Barrister apprenticeships could be introduced next year in a move that is hoped will further shake the profession out of its elitist image.
Solicitors have been able to qualify through apprenticeships since 2016 and many law firms offer them. But the smaller barristers’ side of the profession has lagged behind.
The proposed reform would enable students to earn while they learn and complete their training over six years, potentially qualifying to practise at the Bar debt-free.
At present, to qualify as a barrister, students must complete the vocational and work-based training elements in strict linear order — starting with a law degree or one-year postgraduate conversion course, then a vocational year at Bar school and finally a 12-month pupillage, during which they shadow a barrister
