Is the BPTC/BPC for you?

It's so important that you do your due diligence before you apply to enroll on the BPTC/BPC.

It's no secret that the road to becoming a Barrister is difficult and I personally don't think that pupils or students studying at the Bar tell aspiring BPTC/BPC students how hard it is.

1. Lengthy Application Process

To be enrolled for the BPTC/BPC, you first have to go through a written application and if you are successful in that, you will be invited in to the second stage which is the face-face application. It's important to know at this stage that you can only study the BPTC/BPC at nine institutions. I attended the University of Law, Bloomsbury campus.

The written application is where you provide details of the level of degree you hold and if this is an undergraduate degree, you must have obtained at least a 2:1. Additionally, you will be asked details of where you obtained your degree, whether you have attended any mini-pupillages/ work experience, whether you have joined an Inn of Court (must do this before your very first day of the BPTC/BPC) and at what institutions you would like to enroll for the BPTC/BPC.

If you are successful, you will be invited to the second stage which is where you will have to:

i. write a short essay based on a question you are provided with on the day (although they give you brief and ambiguous areas to research a couple of weeks/days before the day),

ii. complete a bail application - we were given the facts a couple of hours before the hearing, and

iii. have a one-to-one meeting with a BPTC/BPC tutor - this was actually very informal and rather fun because the tutor was asking questions about my hobbies and interests and also asked me what one thing I would take on a dessert island and also which three celebrities, dead or alive, I would love to have dinner with.

Safe to say I was exhausted after all of this! But it was a great experience for me and to be honest with you, I didn't think I was going to be offered a place, especially after my bail application which I thought was a car crash!! But God is good and I was offered a place after these first rounds and I was rightfully both relieved I wouldn't have to do that all again and proud of myself.

2. Expensive Course!

Unfortunately, the BPTC/BPC comes with a hefty price tag. This course will easily cost you at least £17,500 so you will have to think about whether you can afford this and undertake the responsibility of making these payments. For the full-time and part-time course, the fees are the same. Depending on the University, you can choose whether to make one full payment, periodic or monthly payments.

You can receive a loan for the BPTC/BPC that is provided by Student Finance - please see their site for details.

Please consider carefully whether you can keep up with the payments because this could result in added stress/pressure you really do not need!

3. Do YOU want to do the course?

I have known way too many people to pursue a career or course not for themselves, but do it because of pressure from their parents, friends or tradition. I will tell you something right now... if YOU don't want to do this course, DO NOT do it!!! I cannot stress this enough. This is a very demanding course, mentally, emotionally and financially, so if you're going to do it, it should be from your passion and willingness to do it. The very same people/things pressurising you to do this course will not be there with you when spending 10 hours in the library, drafting numerous skeleton arguments or paying for the transport to attend classes.

4. Are you in close proximity to the University?

Aside from Covid-19 causing a lot of classes to be taught from home, choosing an Institution close to you is of upmost importance. There will be days you will have to work in groups to prepare for a trial or hearings and this may mean having to attend Uni when you had not initially planned to. Now can you imagine having to travel hours to do this?

With only nine Institutions offering this course, it will understandably be hard for you to pick one close to you but please bear this in mind. Also consider who you will be travelling to and from Uni and start to create a budget for your travelling costs.

5. Speak to past students, pupils, Barristers and Judges!

Please make an effort to find some of these people to discuss their journey on the BPTC/BPC because they have literally been there and done that. I guarantee you that they will not sugar coat anything and will tell you something you had never considered before.

For me, a past student told me that being on the BPTC felt like you were always behind with your work/responsibilities. This for me was the best insight anyone could have given me because it was SO true!