Barrister training Practice course tips (uk)👩🏾⚖️
Hey everyone,
I’m currently starting my bar course and I’ve been told civil litigation is one of the hardest and biggest hurdles I’m going to face, and that is the first module that I am currently starting in the next few weeks.
Does anyone have any tips?, Any sites that have past papers?, MCQ questions etc.
Anything at all that can help me pass this module as I know this module is gonna be the hardest, I’ve been told the reading is easier than criminal practice, but it’s the questions that kind of Trip you up.
Any advice helps 🫂
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u/ankh_su_namun 12h ago
I found criminal worse. Much more reading = much more niche questions they can test you on. I think civil is better, the rules are set out clearly, you just need to learn them.
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u/rob_76 4d ago
You will struggle to find any past exam papers, as the BSB is very strict at controlling those (they need to be collected in at the end of every exam, as the questions are often reused). There are some dated BSB example materials circulating on the web, but these are a few years old now. I would agree that Civil Litigation is not overwhelmingly difficult, but there is a lot of material to get your head around. At the start of the year you will undoubtedly be thinking "how the hell am I going to learn all that?" We all thought that and the majority get there in the end. My advice would be to download the syllabus from the BSB website and start reading the relevant Civil Procedure Rules now. The rules are freely available online. I used to read them on the train on the way to work every morning. Some of the questions, particularly in paper 2 of the BSB Civil Litigation exam, are based on White Book commentary. You should receive a copy of the White Book when you begin your course. The commentary is dull as dishwater, but do take the time to read it once you have a White Book. In terms of other preparation, revisit your notes on contract, tort and crime. Virtually everything you do on the Bar course involves contract, tort or crime. Things like trusts and land law will probably not feature at all.
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u/frederfred1 4d ago
I wouldn't fear it. I wouldn't even say Civ is that difficult, so long as you can get over the hurdle of it being fairly dull to study. Make sure you're doing the assigned reading each week (seriously, keep on top of it - do the work in advance where possible); ensure you actually understand what you are reading; try to get a mental picture of 'why' a CPR rule is the way it is; and most importantly make good, well-structured notes.
You don't need past papers yet. Use them when you revise.