//Past Events 2019

[2022] [2021] [2020] [2019] [2018] [2017] [2016] [2015]
[2014] [2013] [2012] [2011] [2010] [2009] [2008]

2019 Denning Lecture (4 December)
Sport & Legal Life (11 November)
Student Evening (22 October)
CMA/FCA Seminar (17 October)
BACFI Wine Tasting (25 September)
Becoming an Authorised Education and Training Organisation for Pupillage
BACFI Garden Party (12 June)
The Oil and Gas Industry (10 April)
Legal Department of the Future (21 February)

Becoming an Authorised Education and Training Organisation for Pupillage
27th June 2019

In June 2019, BACFI hosted a seminar on the current regulatory framework and practicalities for becoming an ‘Authorised Education and Training Organisation for Pupillage’ (AETO) in conjunction with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Employed Barristers’ Committee (EBC) of the Bar Council.

The speakers at the seminar included Julia Witting (Head of Supervision, BSB), James Kitching (Barrister/Partner, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP), Mike Jones QC (CPS, Wales), Vinesh Mistry (Pupil, DWF Advocacy) and Andre Nwadikwa-Jonathan, (CPS, North London). The event was well-attended by a variety of commercial organisations considering offering pupillages at the employed Bar together with other organisations that have already embarked upon the application process.

The initiative for the seminar stemmed from a gradual decline in the availability of employed pupillages within commerce and industry over time as a result of regulatory changes, a shortage of appropriately qualified pupillage supervisors, and, other factors, such as minimum pupillage awards. In particular, BACFI and the EBC wanted to respond to a number queries received from commercial organisations interested in understanding the process for becoming an AETO and in obtaining practical guidance on the next steps.

Julia Witting began the seminar by describing the current BSB regulatory framework. She explained the requirements for becoming an AETO and the recent changes introduced by the BSB to encourage greater flexibility, accessibility affordability in the process and a wider range of AETOs. Specifically, she explained the new ‘Professional Statement’ by the BSB aimed at ensuring that all barristers meet the threshold standard of having all knowledge, skills and attributes on ‘day one’ of practice.

James Kitching outlined Fried Frank’s journey to certification as an AETO and spoke about the practicalities for firms, and corporates, in meeting the advocacy training criteria. He detailed the opportunities for the secondment of pupils to sets of chambers and the recent initiative by the EBC to establish a secondment hub. He also provided an insight into in-house advocacy training. Mike Jones QC gave a typically charismatic and humorous account of employed pupillage in the CPS and the benefits to pupils in terms of diversity of opportunity, responsibility and collegiality. He also spoke of the rewarding experience of being a pupillage supervisor.

As always, the real ‘stars of the show’ were the employed pupils. The audience heard from Vinesh Mistry and Andre Nwadikwa-Jonathan on their unique experiences within an advocacy unit of a law firm and the CPS respectively. They reinforced the benefits of training at the employed Bar through the depth and breadth of their experiences, which ranged from civil trials to counter-terrorism work. For many in the room, if any additional inspiration was required to take the first steps to becoming an AETO, it was embodied in them.

If you are an employer, or other organisation in commerce or industry, interested in potentially becoming an AETO, you are encouraged to view the following webinar and podcast from the evening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1_NqoMlQ6k : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkiMmrRi1Aw.

Many thanks to Fried Frank Harris Shriver and Jacobson LLP for hosting this event.

Archive list of 2021 events
Archive list of 2020 events
Archive list of 2019 events
Archive list of 2018 events
Archive list of 2017 events
Archive list of 2016 events
Archive list of 2015 events
Archive list of 2014 events
Archive list of 2013 events
Archive list of 2012 events
Archive list of 2011 events
Archive list of 2010 events
Archive list of 2009 events
Archive list of 2008 events
Archive list of 2007 events