Bones: Full review
Nearly six out of 10 Bar students from the UK do not secure a pupillage within five years of enrolling on their training courses, a Bar Standards Board (BSB) report has found.
Professor Christopher Bones, chair of the BSB, said that “given some of the disparities” highlighted in the report, the regulator’s board had decided to launch a full review to consider “the fitness and purpose of the current system”.
The BSB’s 2026 Bar training report [1] said that five years after enrolling on the Bar training course, 41% of UK students obtained pupillages. The proportion for UK and overseas students combined is much lower, at 25%. UK enrolments make up just over 55% of the total.
Prospective barristers have five years following completion of vocational training in which to gain pupillage to ensure their legal knowledge remained current. To commence pupillage or work-based learning after this time limit must either resit or apply for a waiver.
Pupillage rates varied significantly across training providers. The lowest rate for UK students five years after enrolment was 11% for Manchester Metropolitan University, compared to 67% at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA).
The pass rate across all providers was 78%. The lowest was at BPP Bristol, with 63%, and the highest at ULaw Nottingham, with 100%.
The BSB said pass rates differed according to class of degree. Among the 2024/25 student cohort, 92% of those with a first-class degree passed the course, compared to 78% of those with a 2:1 and only 56% of those with a 2:2.
When it came to students with 2:1s, ICCA achieved the best pass rate of 100% and Nottingham Trent University the lowest, with 63%.
There was also a correlation between quality of degree and obtaining pupillage.
The BSB said fees had gone up, but they were lower than before the introduction of the Bar training reforms.
The average tuition fee in 2025/26 was £17,600, up from £16,700 in 2024/25, but well below the average of £21,100 in 2019/20.
The BSB said: “It is crucial that students choose carefully where they study. Given the costs involved, they should also have a realistic view of their chances of passing and gaining pupillage before enrolling on a Bar course.”
Mr Bones commented: “The Bar training course is a significant financial and personal commitment. Finding pupillage after passing the course remains very competitive.
“Students should look at their prospects of passing and obtaining pupillage before making their decisions about pursuing a career at the Bar.”
Mr Bones said the BSB had set up a new education and training committee to oversee standards of Bar training.
“Given some of the disparities highlighted in this report, the board has decided to launch a full review in the coming year to consider the fitness and purpose of the current system.”