This message is to confirm our position regarding the December sit of the BSB’s centralised examinations (Bar Professional Training Course, Bar Transfer Test and new Bar training programme).
The Government’s announcement on 31 October was that universities are to remain open and courses are to continue during the latest national lockdown in England. The December exams are scheduled to take place at venues where Bar course training providers have permission to run them, and where appropriate Covid-safe arrangements can be made. It is therefore currently our intention that the December sit will proceed on an in-person basis wherever possible. We have spoken with all Bar course training providers in England and Wales delivering the exams and all have reconfirmed that arrangements are currently in place for this to happen. Any students who are vulnerable and do not wish to sit in-person exams in December should talk to their AETO about the options available to them. All providers have assured us that students can defer without penalty should they choose to do so.
Given the rapidly changing circumstances, we will keep things under close review and update the information provided on our website should circumstances or government advice change.
More information on the December exams is available in our FAQs at: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/becoming-a-barrister/vocational-component/covid-19-and-the-vocational-component-faqs.html.
