A Year in Education
The overriding theme for the last year in Education and Training (E&T) has been success. There have been tremendous achievements across the whole range of educational activities and at all levels.
Our activities have not been limited to those students joining and setting out in the profession. In November 2024, the Inn hosted an expert symposium on appellate advocacy, with a stellar array of speakers giving practical insights for established practitioners. This has been built on with a series of webinars. The theme for May 2025 was Movers and Returners, to empower retention and progression through the range of opportunities available at the Bar. Both were very well received. In July 2025, we returned to the theme of Open Source Evidence, which generated great interest in 2023. This will be complemented by a series of events in the autumn exploring how artificial intelligence is developing and how it will affect practice at the Bar.
For those at the start of their career, we have had strong feedback from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) on our evaluations of the admissions process and the delivery of Qualifying Sessions. Notable positive comments covered our work on reasonable adjustments and supporting wellbeing. These are the product of preparing transparent policies so that students know how the Inn will support them.
The extracurricular and social activities remain an important aspect of the vocational stage. We are proud to have a thriving group of student societies, each with a busy programme of activities and achieving in their fields. 2025 marked particular success for the Mooting Society, where the team qualified for the finals of the Jessup International Law Moot in Washington, together with other domestic and international achievements. The Debating Society has contributed contestants and judges for events throughout the UK and Europe.
New regulatory requirements for the Pupils’ Advocacy Course were introduced by the BSB in September 2024. As a result, the Inn’s programme has been approved, recognising the high quality created and run by a dedicated group of practitioners.
Student and pupil ambassador roles, which had already been embedded in the E&T Committee, have been incorporated into the design and delivery of the range of educational programmes. Their perspective has informed and enhanced the experience for the cohorts that shall follow.
In order to ensure the continued success of the variety of educational programmes, after a working group in 2024, a new strategy for the next five years was developed and introduced. This strategy encapsulates the vision:
“We aspire to attract diverse talent to the Bar and provide excellent education and support through all stages of our members’ careers, being inclusive to all. We embrace innovation whilst respecting the history and heritage of the Inn, shaping a legal community where all thrive.”
Six priorities were set out: aspiring to excellence, supporting the members, valuing our volunteers, being innovative, being inclusive and collaborating with others. Those are aligned to each of the E&T programmes. To deliver that vision, specific projects have been allocated for more intense activity at different stages during the five years to ensure that we continue to deliver our core programmes. The first tranche of projects includes an independent evaluation of the scholarship process that supports so many promising candidates, an evaluation of the highly successful Pegasus Access and Support Scheme, and a review of the scope and operation of the mentoring scheme – all of which impact those at the early stages. Supporting the range of activities will be the introduction of a volunteering strategy, backed by research sent to members before the vacation, designed to draw on the talent and provide opportunities for members across the spectrum of practice and experience.
The development of that strategy and the expansion of offerings for established practitioners have been shining achievements of Master Juliet May’s leadership of the E&T Committee in recent years, prior to her election as Reader. We are grateful for the vision and focus that Master Juliet May has brought to the E&T Committee and we look forward to delivering on these initiatives over the next year. I hope that all willing members of the Inn can join us and benefit from the thriving range of activities.
His Honour Judge Simon Heptonstall
Circuit Judge
Chair, Education and Training Committee