How to Prepare and Succeed on the Bar Course

by Holly Parker, Bar Course Student, ULaw

Before Starting the Bar Course

Small suitcase or Rucksack – You will need either a small suitcase or a rucksack to carry your laptop and books into class. - Amy Taylor, 2020 Bar course graduate from City, University of London, was given a backpack when she collected her first batch of books. 

Contact your provider to see if they provide anything before buying anything new. As a University of Law student, I was not provided with anything to carry the books in, I have however personally found it easiest to use a small suitcase. You will be carrying around the White Book (volume one and/or volume two). Some students prefer to use just a rucksack but with the addition of having to commute into university, I chose to buy a suitcase. I bought a business style suitcase from Argos, and I am hoping to get further use out of it during Pupillage and beyond. 

Stationary – ensure you have the basics before you start the course: pens, pencils, post it notes, index sticky notes and highlighters. Bible highlighters are great for highlighting the white book as the pages are so thin, like tissue paper! I also bought a lever archer folder for each module and I have found those helpful to keep organised between modules. 

Inns of Court and Qualifying Sessions - Before you start the Bar Course you will need to become a member of an Inn of Court: Lincolns Inn, Grays Inn, Inner Temple or Middle Temple. This is something you can do at any time before starting the Bar Course, however, once you become a member of one Inn you cannot change so make sure they are the Inn you want to be with, especially if you are applying for a Bar Course Scholarship. If you receive a scholarship, you must become a member of that Inn in order to accept the scholarship. 

Some chose to wait until after they get a scholarship decision to become a member of an Inn; I personally joined Inner Temple before receiving scholarships results as I was sure I wanted to be with them no matter the outcome.  Once you become a member and have started the Bar Course, you are able to start completing Qualifying Sessions (QSs). You need to complete a certain number of these sessions in order to be Called to the Bar. Zoe Chan, Bar Course graduate, suggests that when picking up tips on the QSs that conflict with those given to you on your course, follow QS tips when it comes to practising as a barrister, but stick to what you are taught on the course during exams.

Disability Support 

Disabled Students Allowance – DSA is not just available for undergraduate but for postgraduate studies as well. If you need more equipment, get your applications in ASAP, the process is generally quite slow so the sooner you start this, the better. Contact your providers for support as they will need to sign your application to confirm you will be studying with them.

Reasonable Adjustments – When I applied at the University of Law there was a section about Disability so once I was accepted onto the course, I was contacted by them to arrange any support I may need for the duration of the course. If your provider has not contacted you, reach out to the disability team and discuss any adjustments you may need. For me, this was sorted months before I even started the course so that was a massive weight off knowing that I had reasonable adjustments in place such as extra time and use of a laptop, ready to sit my assessments throughout the academic year. 

Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) – Engage with BDABar and connect with likeminded bar course students and graduates. You can read other useful blogs to find tips on succeeding in your journey to the Bar, join our mailing list and get involved in schemes weoffer, such as our mini-pupillage scheme. 

During the Course

Relaxed Workspace – Keep your workspace tidy so you feel as relaxed as possible whilst studying. 

Keeping up with changes – Make sure you are checking your timetable regularly as especially during the first few weeks, adjustments are often made to the timetable in terms of time or room. 

Extra-curricular – It is always good to get involved in extra-curricular activities to expand your experience. Bar course students often take part in mooting, mini-pupillage and marshalling and pro-bono opportunities alongside their study. Be warned, the Bar Course is intense so do not sign up to more than you can take on. Take time for yourself too and if this means only focusing on the bar course for that year and not doing anything on the side, then so be it. 

Pupillage – The deadline on Pupillage Gateway is usually around February which is usually a very busy period for bar students. Research chambers when you can so you have a solid plan of where you are going to apply to, which will save time when it comes to writing applications.