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Our Education Standards Team sends Pupillage Training Organisations (PTOs) an updated version of documents and regulations relating to pupillage training and relevant to pupillage arrangements every year.
We may still contact chambers and PTOs during the year with any issues that come to light and are of importance. Information will also be sent to you regarding any changes in pupillage regulations that chambers and PTOs must be aware of.
Since 1 November 2006, a set of chambers or any other organisation may only take pupils if it is authorised by the Bar Standards Board as a Pupillage Training Organisation.
Applications must be made in writing on the appropriate and current Application Form, and must be accompanied by any supporting documentation and cheque for the requisite fee made payable to the General Council of the Bar. Please note that applications will only be processed if made using the version of the appropriate Application Form current at the time the application is made.
All applications contain a declaration that the applicant has read, understood and complied with these Criteria and Guidelines.
Applications are considered and determined by the Practising Rules Panel of the Qualifications Committee, which is one of the regulatory committees whose work is overseen by the Bar Standards Board. The Qualifications Committee's powers to approve the applications made to the Practising Rules Panel are set out in Part VII of the BTR.
The Qualifications Committee comprises both barristers and lay members. All applications are dealt with in the first instance by the Practising Rules Panel of the Qualifications Committee, members of which Panel are all members of the full Qualifications Committee. References in these Notes to the Qualifications Committee should be read as including a reference to the Practising Rules Panel unless otherwise expressly stated.
All applications are dealt with on paper only.
An applicant must ensure that all supporting evidence is sent with the Application Form, and any failure to do so may result in delays in dealing with the application, or in cases of refusal to provide such evidence, the Qualifications Committee reserves the right to reject such applications. In every case, the Qualifications Committee has the power to request further information or documentation be supplied in support of an application, but applicants should note that it is the primary responsibility of the applicant to provide all relevant information and supporting evidence rather than the task of the Qualifications Committee to ask for it.
However, applicants should exercise judgement when selecting supporting evidence and ensure that only documentation that is relevant to the criteria set out in this document is supplied. In particular, it is usually not appropriate to supply examples of work. Any applicant who does supply such examples should ensure that documents that refer to third parties (eg clients) are suitably redacted so as to ensure anonymity. Any application that is supported by unredacted material will be returned to the applicant.
The Qualifications Committee will take into account all the circumstances of the particular application and will apply the guidelines set out in these Notes and the general objective of the BTR set out in BTR 3A. The Practising Rules Panel may make a decision on any application or may refer any particular application or part thereof to the full Qualifications Committee for consideration and decision.
All applications will be acknowledged in writing within 10 days of receipt.
The Qualifications Committee Panels normally deals with all applications within 8 weeks of receipt and notifies applicants of its decision within 10 days of a decision. Should it not be possible to deal with an application within this timescale, the applicant will be notified.
The Qualifications Committee will treat all applications and any supporting documentation provided in the strictest confidence.
All enquiries about applications whether proposed or pending should be addressed to the secretary to the Practising Rules Panel.
Any applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Practising Rules Panel may request a review of the decision by the full Qualifications Committee.
Any request for a review must be made on the designated application form and accompanied by the relevant application fee within one month of notification of the relevant decision and must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee. All requests will be acknowledged in writing within 7 days of receipt.
All reviews are dealt with on paper only.
The Qualifications Committee deals with reviews of decisions of the Practising Rules Panel as if the application was being dealt with afresh by the Qualifications Committee, applying the guidelines set out in these Notes. The Qualifications Committee shall be entitled to have such regard to the Practising Rules Panel's decision, and to uphold, vary or take into account such decision, as in its absolute discretion it feels appropriate.
The Qualifications Committee normally deals with all review requests within 10 weeks of receipt and notifies applicants of its determination within 10 days of a decision. Should it not be possible to deal with a review within this timescale, the applicant will be notified.
All enquiries about reviews whether proposed or pending should be addressed to the secretary to the Qualifications Committee (see below).
Where the full Qualifications Committee has determined a review of a decision of the Practising Rules Panel, there is no procedure under the BTR for an appeal to the Qualifications Committee or the Bar Standards Board from such determination. However, the Qualifications Committee may review its own decisions under BTR 99 but is not obliged to carry out such a further review. Any person dissatisfied with a determination of the full Qualifications Committee is advised to take independent legal or other appropriate advice.
BTR 102 provides that where the BTR provide for a review by the BSB of a decision, no appeal may be made to the Visitors to the Inns of Court unless such a review has taken place.
BTR 103 provides that subject to BTR 102, a person or organisation who is adversely affected by a decision of the BSB may appeal to the Visitors of the Inns of Court in accordance with the Hearings before the Visitors Rules.
