Bar Practice Course (BPC)

Program Overview

Bar Practice Course (BPC)

The Bar Practice Course (BPC) is the qualifying postgraduate course allowing graduates to prepare for practice as barristers in England and Wales. It is the vocational stage of training which you’re required to pass before you can go on to complete the final, practical stage of training: pupillage.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

• A Qualifying Law Degree at 2:1 or above
• A postgraduate law conversion course

Locations

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• London Moorgate
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Nottingham

Study Mode Options

• Full-time
• Part-time

Next Start Date

• July 2025

Course Details

We pride ourselves in offering the best legal training, and our Bar Practice Course (BPC) is no exception. It is designed to help you secure pupillage and prepare you for life as a barrister. You'll receive dedicated support from our specialist careers service from the moment you accept your place, giving you the best chance of securing pupillage and acquiring as much varied experience as possible.

What You'll Receive

• Tuition in small classes alongside the brightest students: we require all students to undergo a live selection process* before being offered a place.
• Access to an engaging and innovative online learning environment, plus face-to-face lecturer and peer support when you need it most.
• Taught by qualified lawyers, with lectures and practical workshops to develop your legal skills, so you’ll know what to expect in a real-life work environment.
• Flexible study options to suit you: choose to study with us full-time or part-time at a number of locations across the UK.
• Success in pupillage applications and beyond with our Future Pupil Programme, part of our award-winning Careers and Employability Service, available from the moment you accept your place.
• A choice of three pathways to success with our Bar Practice Course LLM: complete real-life legal work experience via our Pro Bono clinics, write a dissertation or study additional modules and sit the exams after you finish your Bar Practice Course.
• Exclusive access to our Synap learning and revision tool: complete multiple-choice questions to monitor and review your progress.
• All of the course materials you need: hard copies of the White Book (Civil Procedure) and Blackstone’s (Criminal Practice) are included in your course fee.

Course Structure

Knowledge Areas

• Civil litigation, evidence and resolution of disputes out of court
• Criminal litigation, evidence and sentencing

Core Skills

• Advocacy, including examination-in-chief, cross-examination and civil applications
• Conferencing
• Drafting
• Opinion writing
• Professional Ethics
• Legal Research

Mock Trials

We give you as many opportunities as possible to hone your essential advocacy skills and put what you learn into practice:

• Participating in mock trials in real courtrooms with real judges and senior barristers
• Online advocacy skill demonstrations with feedback from practising barristers
• Visits to the High Court, Magistrate’s Court, Crown Court and County Courts

Master of Laws (LLM)

Choose to study this award and you will have the opportunity to add an internationally recognised LLM qualification to your CV and pupillage applications.

You can complete your Master of Laws (LLM) qualification via three routes:

1. Complete real-life work experience via our Pro Bono clinics - you will advise, manage and represent clients on a variety of cases in legal areas. You will also be paired with a Master’s Supervisor, who will guide you through a reflective learning process so that you can complete your reflective assessment and obtain your Master’s Degree.
2. Study additional modules - increase your knowledge of legal practice areas which are of interest to you and can help shape the direction of your career. You will sit the exams once you’ve finished your Bar Practice Course. View the elective module guide.
3. Write a dissertation - immerse yourself in an area of law and become expert in it, allowing you to demonstrate your knowledge in your applications to chambers and beyond.

If you study our Bar Practice Course LLM, you could also be eligible for a SLC Postgraduate Loan.

Fees and Applying

How to Apply

If you’d like to study full-time or part-time you can apply directly with us and must attend a Selection Event*.

Fees and Funding

2024/25 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2024)

• Outside London (excl. Newcastle) - £14,900 (BPC) / £17,450 (BPC LLM)
• Newcastle - £12,300 (BPC) includes a £2,600 Newcastle Postgraduate Award / £12,300 (BPC LLM) includes a £5,150 Newcastle Postgraduate Award*
• Nottingham – £13,900 (BPC & BPC LLM) includes a £1,000 Nottingham Postgraduate Award*
• London - £16,450 (BPC), £19,250 (BPC LLM)

2025/26 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2025)

• Outside London (excl. Newcastle) - £15,635 (BPC) / £18,285 (BPC LLM)
• Newcastle - £13,500 (BPC) includes a £2,000 Newcastle Postgraduate Award / £13,650 (BPC LLM) includes a £4,500 Newcastle Postgraduate Award*
• London - £17,235 (BPC), £20,085 (BPC LLM)

Total fees (including BSB fee of £840)

If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £500 General Alumni Discount.

We also have a range of scholarships and bursaries available which make studying with us more affordable than ever, including our BPC Scholarships, available for BPC students (excluding those in receipt of our Newcastle Postgraduate Award).

Plus, if you choose to study the Bar Practice Course LLM you may be eligible for a postgraduate student loan.

*Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bar Practice Course (BPC) is a postgraduate qualifying course that prepares graduates to practice as barristers in England and Wales. It is the vocational stage of training that must be completed before starting pupillage, the final practical stage of training. The course is taught by experienced academics and utilizes advanced learning technology to equip students with the expertise needed to begin their careers as barristers.

Outline:

The BPC curriculum covers the following knowledge areas:

• Civil litigation, evidence, and resolution of disputes out of court
• Criminal litigation, evidence, and sentencing
The course also focuses on developing core skills:
• Advocacy: Including examination-in-chief, cross-examination, and civil applications
• Conferencing
• Drafting
• Opinion writing
• Professional Ethics
• Legal Research

Mock Trials:

The BPC offers numerous opportunities to practice advocacy skills in real-world settings:

• Mock trials in real courtrooms: With real judges and senior barristers
• Online advocacy skill demonstrations: With feedback from practicing barristers
• Visits to the High Court, Magistrate’s Court, Crown Court, and County Courts

Master of Laws (LLM):

Students can choose to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) qualification alongside the BPC, which can enhance their pupillage applications. The LLM can be completed through three pathways:

• Pro Bono clinics: Gain real-life work experience by advising, managing, and representing clients in various legal areas.
• Additional modules: Increase knowledge in specific legal practice areas of interest.
• Dissertation: Conduct in-depth research in a chosen area of law.

Assessment:

The BPC involves 10 assessments in total, with practice assessments for each module throughout the course. Prizes sponsored by chambers are awarded to the highest-scoring student in each subject.

Teaching:

The BPC is taught in small classes alongside other high-achieving students. Students have access to an online learning environment, face-to-face lecturer and peer support, and lectures and practical workshops led by qualified lawyers.

Careers:

The BPC prepares students for a career as a barrister in England and Wales. The course provides dedicated support from a specialist careers service, including the Future Pupil Programme, to help students secure pupillage and gain relevant experience.

Other:

• The University of Law fully complies with equal opportunities legislation and actively encourages diversity within the legal profession.
• The admissions process is fair and aims to enable students to make the best use of their talents.
• Students are encouraged to disclose any special requirements at the earliest opportunity.
• The University of Law offers a variety of funding options for the BPC.
• The University of Law has students from over 120 different countries across its campuses and provides dedicated support for international students.
• The Home Office has introduced a Graduate Work visa that allows graduates to work flexibly in the UK for two years after completing a UK degree.