The Academy

The Academy will see 100 BTB Candidates gain access to multiple programmes and training opportunities over the course of the academic year after being selected through a single application process. The hope is that by focussing our resources on a smaller group of candidates, we can maximise our impact.

Those candidates who are not shortlisted for the Academy will still have access to general training and seminars led by our volunteers.

Key Objectives

The BTB Academy has been created to support 100 high quality BTB candidates in obtaining the skills, tangible experience and mindset needed to secure pupillage and succeed at the Bar.

Our five key objectives are:

1. To improve the content of our candidates' pupillage applications.
2. To improve the quality of our candidates' written pupillage applications.
3. To improve the quality of each candidates' pupillage interview technique.
4. To equip our candidates with the mindset and tools required to succeed within the profession.
5. To equip our candidates with the tools to champion diversity and inclusion within the profession and throughout their career.

The Academy will achieve our objectives in four ways:

1. Providing mandatory training, seminars and workshops.
2. Shortlisting candidates for one or more of our paid internship programmes.
3. Candidates will be assigned a mentor to support them throughout the academic year.
4. Candidates will have access to our BTB Resources Hub. This includes a pool of BTB volunteers who have agreed to give mock interviews and provide lectures on pupillage applications and life at the Bar.

Academy members will have access to:

Advocacy Workshops

Our candidates will have access to various mooting and debating workshops to improve their advocacy skills, such as the TGC Debating Competition.

Pupillage-Focused Workshops

Our candidates will be split into four groups depending on their practice area of choice. There will be a particular focus on the types of advocacy exercises usually involved in pupillage interviews ,and feedback from practitioners as to how each candidate can improve their technique.

Personal Development Workshops

Candidates will be split into "pods" and engage in 6 sessions with a life coach over the course of the academic year. The sessions will be held by Helen Gazzi, our life coach consultant, and will focus on imposter/trespasser syndrome, identity, owning your story and confidence.

Retention Seminars

All the participants will be asked to attend at least 3 lectures/seminars led by different professionals at the Bar, analysing the challenges faced by individuals from underrepresented backgrounds at all stages of their career.

BTB Ambassador Training

Our candidates will participate in a workshop at the end of the programme focusing on what they can do to support the next generation of BTB candidates, and how they can champion diversity and inclusion throughout their career.

Mini Pupillage Programme

Our candidates will be offered an automatic place on our Mini Pupillage Programme.

Paid Internship Programme

Our candidates will be shortlisted for one or more of the following programmes - UK Supreme Court paid internship, Court of Appeal/High Court paid internship, The Law Commission paid internship, The Government Legal Department paid internship and the Advocate summer paid internship.

Benefits of The Academy

✔ Investing more resources in a fewer number of candidates means bigger and better results.

✔ Stakeholders will receive the highest quality candidates for their programmes as the candidates will be selected from a small pool of 100 candidates who have already undergone a highly competitive selection process.

✔ Candidates only complete one application at the beginning of the academic year, reducing application fatigue and allowing them to invest more time into a singular application.

✔ The year-long programme demands a high level of commitment, ensuring only candidates who are serious about a career at the Bar are eligible.

✔ This creates a group of candidates from underrepresented backgrounds who will foster a community throughout the academic year and beyond.

The Academy Brochure

Read more about the Academy, including information about the application process and the selection criteria in the official brochure here.

"From day one, the Bridging the Bar team has asked itself: what is the best way to increase the chances of our candidates securing pupillage, whilst also preparing them for professional life at the Bar? The BTB Academy is the answer." - Aaron Mayers, Vice-Chairperson.