What you learn
updated on 21 March 2023
Use the sub menu above to find out more about who is eligible, what you learn, where to study and more!
Bar courses vary in format depending on the law school, but they all combine teaching legal knowledge with practical skills. All Bar courses approved by the Bar Standards Board prepare students to pass the same centralised assessments.
Depending on which course you choose, you may study the knowledge and skills elements simultaneously or separately.
Knowledge
Students will cover topics, including:
- criminal litigation;
- evidence and sentencing;
- civil litigation;
- evidence; and
- alternative dispute resolution.
Skills
Students learn the key barrister competencies of advocacy, conference skills, legal research and opinion writing and drafting. Legal ethics is also part of the course.
Optional extras
Many courses provide the option to undertake extra electives or a dissertation to add a master’s qualification to the core Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Practice.
Incorporating a master’s into the Bar course may be an attractive option for some students because it grants eligibility for postgraduate student loan funding.
