Consultation Responses
March 2024
COIC responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the BSB consultation on Proposed amendments to the definition of Academic Legal Training and related exemptions. Follow this link to download the response document.
March 2022
COIC responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the LSB Draft Statement of Policy on Ongoing Competence and the accompanying consultation paper published by the LSB on 8 December 2021. Follow this link to download the response document
February 2022
COIC responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the LSB Call for Evidence: Ongoing Competence consultation. Follow this link to download the response document.
COIC responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the Bar Standards Board’s Engagement programme paper on Pupillage Gateway Timetable and Written Agreements for Pupillage. Follow this link to download the response document.
COIC responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the Bar Standards Board Consultation on their Proposed Strategy for the Next Three Years. Follow this link to download the response document.
February 2019
COIC has responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the Bar Standards Board December 2018 Consultation on Fee and Charges for the authorisation and supervision of Authorised Education Training Organisations (AETOs).
Follow this links the below to download the response document.
October 2017
COIC has responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the Bar Standards Board October 2017 Consultation on Future Bar Training: Shaping the education and training requirements for prospective barristers.
Follow this links the below to download the response document.
Our response affirms the role of the Inns of Court and provides comment on the arrangements for work based training and the proposed authorisation framework.
Follow this link for last year's consultation response and the Inns/Bar Council proposal for a two-part BPTC.
October 2016
COIC responded on behalf of the Inns of Court to the latest Bar Standards Board Future Bar Training consultation. Follow this links the below to download:
Our response argues for the retention of the qualifying law degree (and Graduate Diploma in Law) and the seven core subjects.
The Inns support reform of the BPTC and propose that it should be split into two parts:
Part One would require students to pass knowledge assessments which students may study for in any way they choose.
Having successfully completed Part One, students would be eligible to enrol on a Part Two skills course.
COIC affirms the importance of the pupillage stage of training.
Follow this link to earlier comments on the Inns’/Bar Council Proposal.
December 2015
COIC response to the proposed amendments (arising from a Divisional Court judgment) to the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). Follow this link to download the full response paper.
November 2015
COIC welcomes the underlying spirit of the MOJ consultation paper; it seeks to address issues highlighted by barristers repeatedly in recent years. Follow this link to download the full response paper.
October 2015
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is reviewing the academic, vocational and professional requirements that must be completed to acquire the title of barrister and to be authorised to practise. The review, including a consultation process has now reached its response stage.
The Inns of Court has compiled a response paper available for download via this link.
The BSB consultation paper appears to favour in principle the present three-part structure of our qualification system. The Inns of Court support this system and do not wish to see it changed.
Of the three stages, the first, the academic stage, faces some critical questions in the paper. The second (the Bar Professional Training Course - BPTC) is most under attack by students and the Bar.
The paper argues for the retention of the BPTC, and its current syllabus; but it looks at different ways in which it might be re-configured and made less costly. The importance of the professional stage, practical training in pupillage, is emphasised.
In the view of the Inns the importance of pupillage cannot be overstated. It is noted that the paper contains proposals aimed at making pupillage more effective and better regulated. In this response the Inns address detailed problems associated with each of these topics.
July 2015
Response to the BSB Consultation on the Review of Disciplinary Tribunals Regulation
Follow this link to download COIC's response.