Bar Transfer Programme (BTT)

Learn from experienced barristers with extensive professional experience, to enable you to transfer to the Bar of England and Wales.

Bar Transfer Programme (BTT)

Barristers play a vital role in the administration of justice. They must uphold the reputation of the Bar and demonstrate a high standard of professional practice to justify the trust placed in them by the public and other professionals.

To this end, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published a Professional Statement for Barristers incorporating the Threshold Standard and Competences, which describes the knowledge, skills and attributes all barristers will have on “day one” of practice. The Bar Transfer Test (BTT) allows candidates to demonstrate that they have met the Competences outlined in the Professional Statement which they have not already demonstrated through their professional and academic experience.

Structure & Eligibility

Subject to exemption from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) for part A of the Bar Transfer Test (BTT) – in whole or in part – Part B of the BTT would have to be undertaken by each candidate. This would have to be completed within a period of 02 years from the date of the exemption letter from the BSB.

PART A (Legal Foundation Subjects)	PART B (relating to BPTC)
Public Law	Advocacy
Law of the EU	Civil Litigation and Evidence
Obligations including Contract, Restitution and Tort	Criminal Litigation, Evidence and Sentencing
Criminal Law	Professional Ethics
Property Law
Equity and the Law of Trusts
English Legal System

Eligibility

- - Licence to practice before the courts in Pakistan – High Court Bar licence preferred
  - Hold an undergraduate degree in Law (2.2/2nd Division)
  - Have work experience of 03 years as a practicing lawyer or any other related work experience
  - A score above 7.5 in each section of IELTS Academic Test

In order to pass part B of the BTT, a candidate would have to attend a 03- day advocacy training session for Paper B at the BPP in the UK.

In addition, there can be more qualifying sessions to attend at the Inns of Court as required by the BSB. These could be completed within 03 years of being called to the Bar of England and Wales.

Membership of the Inns of Court

For Lincoln’s Inn, the following documents shall be required with the application:

- - Admission Declaration
  - Two certificates of good character
  - Four Inns of Court Forms
  - Ethnic Origins Form
  - A copy of the application form submitted to the BSB for exemption
  - A copy of the letter received from the BSB giving details of approval and the formalities required to be met for the grant of exemption.
  - A certificate of good standing from the candidate’s professional body not issued three months before the application.

“Three- day advocacy training sessions would have to be attended by each exempted candidate to pass Part B for the BTT.”

Steps to the BTT

Exemption from the Bar Standards Board	Exemption is sought from the BSB for the Legal Foundation subjects in Part A of the BTT. The decision could take eight to ten weeks after an exemption application along with required documents and fee for the application, is received by the BSB. The exemption is discretionary and usually requires a minimum of 03 – years practice The exemption becomes more likely with the following: • UOL LLB Degree • Master of Laws • High Court License • Standing of 03 years or more • Work experience as a law teacher • Other relevant work experience
Membership of the Inns of Court	Membership of any of the Inns of Court would have to be required to be called to the Bar. The decision on membership of a foreign qualified lawyer could take eight to ten weeks. For Lincoln’s Inn, the following documents shall be required with the application: • Admission Declaration Two certificates of good character • Four Inns of Court Forms • Ethnic Origins Form • A copy of the application form submitted to the BSB for exemption • A copy of the letter received from the BSB giving details of approval and the formalities required to be met for the grant of exemption. • A certificate of good standing from the candidate’s professional body not issued three months before the application.
Registration of BTT with BPP Law School	Once the decision letter of BSB has been received and the applicant has been granted the exemption by the BSB, they may then apply to the BPP Law School for registration for the BTT. Three- day advocacy training sessions would have to be attended by each exempted candidate only required to pass Part B for the BTT. There are two sittings for the BTT (March/April and August/September). Passing and Attempts • The passing grade for each exam of Part B is 60%. • A BTT candidate has three attempts at the BTT only. • Failing at first attempt would allow a candidate to appear a second time for that paper. • Failing on second attempt for any paper shall require the candidate to re-sit all the allocated papers.

Exemption from the Bar Standards Board

Exemption is sought from the BSB for the Legal Foundation subjects in Part A of the BTT.
The decision could take eight to ten weeks after an exemption application along with required documents and fee for the application, is received by the BSB.
The exemption is discretionary and usually requires a minimum of 03 – years practice
The exemption becomes more likely with the following:
• UOL LLB Degree
• Master of Laws
• High Court License
• Standing of 03 years or more
• Work experience as a law teacher
• Other relevant work experience

Membership of the Inns of Court

Membership of any of the Inns of Court would have to be required to be called to the Bar.
The decision on membership of a foreign qualified lawyer could take eight to ten weeks.
For Lincoln’s Inn, the following documents shall be required with the application:
• Admission Declaration Two certificates of good character
• Four Inns of Court Forms • Ethnic Origins Form
• A copy of the application form submitted to the BSB for exemption
• A copy of the letter received from the BSB giving details of approval and the formalities required to be met for the grant of exemption.
• A certificate of good standing from the candidate’s professional body not issued three months before the application.

Registration of BTT with BPP Law School

Once the decision letter of BSB has been received and the applicant has been granted the exemption by the BSB, they may then apply to the BPP Law School for registration for the BTT.
Three- day advocacy training sessions would have to be attended by each exempted candidate only required to pass Part B for the BTT.
There are two sittings for the BTT (March/April and August/September).
Passing and Attempts
• The passing grade for each exam of Part B is 60%.
• A BTT candidate has three attempts at the BTT only.
• Failing at first attempt would allow a candidate to appear a second time for that paper.
• Failing on second attempt for any paper shall require the candidate to re-sit all the allocated papers.