Exeter Law School

Bridging the Bar: Apply to be part of the 27/28 Academy

Posted by The Law School

8 October 2026

The Bridging the Bar Academy is a free programme helping aspiring barristers to take the next step towards a legal career. Here are the details for the 2027/28 Academy.


Bridging the Bar is a charity working to widen access to the profession. Applications are now open for our 2027/28 Academy, which supports 100 aspiring barristers through:

  • Individual mentoring from a practising barrister offering guidance on their next steps.
  • Guaranteed work experience providing practical experience of life at the Bar.
  • Opportunities to apply for paid internships with organisations including the UK Supreme Court and the Law Commission.
  • Advocacy training, pupillage application guidance, and interview support, building the skills and confidence to compete for pupillage.


The Academy offers support that can make a real difference to aspiring barristers’ prospects:

  • 100% of respondents from our last cohort would recommend Bridging the Bar Academy. 
  • 100% of pupillage offer holders who responded from our last cohort reported the Academy materially aided their success. 
  • Respondents from our 24/25 cohort were 2.6 to 5.7 times as likely to secure pupillage as applicants in the Pupillage Gateway comparison data.

Applications close at 17:00 on Thursday 5 November 2026. 

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