Bar Transfer Test (BTT)

The Bar Transfer Test – formerly known as the Bar Aptitude Test – is the transfer test for solicitors and qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions who wish to qualify to practice at the Bar of England and Wales. It is the Bar equivalent of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test.

The Bar Transfer Test is open to European Union lawyers, solicitors admitted in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland barristers, Scottish advocates, Hong Kong barristers and practitioners in other jurisdictions.

Key details: Dates and prices | Ways to study

Key Information

  • Qualify to practise at the Bar of England and Wales
  • Choose between two sittings a year in April and September
  • BPP organises, sets and marks the BTT on behalf of the Bar Standards Board
  • Learn with one of the UK's leading BPTC providers
Call admissions: 0845 077 5566
Events

Your passport to the Bar

The Bar Transfer Test is for solicitors and qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions who wish to qualify to practise at the Bar of England and Wales.

View The Bar Transfer Test Handbook 2012 (PDF - 385 KB)

The Bar Transfer Test consist of six written assessments and one oral assessment in the following areas of knowledge and skills:

  • Civil Procedure
  • Constitutional and Administrative Law
  • The Law of Contract
  • Criminal Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Drafting
  • English Legal System
  • Equity and Trusts
  • Law of the European Union
  • Evidence
  • Opinion Writing
  • The Law of Property
  • The Law of Tort
  • Preparation and oral presentation to a court or tribunal of one or more cases or applications
  • Preparation and conduct of an examination in chief or cross-examination
  • Knowledge of the rules of professional conduct

Start dates

The Bar Transfer Test is held over one week in April and September each year.

Sections Four and Five are usually held over the course of two weekends.

April 2012

View complete start dates for September 2012.


10th February 2012

Deadline for submission of entry form for candidates required to sit any or all of Sections. 1 and 2 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in April 2012.

1st March 2012

Deadline for entry to sit Sections 3, 4 and/or 5 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in April 2012.

  • Friday 30th March: Advocacy training (lecture)
  • Saturday 31st March: Advocacy training (tutorials)
  • Sunday 1st April: Advocacy training (mock assessments)
  • Monday 2nd April: Section 1(a) assessment
  • Tuesday 3rd April: Section 1(b) assessment
  • Wednesday 4th April: Section 2(a) assessment
  • Thursday 5th April: Section 2(b) assessment
  • Friday 6th April: Section 3 assessment
  • Saturday 7th April: Sections 4 & 5 assessments
  • Results for the April sitting of the Bar Transfer Test will be published on 25th May 2012

September 2012

2nd July 2012

Deadline for submission of entry form for candidates required to sit any or all of Sections 1 and 2 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in September 2012.

1st August 2012

Deadline for entry to sit Sections 3, 4 and/or 5 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in September 2012.

  • Friday 31st August: Advocacy training (lecture)
  • Saturday 1st September: Advocacy training (tutorials)
  • Sunday 2nd September: Advocacy training (mock assessments)
  • Monday 3rd September: Section 1(a) assessment
  • Tuesday 4th September: Section 1(b) assessment
  • Wednesday 5th September: Section 2(a) assessment
  • Thursday 6th September: Section 2(b) assessment
  • Friday 7th September: Section 3 assessment
  • Sunday 9th September: Sections 4 & 5 assessments

Results for the September sitting of the Bar Transfer Test will be published on 26th Oct 2012.

The fee for candidates required to take the whole of the Bar Transfer Test is £2,250

In addition the fee for the training course for section 5 is £750. This training course is compulsory if you are taking section 5 of the test for the first time.

For candidates required to take some Sections of the Bar Transfer Test only (see 4 below) the fees for individual sections are as follows:

Section (i)
Part A £200 
Part B £200

Section (ii)
Part A £150 
Part B £150

Section (iii)
£250

Section (iv)
£250

Section (v)
£300

Fees for the test and the training course must be paid by cheque or bankers' draft made payable to BPP College of Professional Studies Ltd, and must be included with your application form. Cash is not acceptable.

Flexible learning

You can prepare for the Bar Transfer Test through a combination of private study, a short training programme and a seminar (depending on which section you are taking).

We also provide a compulsory short training programme in advance of the Section Five Advocacy test.

Sitting the Test

There will be two sittings of the Test each year, set approximately six months apart.

Students who are only required to take the assessment on Rules of Professional Conduct may be allowed to take the Test at other times of year – but this comes down to the discretion of the examiners.

Other aspects of the Test can only be taken outside the normal times in exceptional circumstances and where it is practicable, with the approval of the Examination Board.

How to apply

If you wish to transfer to the Bar, you must first get approval from the Qualifications Committee at the Bar Standards Board. They will usually require you to take the Bar Transfer Test, or certain sections of it.

When you have approval from the Bar Standards Board, you must apply to BPP to take the Bar Transfer Test. We organise, set and mark the test (on behalf of the Bar Standards Board), and also run the preliminary Advocacy training programme in preparation for it.

To apply to practise at the Bar of England and Wales, send your completed Bar Transfer Test application form to:

The Qualifications Committee
Bar Standards Board
289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ

Tel: +44 (0)207 611 1444

Website: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Requirements for transfer to the Bar

  • To transfer to the Bar of England and Wales for qualified lawyers you must:
  • Seek the approval of the Qualifications Committee of the Bar Standards Board to practise at the Bar of England and Wales
  • Join one of the Inns of Court
  • Pass all parts of the Bar Transfer Test specified by the Qualifications Committee at the same sitting
  • Undertake pupillage as specified by the Qualifications Committee

Applications

Once you have approval from the Bar Standards Board's Qualifications Committee to take the test, you can submit your application form to BPP, along with a copy of the certificate from the Bar Standards Board requiring you to take the test and the fees. Please submit your application to:

BPP College of Professional Studies
68-70 Red Lion Street
London
WC1R 4NY


Please note that applications will only be accepted in hard copy and not by email. It is permissible to send an email copy of the letter from the Qualifications Committee.

April 2012 10th February 2012 - Deadline for submission of entry form for candidates required to sit any or all of Sections 1 and 2 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in April 2012. 1st March 2012 - Deadline for entry to sit Sections 3, 4 and/or 5 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in April 2012 September 2012 2nd July 2012 - Deadline for submission of entry form for candidates required to sit any or all of Sections 1 and 2 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in September 2012 1st August 2012 - Deadline for entry to sit Sections 3, 4 and/or 5 of the Bar Transfer Test to be held in September 2012

Study locations

The Bar Transfer Test is held at our Law School in London Holborn, close to many of the major firms.