Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS)

PASS is a leading programme designed to support aspiring barristers who are not due to start the Bar course until Autumn 2024 at the earliest

PASS was established in 2012 by the Inner Temple and 62 different partner chambers across a range of practice areas. 

Our aim is to improve access to the profession and to support high achieving students from under-represented backgrounds by providing experiences and developing skills that will support a career at the Bar. 

We aim to arrange a mini-pupillage for each of our participants and cover reasonable associated travel costs (and accommodation costs, where needed).

In addition, PASS supports participants by providing a focused professional and advocacy skills development programme via a mix of in-person and online delivery. We will also cover reasonable costs for PASS participants to attend these in-person sessions.

An additional scholarship is available through our partnership with the Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR), for which candidates can indicate an interest on their PASS application.

OUTCOMES FOR PARTICIPANTS
Our desired outcomes for PASS participants are as follows:

  • Developing professional and advocacy skills beneficial to pursuing a career at the Bar
  • Accessing a mini-pupillage in chambers without financial obstacles
  • Increased understanding the routes to the Bar, including an awareness of how to access funding and support.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible for PASS you must:

  • Have attended a UK state school between the ages of 11-18 or for the majority of that period. Those with UK refugee status are exempt from this criterion.

AND

  • Be on course for (or have achieved) at least a 2:1 in your undergraduate degree or, where a classification lower than a 2:1 was achieved, demonstrated academic ability at a higher level of study or in the workplace.

 You must also meet at least one of the following criteria: 

  • First generation of your family to access higher education
  • Your primary carer(s) received income or housing support/benefits, or you are in receipt of income or housing support/benefits
  • Recipient of Free School Meals at any point
  • In the care of the Local Authority at any point in your schooling. This is often referred to as being ‘care experienced’ or a ‘care leaver’
  • Attended a school with a history of low attainment and progression to higher education.

We welcome applications from mature applicants and applicants with disabilities. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Participation in one of the below partner programmes is also considered as part of the application:

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Once we have determined that a candidate is eligible for the scheme, we assess applications against four key strength areas which we ask the candidate to demonstrate in their written application and in a short recorded video interview. These strength areas are:

  • Motivation to pursue a career at the Bar and an understanding of how PASS can support you to do this
  • Teamwork
  • Effective time prioritisation
  • Research and written presentation of work.

To be eligible for the COMBAR scholarship, candidates must also demonstrate an interest in the needs of commercial business via an additional short, recorded video interview.

Applications for PASS were open from late June 2023 to late September 2023; applications are now closed.