Resources

Social mobility is a key feature of the Bar Council's student activity. None of our events incur a cost for students and, herever possible, we target events and initiatives at those who would benefit most from an insight into life at the Bar. To find out more, contact [email protected].  

Pre-University Students

• The Bar Placement Scheme pairs high-achieving sixth form students with a barrister mentor, for three days work experience in chambers and court. The Scheme runs twice annually: in February, for approx. 30 students from Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester; and in July for approx. 60 students from Birmingham, Bristol or London. Students also take part in advocacy training delivered by the ICCA, visit the Inns of Court, and observe cases at the highest courts in the country.

• Young Citizens Bar Mock Trial Competition.  The Bar Council is the principal sponsor of the Bar Mock Trials competition. Since 1991, the scheme has enabled 53,000 young people from state schools across the country to compete in mock criminal trials, in real courts. Each year involves 2,500 students from years 10 to 13, 300 barristers and advocates, and 90 judges.

• 'How to Become a Barrister' career days. The Bar Council delivers five career days a year, one in each Circuit. Practising barristers from a range of practice areas attend each event, to deliver talks on the Bar, and run a case-study workshop in small groups. The events are free to attend.

• 'Barristers in Schools'. The Bar Council manages a database of barristers who are willing to volunteer their time to deliver careers talks in schools across England and Wales. 

University, GDL and BPTC Students or Graduates 

• The Pupillage Fair is the only recruitment fair run by the Bar, for the Bar of the future. Over 60 pupillage providers, 700 students and 150 barristers attend each year. The Fair forms a key part of the Bar Council's commitment to fair access and to a meritocratic culture, regardless of background: barristers deliver over 10 panel sessions at each event, to encourage access to - and diversity within - the profession. 

• University Law Fairs. The Bar Council ensures that each year, the Bar is represented at approx. 20 university law fairs across England and Wales. Universities are targeted based on their ability to meet social mobility criteria. 

The Bar Council is grateful to the Council of the Inns of Court and the Inns of Court for supporting much of its student outreach work.

The Inns of Court are valuable sources of support for aspiring barristers. Between them, they offer over £5 million in scholarships a year to aspiring barristers. The Inns also co-fund much of the Bar Council's student outreach work; and the Inns and Bar Council are financial co-sponsors of the Young Citizens Bar Mock Trial Competition.

Each Inn manages a suite of activity for students; key initiatives are summarised below. For more information, visit the website of each Inn.

Gray's Inn 

• Griffin LAW promotes social mobility and access to the Bar. The law and advocacy workshops introduce secondary and sixth form students to the legal profession, build their knowledge of the rule of law and develop their skills in advocacy. Griffin students are identified by their schools as having high aptitude and potential, but insufficient access to opportunity. They take part in a bespoke eight week skills course and/or a two day Griffin Summer School. 

• Vocalise is a student-led prison and primary school debating initiative. Aspiring barristers train as debate mentors each Autumn, and start to deliver training in the following January. mentor-based prison and primary school debating programme. 

The Inner Temple  

• The Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS) was established to improve access to the profession and to support high achieving students from under-represented backgrounds, by providing the experiences they need to be able to thrive at the Bar. The Inner Temple works with 62 partner chambers to secure a mini-pupillgae for each participant, and deliver professional and advocacy skills development programme. Travel and accommodation costs are covered. 

• The Inner Temple Schools Project launched in 2008 to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, are aware of the opportunities available at the modern Bar. The Project is comprised of three strands. The first is an annual seminar for students in years 12 and 13 from all state schools in Greater London who are interested in a legal career. The seminar aims to introduce students to the law in an interesting and interactive way and inform them of the opportunities at the Bar. Schools invited to this seminar are non-selective state schools with a high proportion of students who receive Free School Meals (more than 20%).  The second strand is run in conjunction with Pathways to Law. Students participate in a range of activities including plea in mitigation and case exercises, debating, mock trials, legal research and visits to Chambers. The final strand is a biennial seminar for teachers and careers advisers from state schools in Greater London. 

Lincoln's Inn 

• The Neuberger Prize is awarded to those about to begin their last year of a qualifying law degree in non-Russell Group universities. The Prize aims to identify students who are of proven excellence and give them the opportunity to integrate with the Inn.The Inn will select up to 5 winners and they will be given £1000 and free student membership.

• University Information Afternoons and Dinners -  Lincoln's Inn offers a series of events between February and April each year for university students who are interested in pursuing a career at the Bar.

• Sponsorship and Funding for Bar and Law Societies - Lincoln's Inn accepts applications for sponsorship from student societies. 

The Middle Temple 

• The Access to the Bar Awards involve one week of marshalling and a one week mini-pupillage for students from non-traditional backgrounds - both are fully funded by the Inn. Universities are invited to nominate one candidate each; 12 candidates are shortlisted for interview and eight are awards aremade. 

• The Middle Temple Annual Open Day is open to school students and undergraduates. School groups are also welcomed on an ad hoc basis. 

Many chambers and individual barristers take part in social mobility initiatives run by the Bar Council and the Inns of Court.

In addition, many chambers and Bar-affiliated organisations run schemes designed to support students from non-traditional backgrounds along their journey to the Bar:

• Young Citizens run the Bar Mock Trial Competition , of which the Bar Council is the principal sponsor. Since 1991, over 50,000 state-educated students have competed in mock trials, in real courts, following mentoring from barristers and judges.

• Big Voice London works to empower young people from non-privileged backgrounds. It runs a mooting competition and introduction to the legal system in association with the UK Supreme Court, a Summer School in collaboration with  Landmark Chambers , and the Model Law Commission.

• The Garden Court Access to the Bar for All Scheme  is unique and progressive. Students from minority and disadvantaged groups are offered mentoring for five years and paid internships at Garden Court Chambers. If students go onto study a law degree, they are awarded £7,000 a year to assist with their studies.

• Doughty Street Chambers  works with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, to provide year 10 students in foster care with work experience, and with the Crystal Palace Foundation, to provide year 10 students from Lambeth, Croydon, Bromley and Sutton with the same.

• The Kalisher Trust  was established by the criminal Bar more than 20 years ago. It helps, encourages and inspires young people to achieve their potential through the development of positive advocacy skills; and supports those who aspire to become criminal barristers. It seeks young people of exceptional talent and modest means, no matter what their social or ethnic background. Support includes but is not limited to:

  • The Trust’s education teams work with primary & secondary schools, teaching and mentoring teenagers as they make the leap from school to university and beyond.
  • For emerging barristers, the Trust offers University scholarships at Masters level, and internships at some of the legal world’s most prestigious organisations; the opportunity to become the Kalisher / Old Bailey Apprentice, and an essay prize.
  • For emerging and young barristers we offer an intensive advocacy course which pushes and polishes to world class standards.

• The Radcliffe Chambers Student Law Camp  provides sixth-form students from under-represented groups with a series of workshops and an introduction to the aspects of legal practice.

• Urban Lawyers  was founded by Tunde Okewale MBE, an 'I am the Bar' Social Mobility Advocate. It makes the law more accessible to marginalised groups, through resources, events, scholarships and more.

• The Guru Nanak Social Mobility Scholarships   are funded by Mukhtiar Singh, another 'I am the Bar' Social Mobility Advocate, in association with the Sikh Education Council.

• Matrix runs a work experience programme, with priority placements reserved for those from groups that are typically underrepresented at the Bar. Matrix also runs a follow-up mentoring programme known as Future Lawyers for students on those priority work experience placements, designed to facilitate access to the profession.

• Serjeants' Inn offer financial assistance and reimbursement of expenses for mini-pupillages, where its absence would prevent a significant barrier to accepting the offer.

• 1 Crown Office Row offer an assessed mini-pupillage scheme, set up by Sarabjit Singh KC, another 'I Am The Bar' Social Mobility Advocate. It is targeted at socio-economically disadvantaged applicants and guarantees a first-round interview for pupillage to those applicants who performed well in their assessments.

• New Square Chambers offer a social mobility mini-pupillage programme. Each year, they offer up to 10 assessed mini-pupillage places to candidates from socially mobile backgrounds.  All students who perform well during the assessed mini-pupillage will be guaranteed a first-round interview for pupillage.

• Midland Circuit offer a funded social mobility mini-pupillage scheme. They offer up to 5 mini-pupillage places across the Circuit to candidates from non-traditional backgrounds.