I have recently noticed there are many students working on Inns of Court and BPTC applications. After speaking to a few of them, it suddenly dawned on me how much preparation has to go into these applications. So, my question is, does the Bar Standards Board (BSB) aim to discourage prospective Barristers to achieve their dreams with all the paper work involved? Perhaps, as an optimist, I should think not. However, recent developments has made me question their intentions.
According to the BSB, after a pilot aptitude test was carried earlier this year, it has been decided that such a test is to become mandatory on all prospective applicants to the BPTC programme. This became evident because of the Wood Report of 2008. This brought to light several issues such as; the lack of pupillages available for existing Barristers as well as potential ones, a rise in the pass marks, re-naming the course to what it is today (BPTC) and language proficiency.
Despite criticisms by the Office of Fair Trade that it is not competive at all, it could potentially be working in favour of students. This is because it will provide a sufficient means of regulating the number of intakes on the BPTC programme and in doing so, ensuring that they are of the right 'calibre' to enroll on the course and pass the first time. If you think about it, an international student like myself is paying thousands of pounds to be able to get the ESQ title like anyone else, so why make all that hard earned money go to waste? We all want value for our money and what better way to do this by introducing an aptitude test. My only thought is that hopefully, if one were to fail and give up on the BPTC programme, a money back guarantee would be a way to seek recourse.
On the other hand, it may be argued that an aptitude test for the BPTC may not be advantageous after all. For one, it would possibly act as a means of discouraging prospective BPTC students who are not from an English speaking background. The fear of failure is only too much to bear.
Secondly, the proposed aptitude test has 2 elements to it; to test analytical and critical reasoning and English. The Wood Report suggested this should be carried out in a form multiple choice. After years of schooling, I am of the view that multiple choice exams are not exactly the best means of testing someone's knowledge. In fact, it would probably help the struggling potential BPTC candidates pass on a lucky streak. Therefore, when they move further onto the course, they will be struggling and probably tend to drag their classes behind. Thirdly, the fact that the test has been proposed to be available only twice a year online is a further detriment as access is limited. However, having said this, the fact that prospective BPTC students can have as many re-takes as possible to the aptitude test makes it less of an issue. This will obviously seperate the true and determined barristers from those that do not want to embark on that path. Therefore, if anything, it would help candidates decide whether they really want to persue a career in law or not.
To conclude, I would say that I am not necessarily in support of the idea of having an aptitude test for the BPTC because it could potentially go against you if you were to fail a few times then successfully enrol on the course. I may be wrong but I am of the view that certain institutions may hold it against a student for failing and therefore, not give them the necessary attention they need and instead focus on the more intellectually sound students. This is what has been happening in the past and I am sure the aptitude test will make matters worse in this respect. Ultimately, the fact that applications are so tedious to get completed would also suggest that a further pre-requisite to the BPTC would mean that more money would be spent in addition to the tuition fees one would pay for the programme. Hence, is the BSB making students' lives difficult in introducing all these costly applications and aptitude tests? Is it all worth it? Could we be sure that after the aptitude test we would pass the BPTC course the first time? Nothing is for certain but one thing is for sure; the road to becoming a Barrister is long, challenging one, filled with blood, sweat and tears. Are you ready for it?
For more info please log onto:
http://www.thelawyer.com/bptc-pilot-test-to-be-made-compulsory/1005439.article
http://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/assets/documents/BVC%20Report%20with%20annexes.pdf
http://l2b.thelawyer.com/law-soc-calls-for-lpc-entrance-test/1005503.article
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