Bar Council Written case studies
Bar Council Written · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Bar Council written examination is the long-form, essay and problem-based component of the route to professional practice at the bar. It is written for people who have completed the academic stage of legal training - a qualifying law degree or conversion course - and who are now moving to the vocational stage. Its purpose is not to test recall of isolated rules but to test whether you can take a set of facts, identify the governing legal principles, apply them honestly to facts that resist easy answers, and reach a reasoned conclusion that a client could act on. The papers are typically grouped around the core substantive subjects and around the skills of the profession: legal ethics and professional conduct, drafting, opinion writing, case analysis, evidence and procedure, and jurisprudence. The Bar Council Written case studies are 5 cases and about 3,061 words.
1The Confession and the Unlawful Search
Police receive an anonymous tip that a man named Ravi is selling drugs from his flat. Without a warrant, officers force entry at 6 a.m., finding Ravi asleep.
561 words, about 3 min2The Builder's Breach and the Homeowner's Loss
Chen, contracts with BuildCo to renovate her kitchen for 50,000, with completion by 1 June. The contract includes a liquidated damages clause of 200 per day for delay.
575 words, about 3 min3The Neighbour's Tree and the Falling Branch
Patel owns a large oak tree near the boundary with his neighbour, Ms. The tree has a visible crack in a major branch, which overhangs Ms.
648 words, about 3 min4The Trustee's Discretion and the Beneficiary's Demand
A wealthy settlor creates a trust for his three grandchildren: Alice, Ben, and Cara. The trust deed gives the trustee, a bank, discretion to distribute income and capital among the grandchildren 'as the trustee thinks fit'.
650 words, about 3 min5The Advocate's Duty and the Client's Lie
Khan, is defending a client, Mr. Smith, in a civil fraud trial.
627 words, about 3 min