Coulson: Tremendous opportunity
Barrister apprenticeships are set to become a reality after their approval by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).
The new apprenticeship standard sets out the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to become a practising barrister, with the BSB setting and overseeing the requirements that apprentices and training providers must meet.
Barrister apprenticeships have been developed jointly by the BSB, the barrister apprentice ‘trailblazer’ group and IfATE, an arm’s length body of the Department for Education, which has approved and published the standard on its website.
A spokeswoman for IfATE said last year that barrister apprenticeships could be “game changing for opening out the profession to people from more diverse backgrounds”.
Rupika Madhura, director of regulatory standards at the BSB, said the standard was heavily based on the BSB’s professional statement, which sets out the knowledge, skills and attributes expected of all barristers on day one of practice.
“It is very important in the public interest that no matter what route an individual takes to qualification as a barrister, the outcome is the same – a barrister who has received high-quality training to become competent in all the areas set out in the professional statement to at least the threshold standard.”
The trailblazer group of barrister employers that helped design the apprenticeship is made up of Clerksroom, Trinity Chambers, St Philips Chambers, Cornwall Street Barristers and 33 Bedford Row. The public sector is represented by the Crown Prosecution Service, Government Legal Department and Ministry of Justice.
Tim Coulson, chair of the group and chief executive of Cornwall Street Barristers, said apprenticeships could widen access and participation in the profession particularly by those from less advantaged backgrounds.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the creative ways the apprenticeships can be delivered from both the largest nationwide employers to the smallest regional sets.
“Without doubt, it’s a tremendous opportunity for young people to ‘earn and learn’ in the communities they wish to serve and will help the profession to keep law local.”
Ben Bentley, a barrister and partner at national law firm Browne Jacobson, commented: “As a law firm recognised for its commitment to social mobility – and one of the first nationally to offer solicitor apprenticeships – we see this as an invaluable resource for business as well as a great opportunity for trainee barristers to work alongside existing legal apprentices.
“We’re confident this will create a unique cohort of legal professionals with shared experiences and opportunities – and ultimately train the next generation of advocates who will speak up about society’s biggest issues and faithfully represent clients in court”.
The BSB said information about how to apply to be authorised as an apprenticeship provider would be provided in the new year.
We reported recently about lawyers and training providers’ concern at the prospect of the government removing funding for level 7 apprenticeships, like the solicitor and now barrister offerings.
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