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With increasing numbers of applicants for pupillage each year, many prospective applicants are understandably anxious about how they are going to finance their studies for entry into the profession. However, there are a number of options to assist Bar hopefuls with their studies for postgraduate Bar training.
The Inns of Court remain the biggest funders for prospective barristers, distributing over £6 million of funding between them each year. They mainly provide funding for the vocational component, but there is also funding available for the conversion course (eg the GDL), support during pupillage, support for disabled students, and other prizes and grants. You must be a member of the Inn from which you receive your funding, and you can only apply to one Inn’s scholarship fund, so you should browse each of the Inn’s websites carefully to ensure that you find the Inn that best suits your needs. Remember that applications for Inns’ scholarships close on the first Friday of November of each year, so you should give yourself plenty of time to prepare – many students only become aware of the funding deadline after it has passed, so it is important to consider your options in good time, particularly if you are starting your course outside of the standard academic year.
There are also a number of other sources of funding, including:
There are also loans available for many students. Some high street banks may offer graduate loans, and the government offers a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for those studying the LLM combined with the vocational component (for students based in England only). This loan may not cover all your study and living costs, but it may provide additional financial support if required. Similar loans and bursaries may be available from the Welsh government as well. You should be aware that applying for a loan means that you will have additional debt when you qualify. It is worth exploring the other funding options (eg the Inns), and you may want to speak to a financial adviser where relevant.
Funding is often the biggest concern when we speak to students, as it can make qualifying as a barrister feel unattainable. You should be reassured that there are several funding options available once you start looking. For further information, please see the Bar Council website or contact: Careers@BarCouncil.org.uk.
With increasing numbers of applicants for pupillage each year, many prospective applicants are understandably anxious about how they are going to finance their studies for entry into the profession. However, there are a number of options to assist Bar hopefuls with their studies for postgraduate Bar training.
The Inns of Court remain the biggest funders for prospective barristers, distributing over £6 million of funding between them each year. They mainly provide funding for the vocational component, but there is also funding available for the conversion course (eg the GDL), support during pupillage, support for disabled students, and other prizes and grants. You must be a member of the Inn from which you receive your funding, and you can only apply to one Inn’s scholarship fund, so you should browse each of the Inn’s websites carefully to ensure that you find the Inn that best suits your needs. Remember that applications for Inns’ scholarships close on the first Friday of November of each year, so you should give yourself plenty of time to prepare – many students only become aware of the funding deadline after it has passed, so it is important to consider your options in good time, particularly if you are starting your course outside of the standard academic year.
There are also a number of other sources of funding, including:
There are also loans available for many students. Some high street banks may offer graduate loans, and the government offers a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for those studying the LLM combined with the vocational component (for students based in England only). This loan may not cover all your study and living costs, but it may provide additional financial support if required. Similar loans and bursaries may be available from the Welsh government as well. You should be aware that applying for a loan means that you will have additional debt when you qualify. It is worth exploring the other funding options (eg the Inns), and you may want to speak to a financial adviser where relevant.
Funding is often the biggest concern when we speak to students, as it can make qualifying as a barrister feel unattainable. You should be reassured that there are several funding options available once you start looking. For further information, please see the Bar Council website or contact: Careers@BarCouncil.org.uk.
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