Blackstone Institute

House No 122, Road No 13A Dhanmondi Dhaka

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Call to the English Bar: A shorter and easier way

Introduction Becoming a Barrister is a lifelong achievement for any lawyer of a commonwealth country. The usual route of becoming a Barrister is lengthy and expensive. To step in the ladder of that pride we offer you to take you through a shorter, flexible, less expensive and comparatively easier alternative route of achieving this qualification. This rare opportunity opened the door for the qualified foreign lawyers to transform them into Barristers within a short span of time. Becoming a Barrister The usual route of becoming a Barrister is through obtaining LLB, CPE or GDL and then completing Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). On average, a British University would charge 30,000 for three years LLB programme and for BPTC the current fees are around 17,000. The Bar Standards Board (BSB), the body responsible for regulating English Barristers, has recently opened a shorter route of becoming a Barrister with right of audience in English courts. This lucrative route attracts many of the qualified lawyers of commonwealth lawyers. It is your unique chance to grab this once in a life time opportunity. Bar Transfer Test (BTT) This test has recently been introduced by BSB for qualified foreign lawyers who are in practice for 3 years in a superior court to become Barrister to be eligible to practise in the English Bar. The BTT courses are extremely flexible in terms of study and lecture times and ridiculously inexpensive in terms of fees. Bar Transfer Test is conducted twice a year generally April and September. BTT exam dates take place over the course of one week during April and September. The detailed timetable for the test is to be published shortly by BSB.

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Subject Areas and Assessment The Bar Transfer Test (BTT) assessment areas are tested in the form of six written exams and one oral assessment. Section 1 is a written assignments test includes one paper on the Law of Contract and Trusts and one paper on the Law of Tort and the Law of Crime. A 60 per cent pass mark is required for the written skills element of the assessment and 40 per cent for the substantive law portion. Section 2 involves two papers, one on the English Legal System and Land Law and one on Constitutional and Administrative Law and European Union Law. You are required to choose at least two questions from each syllabus area. Pass mark = 40 per cent. Section 3 covers Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Law of Evidence. This is a three-hour multiple choice exam with 80 compulsory questions broken down into papers on: Civil Procedure (50 questions) Evidence (25 questions) and Criminal Procedure (25 questions) Pass mark = 65 per cent Section 4 assesses your knowledge of the rules of professional conduct and you will receive questioning for up to 30 minutes on the rules of Professional Conduct and their application according to the Code of Conduct in England and Wales. Pass mark = 60 per cent Section 5 is an oral assessment in two parts, where your oral presentation techniques and skills are assessed as well as their skeleton argument in section a), and their examination-in-chief skills and/or a witness cross examination in section b). 5A Pass mark = 60 per cent & 5B Pass mark = 60 per cent How to apply You can apply either for April or September sittings of the Bar Transfer Test. You must submit a: completed application form to BSB with required documents Pay the appropriate fee of 440 for processing the application. The Qualifications Committee then assess the application for approval on individual merit. Documents required When applying to BSB for BTT you will need to provide us with:

Evidence that you are of good character and repute, such as a Certificate of the Senior Judge, Attorney General or Senior Law Officer of the Superior Court in which you have practised showing that: for a period of not less than 3 years you have regularly exercised rights of audience in that court (identifying the period(s)) and you are a fit and proper person to be Called to the Bar Page 2 of 4

A certificate to show that you have not been prohibited from practising in the jurisdiction in which you are qualified on the ground of commission of a criminal offence or professional misconduct and are not currently suspended from practising on such grounds. Evidence of all academic and professional qualifications. All applications must be supported by either the original or a certified copy of your examination certificates. Applications with overseas qualifications must also include an official English translation of their certificates and results Any other evidence which you wish to supply in support of your application (e.g. references) Current application fee of 440 (Cheque made payable to "The General Council of the Bar")

What Blackstone Offers: Blackstones experienced team of Barristers and professionals will assist you to Obtain the approval of BSB as a qualifying lawyer Get membership of Inns of Courts (Lincolns Inn, Grays Inn, Middle Temple and Inner Temple) Exclusive & intensive tuition to pass the BTT

If you register for our BTT Support programme, we will provide you guidance on how to submit the application to the Bar Standard Board (BSB) for their approval. Our supervision will enable you to succeed in your applications and meet the deadlines. Getting membership of any of the four Inns is a prerequisite for obtaining the approval of the BSB. Our team will provide you overall assistance to obtain the membership of any of the four Inns. We will also provide valuable assistance to obtain exemptions from some of the sections of the test. Upon receiving approval from BSB, an applicant needs to register for the test with BPP University College. Our dedicated qualified team will assist you prepare for the Test. Our supporting programme is designed into two sessions run in two parts of the world in Bangladesh and London. Our Bangladesh centre will run introductory sessions for exam preparation. Our London centre will offer comprehensive and intensive study sessions run by experienced tutors. Our Large group sessions and personal sittings with tutors will give you access to a clear understanding of the curriculum, standard and techniques that will eventually enable you to pass BTT. To participate our London academic support sessions, you will have to arrive in London at least two months prior to the test. As you must come to London for the test and the course our team of expert immigration lawyers can provide you with important advice and assistance for your VISA application. Page 3 of 4

Fees and Cost at a glance a. Institutional BSB for approval application fee 440.00 BPP University College advocacy training fee 750 BPP University College Exam fee for all sections 1,500.00 Blackstone fee between 2500 - 4000 b. Other areas 5. For BSB & BPP application support (including supports for visa application)- 250 6. Visa application fee & related expenses 500 - 1000 7. Accommodation & living in London 1500 - 3000 1. 2. 3. 4. Estimated cost all together between 7500 - 12000 Few key points to consider 1. Some candidate may receive exemption but it is likely with academic background of English legal education. If no exemption obtained candidates will have to sit for all five parts. 2. The curriculum of BTT is shorter by time and modules but still requires intensive study as candidate has to complete five parts within a very short period. 3. This test recently been introduced and consultation is going on, highly likely the requirement will be more complicated and also may require an English language test. 4. Requirement to register with BSB as a Bangladeshi Lawyer is been simplified too, therefore it is the best opportunity to take it right now, once you are register it is valid for a period of time and you can decide and make plan when you would like to take the test or any other route. 5. If you decide to take the BTT, you will have to visit UK to take a compulsory training by BBP and the test which may affect professional commitment of a practicing lawyer for that time. This is life-time opportunity ever you can think as a lawyer to become a Barrister and this may not be there forever. No doubt this is challenge but with our supporting program you may confident enough to achieve it. We would urge you to go for it to accomplish your career dream.

Reference: 1. Bar Standards Board : http://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/ 2. BPP School of Law : http://www.bpp.com/professional-qualifications-courselisting/listing/professional-qualifications/59 3. BTT handbook download : http://www.bpp.com/carbon-content-1.0SNAPSHOT/resources/ECMDocument?contentName=The_Bar_Transfer_Test_Handbook_2012

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