Barristers' professional statement key to creating more flexible routes to the Bar, says BSB

More flexible and innovative ways to qualify as a barrister could be enabled by the introduction of a professional statement defining what a newly-qualified barrister should be able to do from “day one”, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said.

The BSB argues that the statement would clearly set out the skills and knowledge required of newly-qualified barristers, thus giving law schools and chambers more freedom over how to deliver the Bar Professional Training Course and pupillage, as long as the statement’s conditions are met.

The professional statement is a central part of the BSB’s Future Bar Training Programme and will focus on four competency areas: technical law, values and standards, practice management and working with others.

Dr Simon Thornton-Wood, the BSB’s director of education and training, said: "The professional statement will tell us what a barrister needs to be able to do from the point at which they are issued a full practising certificate and will provide an invaluable point of reference for anyone designing the training. It will mean providers and trainers can focus more on instilling in students the knowledge and skills required to practise and thrive at the Bar, and less on ensuring the details of their course meet previously prescriptive regulations. Ultimately we hope that greater flexibility will lead to more affordability, too."