The Bar Standards Board is responsible for setting the education and training requirements for becoming a barrister. We are recruiting a Subject Lead External Examiner to ensure that the common assessment criteria for the vocational component of Bar training specified in our Curriculum and Assessment Strategy are met. Barristers play a vital role in the administration of justice. They must demonstrate a high standard of professional practice to justify the trust placed in them by the public and other professionals.

 

We are recruiting the following roles commencing in May 2025, to join our current team of Subject Lead External Examiners:

 

• 1 Subject Lead External Examiner in Legal Research and Opinion Writing
• 1 Subject Specialist External Examiner in Professional Ethics,
• 1 Subject Specialist External Examiner in Legal Research and Opinion Writing
• 1 Subject Specialist External Examiner in Conference Skills

 

Subject Specialist External Examiners act on behalf of the Bar Standards Board (“BSB”) in monitoring the consistency of standards of assessments set by the organisations that we authorise to provide the vocational component of Bar training (Authorised Education and Training Organisations or “AETOs”) in their specialist subject area. These are:

1. Advocacy
2. Professional Ethics
3. Opinion Writing and Legal Research
4. Drafting
5. Conference Skills

 

Subject Specialist External Examiners must be competent in the relevant subject area and be familiar with quality assurance practices established in UK Higher Education. They must demonstrate integrity, impartiality, and independence.

 

Subject Lead External Examiners oversee and co-ordinate the work of the Subject Specialist External Examiners. They are responsible for taking an overview of assessments in their subject area across all AETOs to ensure consistency of assessment on behalf of the BSB.

 

They also report any urgent concerns as they arise.

 

A current list of AETOs is available on our website. External Examiners review assessments in their subject areas across a range of AETO locations but will not be required to visit them to do so. Our External Examiners are no longer be required to visit AETOs to assess student experience. Some travel may be required to attend Extenuating Circumstance and Final Boards, but these can be attended remotely.

 

An indication of fees for the role and subject area is shown in the Candidate Brief.  The successful candidate will enter into a consultancy agreement for services with the BSB and will not be employed by the BSB. Reasonable expenses can be claimed in line with the BSB’s expenses policy.

 

Application Process

 

Applications should be made to EErecruitment@barstandardsboard.org.uk including:

 

• A full CV detailing your qualifications, employment, skills, and experience;

 

• A covering letter (of no more than three pages) stating why the position you are applying for interests you, how you meet the selection criteria detailed in this candidate brief;

 

If you wish to seek a reasonable adjustment to the recruitment process for any reason, please tell us when making your application.

 

Please note that we will retain your application information for a period of one year after receipt.

 

We aim to recruit talented candidates and value diversity in background, skills, and experience. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all applicants.

 

 

Timetable

 

Closing date for applications: 7 March 2025

 

Interviews: Week commencing 24 and 31 March 2025

 

Induction training: Week commencing 28 April 2025

 

Start date: on completion of induction training (by 2 May 2025)