Bar Council rejects common training to reduce costs

Common training of prospective barristers and solicitors will not bring down the cost of joining the bar, the Bar Council said this week.

The council has published consultation papers on funding entry to the bar, and one of them identified the cost of the bar vocational course (BVC) as an issue - it ranges from 7,000 to 9,500 across the eight institutions which offer it.

It said several proposals to change the BVC have been put forward, including common training as all BVC providers also offer the legal practice course (LPC).

The paper said: 'Subject to some modifications to the LPC, one could envisage a single vocational course for both intending barristers and solicitors.

However, this would only bring a very small reduction in fees as LPC fees are approximately the same as the BVC.

'On the other hand, it would create considerable uncertainty in the recruitment market as the "stars" would be able to delay final commitment to a particular branch of the profession until the commencement of in-service training.'

The cost of the LPC - which is offered by four times as many providers as the BVC - ranges from 5,250 to 8,250.

One of the questions in the consultation asks whether the Bar Council should seek to reduce the numbers on the BVC to cut cost, and whether this would actually achieve that goal.

There are 1,390 full-time and 150 part-time BVC places validated.

The LPC has 7,486 full-time and 1,632 part-time places.

The consultation questions whether there should be more part-time BVC places to allow students to work as well.

Barristers are also being asked whether all chambers should be required to provide financial assistance to pupils on the BVC, or whether the Bar Council should levy fees from barristers on either a compulsory or voluntary basis.

Last November, the Bar Council rejected a report that recommended an income-related levy on senior barristers to fund training.

A final report will go to the Bar Council in July.

See Editorial, (see [2003] Gazette, 27 February, page 14)