Important changes to the approval of Pupil Supervisors

On 1 April 2019, the BSB Handbook was amended and the new Bar Qualification Rules came into force. The BSB also published their new Bar Qualification Manual.  Under the new rules, Authorised Education & Training Organisations (AETOs) are now responsible for appointing suitable pupil supervisors for their pupillages. This means that the Inns are no longer responsible for approving barristers as pupil supervisors.

The full press release is available here.

Approval

The Bar Qualification Manual sets out how pupil supervisors are now registered with the BSB (see Part 2, C2). The BSB no longer prescribes any eligibility criteria but they do set out some suggested areas for AETOs to consider when assessing the suitability of potential supervisors at paragraphs 1.9 and 1.10 in Part 2, C2 of the Manual.

Pupil Supervisors must receive training and refresher training that meets outcomes set by the BSB. The BSB has not yet set these but will do so by 2020, in consultation with the Inns.

In the meantime, the Inns will continue to offer training as planned. The dates and locations are below:

• 22 January 2020 - Lincoln's
• 2 March 2020 - Middle
• 30 April 2020 - Inner
• 6 July 2020 - Gray's
• 24 September 2020 - Lincoln's

Please note that the sessions are open to members of all the Inns.