What is PASS?

PASS is an outreach programme designed to support aspiring barristers who are not due to start the Bar course until the following academic year at the earliest.

The programme involves a mini-pupillage placement and skills development workshops, all designed to support you in your pursuit of a career at the Bar. Expect lots of facetime with practising barristers and judges as they give you advice and guidance.

Outcomes for participants

• Development of professional and advocacy skills beneficial to pursuing a career at the Bar.
• Increased understanding of the routes to the Bar, including an awareness of how to access funding and support.
• Increased understanding of the Bar and what a career at the Bar involves.
• For those who have been unable to obtain mini-pupillage placements at the beginning of the programme:
• Access to a mini-pupillage without financial obstacles.

Types of activities

PASS consists of a mix of in-person and online delivery. In-person events have an emphasis on informal group work and discussion, networking, and speaking to other aspiring barristers. It is sometimes possible to observe events, such as part of our advocacy course for pupils, and volunteer as witnesses/jurors for other mock trials. Online workshops are more skills-focused and are slightly less interactive. We try to balance this mix so participants are not having to travel to the Inn repeatedly over the course of the academic year.

In-person contact time amounts to approximately 12 hours – not including the mini-pupillage and any optional events, such as Dinner to the Universities or mock trials. Online contact time amounts to approximately 6 hours.