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 Or is this stereotype way out of date?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?