LLM Bar Vocational Studies (Full-time and Part-time) - Master's degree

Postgraduate taught degree

This course is for 2022/23 entry.

Details for 2021/22 entry are also available.

Apply now

Key information

Prepare for Call to the Bar of England and Wales by studying one of our Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programmes. Study the core components required for Call to the Bar with the option of adding an area of specialism and progressing to complete an LLM.

Start date

September 2022

Institution

City, University of London

Course codes

LALMBVS01
LAPDBSS01
LAPDBVS01

Location

Northampton Square

Course overview
Structure
Teaching and assessment
Fees and funding
Career
How to apply

Course overview

You will learn how to advise and represent a range of clients and prepare for the demands of a career at the Bar through this rigorous course, which is designed to reflect the work of the modern Bar.

You will develop skills and gain knowledge through interaction with professionals and peers. As lawyers and educators, our staff ensure you receive a high quality of education and personal support.

Our impressive record of helping students to secure pupillage is supported by an award-winning Pupillage Advice Service.

Accreditation

The Vocational Component is accredited by the Bar Standards Board. The BSB sets out the education and training requirements for becoming a barrister, which means once you graduate, and provided you complete the Inns qualifying sessions, you are qualified for Call to the Bar.

Awards

You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.

Master of Laws (LLM)

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism (PGDip with Specialism)

Who is this course for?

If you want to complete your vocational stage of training for the Bar of England and Wales, this course is ideal.

Once you have completed the vocational stage you can develop your CV by studying a specialism and going on to complete an LLM.

This course is the best option if you prefer a regular class structure with face-to-face learning, supported by a virtual learning environment to enhance not replace in class teaching.

Structure

Awards

You can select to apply for one of the three available exit points for this course.

Master of Laws (LLM)

Duration:

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

Modules:

Please see below for a list of our elective modules.

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

Duration:

Full-time: 8 months
Part-time: 20 months

Modules:

You will study the 10 compulsory modules required by the Bar Standards Board for Call to the Bar.

Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism (PGDip with Specialism)

Duration:

Full-time: 10 months
Part-time: 22 months

Modules:

Please see below for a list of our elective modules.

Modules

This programme has several routes, with different exit points depending on the route chosen.

Bar Vocational Studies PGDip

If you choose this route, you will be required to study the 10 core modules set by the Bar Standards Board.

These form the vocational components of training for the Bar for which you will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Vocational Studies.

This is the compulsory vocational qualification required to be eligible for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.

Bar Vocational Studies PGDip with Specialism

This is the compulsory vocational component plus a Specialist Practice Component
You choose two elective modules from a Specialist Practice area of your choice.
Successfully complete the Specialist Practice Component, and you will be awarded a PGDip in Bar Vocational Studies with the relevant specialist area of practice you selected named in the award.
This award includes the qualification for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.

If you choose this route, you will study elective modules from a Specialist Practice area of your choice.

If you choose to complete the LLM or PG Dip (with specialism) you will need to complete two additional electives that are drawn from the below specialist areas of practice. Please note that some specialisms/electives may be subject to change depending on student numbers, tutor availability, or course updates. This may affect the overall number of modules

Where there are a number of electives within a specialism, you select two electives. Please also note that you may only undertake one clinical module, indicated with an * in the list.

LLM Bar Vocational Studies

In addition to the Vocational Component and the Specialist Practice Component, you can choose to complete either:

a practice-focussed dissertation
a clinical legal project with a real client (only available to full-time students).

Completion of the dissertation or clinical legal project in addition to the vocational and specialist practice components, allows you to achieve a master’s degree. This entitles you to the award of LLM in Bar Vocational Studies (with specialism).

This award includes the qualification for Call to the Bar of England and Wales.

PGDip Core modules

Advocacy: Cross Examination (10 credits)

This module aims to prepare you for the practice of advocacy as a barrister. You will gain the skills necessary to present evidence given by witnesses in a court or other tribunal. The module culminates in a full criminal trial.
Advocacy: Examination in Chief (10 credits)

This module will prepare you for the practice of advocacy as a barrister. You will gain comprehensive knowledge of the techniques used by advocates when conducting examination-in-chief of witnesses in courts or other tribunals. The module culminates in a full criminal trial.
Advocacy: Submissions (10 credits)

This module will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of techniques used by advocates in courts and tribunals when making submissions supported by skeleton arguments. You will develop a conceptual understanding of the role and techniques of an advocate.
Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution (20 credits)

In this module, you will learn the principles of Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution and develop your ability to apply them in practice. You will also develop a conceptual understanding of the overall framework for the conduct of civil cases.
Conference Skills (10 credits)

The module provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the role of a conference in a case and of the techniques which are commonly used in conducting a conference. Issues surrounding sensitivity towards client care and professional ethics will be explored
Criminal Litigation, Evidence & Sentencing (15 credits)

In this module you will learn the principles of Criminal Litigation, Evidence and Sentencing and develop your ability to apply them. You will also develop an understanding of the overall framework for the conduct of criminal cases.
Drafting Skills (15 credits)

This module will provide you with an understanding of the nature, function and value of statements of case, and the skills to draft a full range of statements of case and other documents in civil proceedings.
Professional Ethics (10 credits)

In this module you will learn the regulatory requirements prescribed by the BSB, including the Code of Conduct for the Bar of England and Wales. You will develop an understanding of the importance of ethical conduct in every aspect of your work.
Opinion Writing (15 credits)

This module will provide you with the skills needed to write concise and well- structured opinions in a variety of practice areas. You will receive guidance on how to adopt a professional practical approach to the needs and objectives of your clients.
Legal Research (5 credits)

This module will provide you with key legal research skills, which underpin everything that a lawyer does, from preparing an oral submission, examination or cross-examination of a witness, advising orally or in writing, or drafting a statement of case.

PGDip with Specialism: Advanced Advocacy Skills

PGDip with Specialism: Advanced Criminal Practice

PGDip with Specialism: Corporate Law and Practice

PGDip with Specialism: International Commercial Trade and Dispute Resolution

PGDip with Specialism: Advanced Civil Practice

PGDip with Specialism: Social Justice and Public Law

Dissertation/Clinical Legal Education (LLM)

Programme specification

The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.

Download course specification:

Bar Vocational Studies Full and Part time

Teaching and assessment

Our BVS programmes are delivered by staff with extensive experience of practice, teaching and designing training for the Bar.

In addition you will have a dedicated personal tutor to support you in your studies.

You will learn in various ways including:

interactive small groups
one-to-one feedback sessions
mock trials.

Extracurricular activities include:

advice on CVs
mock interviews
practitioner panels and networking events
mooting.

You can boost your CV by studying two elective modules for the award of a postgraduate diploma with a named specialism. You can also achieve an LLM by writing a dissertation or (if studying full-time) a clinical legal education report reflecting on live client work done with one of the School’s partners, in addition to the compulsory and elective modules.

You will be assessed by 10 summative final assessments addressing specific skills or subjects. For the PG diploma with specialism there are two additional elective assessments.

Fees and funding

Fees for academic year 2022/23

Master of Laws (LLM)

Full-time per year
UK: £19,500

Overseas/EU: £19,500

Part-time per year
UK: £9,750

Overseas/EU: £9,750

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

Full-time per year
UK: £16,500

Overseas/EU: £16,500

Part-time per year
UK: £8,250

Overseas/EU: £8,250

Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism (PGDip with Specialism)

Full-time per year
UK: £18,500

Overseas/EU: £18,500

Part-time per year
UK: £9,250

Overseas/EU: £9,250

What your fee includes

Fees are inclusive of:

Course deposit
Bar Standards Board fee
Textbooks: you will be provided with hard copies of Blackstone’s Criminal Practice and the Whitebook, along with other textbooks, including The City Law School BVS Manuals, which will normally be provided in e-book format.

You should consider the possible additional fees associated with the BVS:

Bar Course Aptitude Test – currently £150 to take the test within the UK/EU or £170 outside
Fee to join an Inn – this varies across Inns but is approximately £100
IELTS fee for those who are required to take the test – this is usually charged in local currency
Visa fees for those who require a visa

Please note that there is an additional fee for assessment resits.

Ours are ethical Bar Vocational Studies Programmes: no fees are due until registration on your course, and there is a cooling off period until 31st October with full refund (less £400 deposit).

Funding

Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs.

Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.

Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.

Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.

The City Law School Bar Vocational Studies Scholarship

If you take up a place to study the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme at City and have been awarded a first class undergraduate degree, you will automatically receive a City Law School Bar Vocational Studies Scholarship. The value of this scholarship is £3,000.

How to apply

There is no need to apply for this scholarship, as the fee waiver will automatically be applied if you meet the eligibility criteria. Find out more about the Bar Vocational Studies Scholarship.

Future Finance Loans

Future Finance offers students loans of between £2,500 and £40,000 to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. All students and courses are considered. All loans are subject to credit checks and approval. For further details visit the Future Finance website.

10% Loyalty Discount

If you have already completed a course at The City Law School you will be eligible for the 10% loyalty discount. All you need to do is meet the minimum entry requirements for your second course and we will automatically take 10% off of your tuition fees.

This can be received in addition to a scholarship.

UK Postgraduate Loans

UK students who choose to take the LLM in Bar Vocational Studies with specialism will be eligible for the government’s Postgraduate Loan (subject to meeting the personal conditions).

The Post Graduate Diploma routes (Bar Vocational Studies or the Bar Vocational Studies with specialism) alone are not eligible for this funding.

Students who obtain such a loan will need to complete the full LLM programme (they will not be able to switch to the PGDip route) or they may breach the terms of their loan agreement.

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.

Career

The Bar Vocational Studies programme is designed to enable you to progress to pupillage and a career as a barrister.

Competition for pupillage is intense but you will have an advantage with our Pupillage Advice Service and its close links to the Bar. We have an impressive record of helping our students to secure pupillages.

You will have developed a range of transferable skills and might consider alternative careers in the following organisations and areas:

Government Legal Department
Crown Prosecution Service
in-house legal departments
local authority legal departments
regulation authorities and compliance roles
academic law
legal publishing
finance and banking.

Enhance your employability

If taken, our clinical legal education module and two clinical electives will give you the opportunity to enhance your employability by representing and/or advising clients and undertaking legal research.

Placements are not part of this programme but we encourage you to take mini-pupillages and participate in pro bono work and mooting.

How to apply

Entry requirements

UK

The minimum entry requirement is an undergraduate degree classified as not less than a lower-second class honours (2:2) or equivalent. This can be either a law degree or a non-law degree plus further graduate/postgraduate study in Law and in either case must cover the seven foundations of legal knowledge and satisfy the Professional Statement competence.

The Bar Standards Board can advise on non-standard qualifications.

Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT)

The Bar Course Aptitude Test is designed to assess your critical reasoning skills, which are an essential attribute to success as a lawyer. It is taken before the Bar Vocational Studies Course, and is a pre-condition to starting the Course.

It is administered by the Bar Standards Board. Details of the opening and closing dates of the test are set by the Bar Standards Board and vary from year to year but please note that the final opportunity to take the test before the full-time course is normally 12 weeks before the start of the course and you must have passed it in order to start the course. Places to take the test also fill up so it is important to register to take it as early as possible.

For further details and to sign-up for the BCAT, please visit Bar Standards Board Bar Course Aptitude Test.

Inn membership

Applicants to the Bar Vocational Studies Course must also apply for membership of one of the four Inns of Court normally 12 weeks before the start of the course. The Inns of Court have well-established scholarship schemes, with closing dates on the first Friday in November of the year preceding study. These deadlines may be subject to change.

For further details please check the website of the Inn you wish to join.

English language requirements

Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that their oral and written English ability is equivalent to at least one of the following:

IELTS: A minimum score of 7.5 in each section of the test.
Pearson Test of English: A minimum score of 73 in each part of the test
TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition – with minimum scores of 24 in Listening, 26 in Reading, 27 in Speaking and 26 in Writing.

If you are completing your qualifying law degree overseas (even if at a UK university) you will need to provide IELTS, Pearson or TOEFL results meeting the minimum scores required by the Bar Standards Board as proof of English language proficiency. If you are made an offer further details will be provided.

Application process

Applications can be made via the University’s online postgraduate application system.

You will be asked to confirm which route you wish to undertake as part of your application. However, it will be possible to change this when you accept your offer.

How do we make our decision?

In reaching selection decisions we will take account of the following:

Degree performance (actual or predicted)
Evidence of intellectual ability
Interpersonal skills
Advocacy and public speaking skills/experience
Commitment to the practice of the law
References.
English language proficiency.

In addition to your written application and references, you may be asked to take part in an additional selection exercise. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis throughout the year.

We will consider applications either until the programme is full or until one month before the programme start date. If you require a Student Visa we would advise an earlier application to ensure you have sufficient time to obtain your visa.

In most cases we expect to be able to notify you of a decision within two weeks of references being submitted, and without the need to undertake a selection exercise. A decision will only be taken upon receipt of references.

Please also note that scholarship applications will be considered on a rolling basis so you are encouraged to apply early to maximise your chances of obtaining one.