Bar Council launches Pupillage Gateway and unveils new recruitment brochure

28 February 2013

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today formally launched the new Pupillage Gateway, which goes live at 11:00 on Friday 1 March.

This brand new pupillage recruitment system, which is owned and operated by the Bar Council, will make the pupillage application easier than ever before, both for candidates and providers.

The Pupillage Gateway is robust and has more user-friendly features for applicants, such as a wider range of search criteria, the ability to store data from previous applications and a longer time period in which applicants can prepare their applications. The Gateway will allow candidates to tailor, to a much greater extent, their applications to individual chambers or other Authorised Training Organisations (ATOs).

The Pupillage Gateway has been built specifically to address the requirements of ATOs and applicants, following an evaluation study. It has a bespoke design with improved functionality and it supports the high-volume application process.

The Bar Council, together with the Inns of Court, has also produced a brochure to introduce a career at the Bar entitled ' Your career as a barrister'. The brochure provides detailed information about the necessary steps towards becoming a barrister, how and when these steps need to be taken, and where support can be found along the way.

Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar, said:

"The launch of the Pupillage Gateway reflects a concerted effort to listen to and understand feedback from applicants and providers, and develop a system which suits everyone's needs. We are confident that we have achieved exactly that.

"The Bar Council is committed to a fair, transparent and accessible pupillage application process, to help ensure that the profession is open to all with the talent to succeed. Alongside the publication of 'Your career as a barrister' and a busy programme of outreach events, the Bar Council, the Inns of Court and the entire Bar community is dedicated to informing and encouraging the diverse range of high quality applicants who the Bar consistently attracts."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For further information, please contact the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 or Press@BarCouncil.org.uk.

2. The Pupillage Gateway will be live from 11:00 on Friday 1 March 2013 at www.pupillagegateway.com.

3. The Pupillage Gateway has been built by Jobsgopublic, a leading provider of recruitment solutions in the public and not-for-profit sectors.

4. The Bar Council and the Inns of Court's new recruitment brochure, Your career as a barrister, can be found here.

5. Further information about a career at the Bar is available on the Bar Council website, including videos and profiles of barristers talking about their route to the profession.

6. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:

  • The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services

  • Fair access to justice for all

  • The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and

  • The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.

©2013. The Bar Council