Barrister's clerk : Training

Training is very much on the job, learning by working with an experienced clerk. Employing chambers will often provide practical training and may support further training through relevant organisations such as the Institute of Business Consulting (IBC) .

The IBC offers the one-year BTEC Advanced Award in Chambers Administration for Barristers' Clerks . This professional qualification is aimed at those with up to five years' experience and certifies competence as a junior clerk. The course, mainly delivered through distance learning, comprises four units:

• Unit 1: Barristers' clerks: their work in context.
• Unit 2: Understanding the English legal system.
• Unit 3: Communication skills.
• Unit 4: Practical clerking.

Employing chambers may also use Chambers People , a specialist recruitment agency, to provide training sessions to their clerks.

With experience, clerks will develop knowledge and expertise in the specific areas of law undertaken by their chambers, for example criminal, commercial, property, family, employment or pensions law.

It is important for barristers’ clerks to keep up to date with current legal issues, as well as market changes and administration issues. The IBC offers a range of topical seminars and an annual conference.

Membership of the IBC is open to all barristers’ clerks and is useful for networking and career development. Those with five years' work in chambers and the BTEC can apply for qualified membership. Graduates are not required to take the BTEC course in order to become qualified members, but must have three years’ service in chambers.