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Pupils' Courses

Pupils are required by the Bar Standards Board to attend a minimum of 12 hours of practical advocacy teaching. Although practice management hours are no longer compulsory, our courses still contain practice management lectures. Dates on offer are:​​

  • 15 - 26 January 2024 (applications currently closed, course full)
  • 12 - 23 February 2024 (applications currently closed, course full)
  • 8  - 19 July 2024 (applications open in the spring)

 

These are full-time courses, running from Monday to Friday during two consecutive weeks. They offer advocacy training workshops designed to meet situations in which young barristers may find themselves. Lectures cover themes ranging from general advocacy to practical advice from specialists and experts, and the workshops will be led by experienced practitioners. Court visits on the Thursdays (9am - 4pm) provide an opportunity for exercises in both civil applications, criminal work and family work before Judges.

Although we strongly recommend our flagship two-week course, we offer two pared down courses covering the minimum requirement for those who are unable to attend our full programme. The next short course is on:

  • 5 - 7 December 2023 (applications currently closed, course full)
  • 18 - 20 March 2024 (applications currently closed, course full)
  • 4 - 6 June 2024 (applications open in the spring)

 

Both the two week course and the short course take place in person, and run from 9/10am until 7pm. 

Courses are open to members of all four Inns at no cost (with priority given to Middle Temple members), although we note that pupils are expected to approach their own Inns about their course in the first instance, and are held in the Ashley Building on Middle Temple Lane. Pupils on Circuit may find it more convenient to attend the Circuit's course but if they wish, we would be delighted to accommodate them on the Middle Temple course.

Courses are only open to applicants

  • who are currently in pupillage, or
  • who are weeks away from a confirmed pupillage, which is so timed that the next available course would fall into their second six, or
  • who are exempt from pupillage altogether (for example Transferring Qualified Lawyers) - please note that places offered to those who are exempt are done so at the Inn's discretion, as those who meet the criteria above are prioritised.

 

For any enquiries, please email r.bower@middletemple.org.uk with the name of the course as the subject.

Register for a Pupils Course