Pupillage Professional Ethics

The ICCA’s Pupillage Ethics materials have been designed to assist pupils in their preparation for the Bar Standards Board’s centrally-set Pupillage Ethics Exam.

Who does this apply to?

The Pupillage Ethics Exam is compulsory for all students who commenced Bar Training from 2020 onwards, or who completed the Bar Transfer Test from August 2021 onwards.

BPTC graduates who passed the course before summer 2022 are NOT required to take the exam.

Some pupils who are transferring qualified lawyers (TQLs) may have been given a waiver by the BSB, so may be exempt from taking the exam.

If you are unsure whether you have received a waiver you will need to contact the BSB to clarify.

What do the materials cover?

The ICCA has based its Pupillage Ethics Materials on the syllabus set by the Bar Standards Board and every care has been taken to ensure it provides a comprehensive guide to the provisions on which the syllabus is based. However, the exam itself is set and marked by the BSB and the ICCA has no involvement in this process.

How do I access the materials?

The ICCA Pupillage Ethics materials are currently available free of charge to all pupils and pupil supervisors.

Please note, that from 4th September 2023 the ICCA will charge a fee for access to the materials: £150 for pupils, £75 for ICCA alumni. You will have access to the materials for 12 months, irrespective of when you take the BSB’s assessment.

If you have already registered for access to the materials, you can continue to access them free of charge until 31st October 2023, but after this date you will need to create a new account and pay the relevant fee in order to continue to access the materials.

Accessing Materials until 31 October 2023

If you would like to register for free access up to 31st October, you will need to create an account. This will provide you with access to the ICCA’s virtual learning environment (VLE). It is easy to do, follow the steps below.

How to create an account

  1. Navigate to the ICCA’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) homepage (link below)
  2. Create an account (and confirm your registration)
  3. Select the course you wish to enrol on i.e. Pupillage Ethics

For further guidance, read the ICCA’s guide on how to create an account and enrol on a course.

Access Pupillage Ethics materials (until 31 October 2023)

Accessing Materials from 4th September 2023

From 4th September 2023, in order to register to access the materials, you will need to:

  1. Navigate to the ICCA’s new Post Qualification Training website (link below)
  2. Follow the instructions to create a new user account.
  3. Once your account has been created, log in and select Course Catalogue.
  4. Choose the Pupillage Ethics course from the list and follow the instructions to make a purchase.
  5. You will receive an email confirming your enrolment. You will have access to the course materials for 365 days from the date of purchase.
Access Pupillage Ethics materials (from 4 September 2023)

Technical Support

If you require technical support please contact vlesupport@icca.ac.uk.

ICCA Alumni Discount

For ICCA alumni discount please contact pqt@icca.ac.uk who will provide you with a discount code which can be redeemed at checkout.

Where do I go for more information?

The BSB publishes full guidance about the operation of the Ethics Exam, including information about how the exam is marked, and a sample exam paper.

If you have any questions about the exam, including in relation to registration, logistics or other arrangements, these should be directed to the Bar Standards Board: EthicsExam@barstandardsboard.org.uk