The University of Hertfordshire has been given the green light by the bar regulator to resume its bar vocational course this autumn.

The university’s course has been on hold since September 2023 when the Bar Standards Board announced it had varied the university’s authorisation to deliver vocational bar training.

Today, the BSB said it had worked with the university over the last year ‘to ensure the necessary improvements are being implemented and we recognise the considerable work put in by the university to ensure that appropriate standards are met’.

The university (pictured above) was originally granted authorisation in November 2021 and its first bar course began in September 2022. 

The course will recommence in September. The BSB will ‘closely monitor course delivery to ensure that the university is complying with the mandatory requirements in the [regulator’s] authorisation framework and that students are property supported’.

Professor Penny Carey, dean of Hertfordshire Law School at the university, said: ‘We have been working extremely hard and very closely with the [BSB] to respond to their recommendations and ensure all necessary requirements are met. We are delighted these efforts have paid off, and look forward to reintroducing BSB accredited, vocational bar training for our students from this September.

‘Our focus firmly remains on increasing much-needed accessibility and diversity within the legal profession, and we look forward to continuing to work with BSB to ensure the long-term, successful delivery of this objective.’

The university said the law school has worked hard to refocus all aspects around the teaching, learning and pastoral framework to support students. This includes:

  • A new course design with additional delivery time to prepare students for the centralised assessments;
  • An extra focus on skills teaching, including the flagship skill of advocacy – with over 40 hours of classes on advocacy and conference skills;
  • Intensive revision and dedicated pastoral support for students resitting assessments;
  • Establishing a LawTalk Student Partnership Programme to support the academic and professional development of students waiting to start the programme with peer support continuing throughout the training year; amd
  • Enhanced personal tutoring including a bespoke professional development programme.