Fazlur Rahman
Quick Answer
Bar Training (formerly the BPTC / Bar Professional Training Course) is the vocational training stage required to be called to the Bar of England and Wales as a barrister. The 2026 course is 1 year full-time (or 2 years part-time), costing GBP 15,000-20,000 in tuition, delivered at one of the four Inns of Court (Lincoln's, Gray's, Inner, Middle) and eight approved providers. Graduates are called to the Bar and enter pupillage (12 months) before full practice (Bar Council, September 2026). Last verified: 12 September 2026.
What Bar Training covers and how it differs from the solicitor route
Bar Training replaced the BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) in 2020. The vocational stage prepares graduates for the specialist advocacy and advisory work of the barrister profession. Unlike the solicitor route (which is increasingly dominated by the SQE), Bar Training is a separate, more advocacy-focused course with higher written and oral assessment standards (Bar Council, September 2026). What Bar Training covers: civil litigation, criminal litigation, and alternative dispute resolution (30% of assessment); advocacy (oral and written) (20%); drafting (20%); opinion writing, legal research, and conference skills (20%); and professional ethics and the cab-rank rule (10%). Successful completion leads to being "called to the Bar" by one of the four Inns of Court (Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple). After call, graduates enter a 12-month pupillage split into two 6-month "sixes" at a barristers' chambers before being authorised to practise as a self-employed barrister (Bar Council, September 2026).
Bar Training providers (2026)
| Provider | Inn of Court | Cost (GBP) | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| City, University of London | All four Inns | £15,500-£18,000 | 1 year FT / 2 years PT |
| University of Law | All four Inns | £16,000-£19,500 | 1 year FT / 2 years PT |
| BPP University Law School | All four Inns | £16,000-£19,000 | 1 year FT / 2 years PT |
| Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) | All four Inns | £15,000-£18,000 | 1 year FT |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | Gray's Inn preferred | £14,500-£16,500 | 1 year FT |
| Nottingham Law School (NTU) | Inner Temple preferred | £14,500-£16,500 | 1 year FT |
| Cardiff University | Gray's Inn preferred | £15,000-£17,000 | 1 year FT |
| UCL (Faculty of Laws) | Inner Temple preferred | £17,000-£20,000 | 1 year FT |
All eight providers are approved by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The course is academically rigorous, with significant oral assessment (advocacy examinations) in addition to traditional essays and written exams. Most providers require an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree as a minimum, with a first preferred at the more selective providers (Bar Council, September 2026).
The 12-month pupillage stage
| Pupillage stage | Length | Compensation (2026) | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| First six (non-practising) | 6 months | GBP 18,000-£30,000 (chambers-funded) | Shadow a junior barrister; observe hearings; draft notes and case summaries; do legal research |
| Second six (practising) | 6 months | GBP 30,000-£85,000 (earnings-based) | Take on your own cases under supervision; court appearances; client conferences |
| Third six (optional) | 6 months | Variable | Specialise in a particular area; build practice; apply for tenancy |
| Tenancy at chambers | Ongoing | Variable (often self-employed) | Full barrister practice; retain a share of chambers; build your own client base |
Pupillage is the bottleneck. Approximately 70-75% of Bar Training graduates secure a pupillage within 12 months of completion; the figure is higher (90%+) at the most competitive commercial chambers (Brick Court, One Essex Court, Matrix) and lower (~50%) in less commercial practice areas (Bar Council, September 2026).
Inns of Court membership and dining requirements
Every barrister must be a member of one of the four Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn (largest, 16,000+ members, traditionally more government and public-sector barristers), Gray's Inn (11,000+ members, strong in family and criminal law), Inner Temple (13,000+ members, strong in commercial and chancery practice), and Middle Temple (12,000+ members, broad practice mix). Members must complete 12 qualifying dinners (formal dinners at the Inn) over the duration of their Bar Training plus pupillage (typically 18-24 months total). Each dinner costs GBP 50-100. Inns also provide scholarships, mentoring, and library access. Inn membership fees: call year GBP 350-450; practising year GBP 600-1,200 (depending on the Inn) (Bar Council, September 2026).
Career outcomes and earnings (2026)
| Career stage | Average earnings (GBP) | Top-quartile |
|---|---|---|
| Pupil (first six) | £24,000 | £30,000 (commercial chambers) |
| Pupil (second six) | £45,000 | £85,000+ (commercial) |
| Junior tenant (years 1-3) | £70,000 | £150,000+ (commercial) |
| Junior tenant (years 4-7) | £120,000 | £300,000+ (commercial) |
| Senior junior / silk candidate | £250,000 | £1M+ (commercial) |
| Queen's Counsel (silk) | £500,000+ | £3M+ (top commercial silks) |
Earnings vary dramatically by practice area. Commercial barristers (commercial law, commercial chancery, commercial litigation) earn multiples more than publicly funded barristers (criminal legal aid, family law). Average earnings for publicly funded barristers are 40-60% below commercial (Bar Council, September 2026).
Worked example: City commercial pupillage pathway
Emma graduates with a first-class law degree from Oxford in 2026. Her pathway: (1) join Inner Temple (GBP 200 student member fee) and complete 12 qualifying dinners over 18 months; (2) City University Bar Training (1 year FT, GBP 17,500) and called to the Bar in July 2027; (3) apply to 15-20 commercial chambers for pupillage (Oct 2026 applications, Jan-Mar 2027 interviews, offers Apr-May 2027); (4) secure pupillage at a top commercial set (e.g., One Essex Court, Brick Court) starting October 2027; (5) first six: shadow senior juniors in commercial litigation; second six: take on own cases; (6) apply for tenancy at the end of pupillage (Dec 2028); first-year earnings as junior tenant ~GBP 90,000. Total cost: ~GBP 18,000 (Bar Training) + GBP 1,000 (Inn membership and dinners). Time to practice: 2 years from Bar Training start (Bar Council, September 2026).
Next steps
For the solicitor qualification pathway (which is shorter and more common), see our UK solicitor apprenticeship guide. For other UK regulated professional exams, see our UK QTS skills test guide.
