In a Talkback special, legalweek.com is calling for views on the Bar Council's drive to make the Bar more diverse.

We will submit the postings – as well as all previous contributions, which you can read here – to the Entry to the Bar working party, which is currently consulting on a series of proposals. You can access the consultation paper here.

The working party has suggested:

• a requirement for all BVC providers to publish the number of pupillages and tenancies their graduates obtain;
• a cap on the number of BVC places;
• a tougher entrance requirements for the BVC and a lower pass rate;
• a voluntary aptitude test for would-be BVC students to help them ascertain their chances of becoming barristers;
• a requirement for chambers to inform students of the outcome of their pupillage applications before the BVC providers require commitment to and payment for the BVC;
• a lifting of the ban on unpaid pupillages;
• a requirement for chambers to offer paid pupillages; and
• a requirement for chambers to diversify their recruitment activity.

Is the Bar dominated by Oxbridge-educated, former public school boys? Or is this stereotype way out of date? Is the BVC course too expensive, should there be a cap on places and what is the quality of the teaching like anyway? Or does the blame lie with chambers and their recruitment policies?

And why is all the attention on the Bar, when the solicitors' profession is arguably just as elitist?

See Editors' Blog

Click here to have your say and join the debate.