Bar Course at Northumbria University

Bar CourseNorthumbria University

Prepare for Practice at the Bar of England and Wales.

A highly practical postgraduate Bar programme designed to develop the knowledge, professional skills and ethical understanding required for pupillage and practice as a barrister.

Through realistic casework, advocacy, conferencing, drafting and opinion writing, you will learn to think and work like a barrister from the outset.

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Programme Key Facts

  • Postgraduate

    Level

  • Northumbria University

    Award

  • 1 Year

    Duration

  • Full Time

    Study Mode

  • City Campus, Newcastle

    Location

  • September

    Intake

1

Future Careers

Prepare for life at the Bar.

Northumbria’s Bar Course is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and professional values required for pupillage and the early years of practice.

On successful completion, you will be eligible for Call to the Bar of England and Wales, subject to meeting the qualifying requirements of your Inn of Court.

Possible Career Directions

  • Barrister, UK

  • Advocate & Solicitor, Malaysia

  • Civil Practice

  • Criminal Practice

  • Family Practice

  • Advocacy & Dispute Resolution

2

Why This Programme Matters

The Reality

  • Practice at the modern Bar requires strong legal knowledge, advocacy skills, professional judgement and ethical awareness.
  • New barristers must be able to manage cases, communicate effectively with clients and courts, draft legal documents and respond confidently to practical legal problems.
  • Northumbria’s Bar Course is designed around the foundation areas of pupillage and early professional practice.

The Professional Practice Advantage

Learn through realistic case scenarios that bring together fact management, legal research, advocacy, drafting, opinion writing, conferencing, procedure and professional ethics.

Students undertaking Bar training at Northumbria University

Course Modules

  • Criminal Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Professional Practice and Ethics
  • Criminal Professional Practice
  • Family Professional Practice
  • Civil Professional Practice

Module information is indicative, reviewed annually and may therefore be subject to change.

3

The Bar Course Experience

Built around realistic professional practice and preparation for pupillage.

  • Develop Advocacy Skills

    Practise advocacy in realistic professional scenarios and benefit from additional practitioner advocacy masterclasses.

  • Build Practical Case Skills

    Develop conferencing, drafting, opinion writing, case analysis and legal research skills through cases structured around real professional practice.

  • Experience Different Practice Areas

    Work across three foundational areas of early Bar practice: Civil, Criminal and Family.

  • Prepare for Professional Assessments

    Benefit from dedicated exam-focused teaching designed to support preparation for Bar Standards Board centralised assessments.

  • Understand Professional Ethics

    Develop the ethical knowledge and professional values required for practice at the Bar and for further assessment during pupillage.

4

Professional Learning Opportunities

Develop skills beyond the core Bar curriculum.

Northumbria provides a range of additional opportunities designed to strengthen your professional knowledge, advocacy and practical readiness. These may also include specialist exam practice sessions and a Northumbria Qualifying Dinner.

  • Vulnerable Witness Training

    Develop awareness and practical approaches for working with vulnerable witnesses.

  • Practitioner Advocacy Masterclasses

    Strengthen your advocacy through additional sessions led by legal practitioners.

  • Forensic Learning

    Explore forensic science and forensic statistics as they relate to legal practice.

  • International Mooting

    Build advocacy and teamwork through opportunities to take part in international mooting competitions.

  • Professional Mentoring

    Access mentoring delivered in conjunction with members of the Bar.

  • Mediation Qualification

    Gain an additional qualification in Mediation at no further tuition cost.

5

Learning from the Profession

Learn from experienced barristers, judges and legal practitioners.

Teaching on Northumbria’s Bar Course is led by a team of experienced barristers and supported by members of the Bar, judges and other practitioners.

Many members of the practice-oriented teaching team remain in practice at the Bar or sit as judges, giving students exposure to current professional experience alongside academic learning.

6

Student Experience

Study in a professional legal learning environment.

  • Mock Courtroom

    Develop practical skills within Northumbria Law School’s dedicated mock courtroom facilities.

  • Specialist Law Practice Library

    Access practitioner materials, journals, legal databases and law reports through the Law Practice Library.

  • Technology-Enhanced Learning

    Use Blackboard for online resources, discussion forums, collaborative learning, self-test materials and assessment activities.

  • Review Your Performance

    Use Panopto recordings of teaching, feedback and practical exercises to reflect on and improve your advocacy and conferencing.

  • Research-Rich Learning

    Develop legal research and critical-thinking skills through case analysis, enquiry-based learning and engagement with the Law School’s research community.

7

Industry Partners

Connect with the legal profession from day one.

Your legal education at BAC goes beyond the classroom. Through our strong connections with leading law firms, professional bodies and the Inns of Court Malaysia, you gain valuable exposure to the people, institutions and networks shaping the legal profession.

These partnerships help you better understand legal practice, explore different career pathways, and develop the professional confidence to take your next step.

Industry Partners

  • Thomas Philip Advocates & Solicitors
  • Lavania & Balan Chambers
  • Messrs. Jamie Wong
  • Alvin John & Partners
  • Shearn Delamore & Co.
  • Richard Wee Chambers
  • Daljit Singh Partnership
  • Chooi & Company

Earn Microcredentials from the World's Best Universities & Global Tech Giants

  • IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate
  • Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials
8

Career Outcomes

Develop professional skills for the Bar and wider legal practice.

Northumbria’s practice-focused training develops the knowledge, advocacy, case-management and ethical judgement required for pupillage and early professional practice.

Roles in Focus

9

Why Northumbria?

  • Practice-Focused Bar Training

    Learn through realistic legal cases designed around the work encountered during pupillage and early practice.

  • Experienced Practitioners

    Learn from barristers, judges, academics and members of the wider legal profession.

  • Strong Research Environment

    Law at Northumbria was ranked 7th in the UK for research power out of 69 submissions in REF 2021.

  • Flexible Study Options

    Explore alternative Bar study routes including part-time study, an LLM option and separate Bar Knowledge and Bar Skills programmes.

  • Professional Progression

    Successful completion makes you eligible for Call to the Bar of England and Wales, subject to fulfilling your Inn of Court’s qualifying requirements.

10

Entry Requirements

To be confirmed by BAC.

11

Tuition Fees

As per Northumbria University.

12

Speak to a Future Advisor

Ready to take the next step towards becoming a barrister?

Find out more about Northumbria University’s Bar Course, entry requirements and application process.

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