Development after pupillage

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is committed to ensuring that the profession continues to offer legal services of the very highest quality and so all practising barristers are required to complete a certain number of hours dedicated to 'continuing professional development' (CPD) every year.

Requirements: 

• 'New Practitioners Programme' - Barristers in their first three years of practice are required to complete 45 hours of CPD.

• 'Established Practitioners Programme' - having completed their first three years of practice, barristers are required to complete 12 hours of CPD per year.

The Bar Standards Board considers that mandatory compliance with a planned programme of CPD is essential if barristers are to maintain and improve their skills.

The BSB provide further details on CPD.

The Advocacy Training Council (ATC)

The Advocacy Training Council (ATC) is the only standing pan-Bar organisation, pursuing and promoting excellence in advocacy by providing advice, support and encouragement to the four Inns of Court, the Circuits and the Specialist Bar Associations.