BPTC course content and assessment
You’ll begin by studying the criminal practice course and the civil practice course, before progressing on to specialist options.
Course structure
The course takes you through the different stages of litigation, including evidence and sentencing. Later you’ll take part in mock trials and choose two options for further study and skills development.
Professional ethics and conduct
As well as being a central theme running through your training, you’ll also study professional ethics and conduct as a discrete topic to understand the core professional values which underpin practice at the Bar. Encompassing more than the knowledge and formalities outlined in the Bar Council’s Professional Code of Conduct, we aim to instil the essential qualities needed for the ethical behaviour required as a barrister.
Knowledge areas
- Civil litigation
- Criminal litigation and sentencing
- Evidence
Core skills
These skills are fully integrated into the knowledge areas, so course learning can be applied in a practical context.
- Advocacy
- Conference skills
- Drafting
- Legal research skills
- Fact management
- Opinion writing
- Resolution of disputes out of court
Sample options
In your final term, you’ll choose to study two options from a list that typically includes:
- Advanced civil litigation
- Advanced criminal litigation
- Alternative dispute resolution and mediation
- Commercial practice
- Employment practice
- Family practice
- Immigration practice
- Judicial review practice
- Pro bono
Assessment
There are 12 assessments in total. Practice assessments are held for all subjects, which include advocacy, opinion writing, drafting, conference skills, resolution of disputes out of court, civil and criminal litigation, evidence and professional ethics.
