BVC stands for Bar Vocational Course and is designed to train law graduates so that they can be “called to the bar”. This is usually undertaken by those who wish to begin BVC jobs such as barristers in England and Wales. As of September 2010 the BVC will be restructured and renamed as a result to the BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course). There are 10 different institutions where the bar vocational course can be taken and the fees range greatly for college to college.
Entry
The BVC or BPTC courses require candidates to already have a law degree that is not less that a 2:2 honours. It is also possible to begin a bar vocational course with a degree in another discipline no less than a 2:2 but with an additional qualification in the CPE (Common Professional Examination). However, that is not to say that the qualifications alone will gain entrance to those wishing to apply. Candidates must demonstrate a good range of extracurricular activities at university as well as other ways that they have managed to get themselves involved academically. Applicants should also show that they are fully committed to the English Bar.
The BVC is a highly competitive course, and out of all those that apply, just over half will get a place. Potential BVC jobs after qualifying are extremely sought after, powerful and well-paid positions. After the completion of the bar vocational course (or the BPTC after September 2010), it is necessary to find pupillage within the industry.
Pupillage
This is the equivalent of a solicitor’s training contract. Graduates of the bar vocational course who are seeking BVC jobs must complete the final stage of their barrister training by undertaking pupillage. This can be likened to a type of apprenticeship within the law world that uses the knowledge and experience gained from university degrees and the BVC or BPTC in the barristers’ chambers. This normally lasts a year.
BVC Online
The Internet offers a good way of applying to BVC courses. BVC online allows users to apply to any and all of the BVC provider institutions. After applications are complete, BVC online lets applicants check the status of their applications and will send notification via email upon success or rejection from a college.
BPTC
The BPTC is the newly named and structured course for those wishing to become barristers. It will begin its first academic year in September 2010.
The course is designed for solicitors interested in moving into private client work and will provide the basics to enable delegates to cope with the immediate demands of practice in this area. First held in November 2009, the JLD is re-running the course in response to popular demand.
