You will learn how to advise and represent a range of clients and prepare for the demands of a career at the Bar through this rigorous course, which is designed to reflect the work of the modern Bar.
You will develop skills and gain knowledge through interaction with professionals and peers. As lawyers and educators, our staff ensure you receive a high quality of education and personal support.
Our impressive record of helping students to secure pupillage is supported by an award-winning Pupillage Advice Service.
Accreditation
The Vocational Component is accredited by the Bar Standards Board. The BSB sets out the education and training requirements for becoming a barrister, which means once you graduate, and provided you complete the Inns qualifying sessions, you are qualified for Call to the Bar.
Awards
You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.
Master of Laws
(LLM)
Postgraduate Diploma
(PGDip)
Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism
(PGDip with Specialism)
Who is this course for?
If you want to complete your vocational stage of training for the Bar of England and Wales, this course is ideal.
Once you have completed the vocational stage you can develop your CV by studying a specialism and going on to complete an LLM.
This course is the best option if you prefer a regular class structure with face-to-face learning, supported by a virtual learning environment to enhance not replace in class teaching.
Prepare for Call to the Bar of England and Wales by studying our Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme. Study the core components required for Call to the Bar with the option of adding an area of specialism and progressing to complete an LLM.
This programme has several routes, with different exit points depending on the route chosen.
Bar Vocational Studies PGDip
If you choose this route, you will be required to study the 10 core modules set by the Bar Standards Board.
These form the vocational components of training for the Bar for which you will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Vocational Studies.
This is the compulsory vocational qualification required to be eligible for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.
Bar Vocational Studies PGDip with Specialism
This is the compulsory vocational component plus a Specialist Practice Component
You choose two elective modules from a Specialist Practice area of your choice.
Successfully complete the Specialist Practice Component, and you will be awarded a PGDip in Bar Vocational Studies with the relevant specialist area of practice you selected named in the award.
This award includes the qualification for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.
If you choose this route, you will study elective modules from a Specialist Practice area of your choice.
If you choose to complete the LLM or PG Dip (with specialism) you will need to complete two additional electives that are drawn from the below specialist areas of practice. Please note that some specialisms/electives may be subject to change depending on student numbers, tutor availability, or course updates. This may affect the overall number of modules
Where there are a number of electives within a specialism, you select two electives. Please also note that you may only undertake one clinical module, indicated with an * in the list.
LLM Bar Vocational Studies
In addition to the Vocational Component and the Specialist Practice Component, you can choose to complete either:
a practice-focussed dissertation
a clinical legal project with a real client (only available to full-time students).
Completion of the dissertation or clinical legal project in addition to the vocational and specialist practice components, allows you to achieve a master’s degree. This entitles you to the award of LLM in Bar Vocational Studies (with specialism).
This award includes the qualification for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.
This module aims to prepare you for the practice of advocacy as a barrister. You will gain the skills necessary to present evidence given by witnesses in a court or other tribunal. The module culminates in a full criminal trial.
This module will prepare you for the practice of advocacy as a barrister. You will gain comprehensive knowledge of the techniques used by advocates when conducting examination-in-chief of witnesses in courts or other tribunals. The module culminates in a full criminal trial.
This module will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of techniques used by advocates in courts and tribunals when making submissions supported by skeleton arguments. You will develop a conceptual understanding of the role and techniques of an advocate.
In this module, you will learn the principles of Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution and develop your ability to apply them in practice. You will also develop a conceptual understanding of the overall framework for the conduct of civil cases.
The module provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the role of a conference in a case and of the techniques which are commonly used in conducting a conference. Issues surrounding sensitivity towards client care and professional ethics will be explored
In this module you will learn the principles of Criminal Litigation, Evidence and Sentencing and develop your ability to apply them. You will also develop an understanding of the overall framework for the conduct of criminal cases.
This module will provide you with an understanding of the nature, function and value of statements of case, and the skills to draft a full range of statements of case and other documents in civil proceedings.
In this module you will learn the regulatory requirements prescribed by the BSB, including the Code of Conduct for the Bar of England and Wales. You will develop an understanding of the importance of ethical conduct in every aspect of your work.
This module will provide you with the skills needed to write concise and well- structured opinions in a variety of practice areas. You will receive guidance on how to adopt a professional practical approach to the needs and objectives of your clients.
This module will provide you with key legal research skills, which underpin everything that a lawyer does, from preparing an oral submission, examination or cross-examination of a witness, advising orally or in writing, or drafting a statement of case.
Elective module
This module aims to further the advocacy skills you developed in the core modules in the Vocational Component in the context of advanced criminal practice. The module will also further your knowledge of substantive law and criminal procedure.
Elective module
This module aims to further the advocacy skills you developed in the core modules in the Compulsory Component in the content of advanced civil practice. The module will also further your knowledge of substantive law and civil procedure.
Elective module
This module focuses on the implications of the breakdown of family relationships, especially the effect on spouses and children, and including the role of local authorities in relation to the care of children.
Elective module
This module provides an opportunity for you to undertake work with real clients, including full representation where appropriate, bringing together all the different skills you have developed on the compulsory modules on the Vocational Component of this programme.
*Only available to full-time students.
Elective module
This module provides the opportunity for you to put your written and oral advocacy skills into practice by conducting a minimum of two cases before the First-Tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber). For the purposes of this module, you will be assessed against your performance in social security appeal hearings.
*Only available to full-time students.
Elective module
This module builds on what you will have learned earlier when studying Criminal Litigation, Sentencing and Evidence, and Advocacy. You will undertake realistic exercises of Instructions and Briefs to Counsel, which are those likely to be encountered in the early years of practice.
Elective module
This module will deal with both criminal and civil law as regards fraud and economic crimes. You will learn about the Fraud Act 2006 and other fraud-based offences, money laundering, bribery and corruption, and white collar criminal investigations.
Elective module
This module aims to further the advocacy skills you developed in the core modules in the Vocational Component in the context of advanced criminal practice. The module will also further your knowledge of substantive law and criminal procedure.
Elective module
This module will deal with both criminal and civil law as regards fraud and economic crimes. You will learn about the Fraud Act 2006 and other fraud-based offences, money laundering, bribery and corruption, and white collar criminal investigations.
Elective module
This module focuses on areas commonly encountered by junior practitioners in commercial, corporate and chancery practice. This will include the nature, type and structure of private and public companies, incorporation, limited liability, share allotments, and management of companies.
Elective module
This module will give you thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles in the use of ADR options to deal with disputes where parties are based in multiple jurisdictions. You will focus on the processes of mediation and negotiation in an international context.
Elective module
This module focuses on the law relating to commercial sales of goods and the international carriage of goods by sea. You will learn about different types of international sales contracts and rights and obligations of parties under these contracts.
Elective module
This module will give you thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and concepts in international commercial arbitration. The module will cover arbitration from a broad comparative international perspective as well as focussing on the arbitration in England and Wales.
Elective module
This module will explore individual employment rights, contracts of employment, unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination and equal pay. The module will be helpful to anyone who wants to join common law or commercial law chambers.
Elective module
This module focuses on the implications of the breakdown of family relationships, especially the effect on spouses and children, and including the role of local authorities in relation to the care of children.
Elective module
This module, spanning civil, commercial and criminal law, will give you the skills needed to advise and act in the sort of Judicial Review proceedings you will encounter in the early years of practice.
Elective module
This module aims to further the advocacy skills you developed in the core modules in the Compulsory Component in the content of advanced civil practice. The module will also further your knowledge of substantive law and civil procedure.
Elective module
This module, spanning civil, commercial and criminal law, will give you the skills needed to advise and act in the sort of Judicial Review proceedings you will encounter in the early years of practice.
Elective module
This module will explore individual employment rights, contracts of employment, unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination and equal pay. The module will be helpful to anyone who wants to join common law or commercial law chambers.
Elective module
This module provides an opportunity for you to undertake work with real clients, including full representation where appropriate, bringing together all the different skills you have developed on the compulsory modules on the Vocational Component of this programme.
*Only available to full-time students.
Elective module
This module provides the opportunity for you to put your written and oral advocacy skills into practice by conducting a minimum of two cases before the First-Tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber). For the purposes of this module, you will be assessed against your performance in social security appeal hearings.
*Only available to full-time students.
This dissertation module requires you to submit a dissertation, focussing on legal professional practice in England and Wales of 7,500 - 10,000 words.
This module provides an opportunity to do real clinical work and the option of completing a reflective portfolio relating to Clinical Legal Education work. This will include representing and/or advising clients, legal research, undertaking appropriate training, and producing a reflective report of your work. (Only available to full-time students).
Programme specification
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
Download course specification:
Bar Vocational Studies Full and Part time [PDF]
Requirements
Entry Requirements
Applicants for all postgraduate degrees should normally hold a university Honours degree or equivalent qualification in an appropriate subject.
If you don't hold an Honours degree or equivalent but you have suitable experience and/or professional qualifications, you may still be accepted for a Master's or Postgraduate Diploma at the discretion of the relevant department.
We offer pre-Master’s programmes for international students, delivered by our partners INTO City, University of London. In addition, we recognise other pre-Master’s programmes, in particular those provided by Kaplan International College London.
Before registration, you will need to submit original certificates or certified copies of your relevant degrees and other qualifications.
Career
The Bar Vocational Studies programme is designed to enable you to progress to pupillage and a career as a barrister.
Competition for pupillage is intense but you will have an advantage with our Pupillage Advice Service and its close links to the Bar. We have an impressive record of helping our students to secure pupillages.
You will have developed a range of transferable skills and might consider alternative careers in the following organisations and areas:
Government Legal Department
Crown Prosecution Service
in-house legal departments
local authority legal departments
regulation authorities and compliance roles
academic law
legal publishing
finance and banking.
Enhance your employability
If taken, our clinical legal education module and either of the two clinical electives will give you the opportunity to enhance your employability by representing and/or advising clients and undertaking legal research.
Placements are not part of this programme but we encourage you to take mini-pupillages and participate in pro bono work and mooting.
Fee Information
Tuition Fee
GBP20,220 / year
How to Apply
For most postgraduate courses applications are made directly to City, usually to the department running the course, via our dedicated online system. Individual application links are provided on course pages, along with information on specific requirements for documents you should include with your application.
With a few exceptions, most postgraduate courses don't have a fixed application deadline and admissions operate on a rolling basis. Applications will close when the course is full, so it's advisable to apply as early as possible as competition for places on many courses is strong and they may be fully subscribed well before the closing date.
Where a deadline is in place, further information can be found on specific course pages.
If you're in the final year of undergraduate studies or are yet to receive your English Language test results, you can still apply. Your application will be assessed based on predicted grades and if all other entry criteria are met, you may receive a conditional offer subject to satisfying the relevant conditional requirements.
You'll need to provide original certificates or certified copies of your relevant degrees and other qualifications before registration.
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