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Nottingham Law School launches new courses for aspiring barristers

Nottingham Law School (NLS) is to launch two new courses for aspiring barristers – the Barristers Training Course (BTC) and the LLM Barristers Training Course (LLM BTC).

    Barrister in court

    This follows authorisation from the Bar Standards Board (BSB), with no conditions attached, for NLS to continue to deliver the vocational component of Bar training from September 2020.

    The courses have been developed in accordance with the BSB’s Future Bar Training programme and in line with the four key principles set by the BSB of flexibility, affordability, accessibility and high standards.

    The courses will run from September each year and, subject to numbers, NLS will also offer a March start date for the BTC.

    Taught by an experienced practitioner team, the six-month BTC includes all the core elements to enable students to be called to the Bar and students who successfully complete the course will receive a Postgraduate Diploma. Those taking the nine-month LLM route will, in addition, study an innovative new module on Advanced Advocacy, Advice and ADR, which will address issues at the cutting-edge of practice, such as vulnerable witnesses and expert evidence, and provide practical experience of alternative dispute resolution. Students will submit a dissertation or undertake legal work experience and complete a reflective report as part of the internationally recognised Masters’ qualification.

    Students will have the opportunity to work on real client cases in the NLS Legal Advice Centre, which is a multi-award-winning teaching law firm. They will also have access to purpose built mock courtrooms and conferencing rooms.

    NLS is part of Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which holds TEF Gold for excellence in teaching and is the Guardian’s University of the Year 2019. BTC students can take advantage of NTU’s innovative facilities and services, including outstanding student support services and employability advice, as well as an array of extra-curricular opportunities

    Deputy Dean of NLS, Jenny Chapman, said: “NLS has been successfully delivering high quality vocational training for those who wish to be called to the Bar since 1997 and is home to the UK’s first Centre for Advocacy and the Centre for Mediation and Dispute Resolution. We are proud of our connections with the Bar and our reputation for excellence in the delivery of training for the Bar as well as our continuous innovation in legal education, all backed up by research which pushes the boundaries of legal knowledge and practice.”

    The 2020/2021 LLM BTC fees will be £14,500 and the BTC fees will be £11,750. In addition, to celebrate the launch, NLS is offering a £1,000 reduction on fees for the first intake of students. Fees cover the cost of the BSB enrolment fee and all course materials and the LLM is eligible for the UK postgraduate government loan. An additional reduction is available for alumni.

    NLS will be holding drop-in events on Wednesday 29 January, Wednesday 11 March and Wednesday 10 June for anyone interested in its postgraduate courses. For further information, visit the LLM BTC or BTC websites.

    • Notes for editors

      Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.

      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards. The award was based on performance and improvement in the Guardian University Guide, retention of students from low-participation areas and attainment of BME students. NTU was also the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2017, and The Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2018. These awards recognise NTU for its high levels of student satisfaction, its quality of teaching, its engagement with employers, and its overall student experience.

      The University has been rated Gold in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest ranking available.

      It is one of the largest UK universities. With nearly 32,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across four campuses, the University contributes £900m to the UK economy every year. With an international student population of more than 3,000 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook.

      The University is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable NTU to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was awarded University of the Year in the UK Social Mobility Awards 2019. A total of 82% of its graduates go on to graduate entry employment or graduate entry education or training within six months of leaving. Student satisfaction is high: NTU achieved an 87% satisfaction score in the 2019 National Student Survey.NTU is also one of the UK’s most environmentally friendly universities, containing some of the sector’s most inspiring and efficient award-winning buildings.

      NTU is home to world-class research, and won The Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 – the highest national honour for a UK university. It recognised the University’s pioneering projects to improve weapon and explosive detection in luggage; enable safer production of powdered infant formula; and combat food fraud.

    Published on 11 December 2019
    • Category: Press office; Nottingham Law School