continue to require the Inns to administer the ‘fit and proper person’ test and other checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), before somebody is called to the Bar;
• review the wording of the declaration made when students are called to the Bar and its associated guidance;
• continue to delegate matters of student conduct to the Inns; and
• continue to require a minimum number of “qualifying sessions” to be provided by the Inns.

The BSB is also in the process of considering the future rules and regulatory arrangements for pupillage, as well as seeking views on a new draft framework to enable training providers to develop new and innovative training programmes for aspiring barristers. 

BSB Director of Strategy and Policy Ewen MacLeod said: “The Inns of Court play an important role throughout a barrister’s career and most of the consultation responses that we received reflect a desire for their continued involvement before prospective barristers are called to the Bar and while they are still learning. It was felt by most respondents that both student membership of an Inn and participating in a minimum number of qualifying sessions add real value to barrister training.  These policy decisions will inform the new training regulations and the BSB will now work with the Inns to clarify roles and responsibilities in more detail.”