Pupillage offer date remains same despite portal errors

updated on 04 August 2011

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) decided last week that despite software problems with the pupillage portal, which left a handful of applicants with incomplete applications, the date from which pupillages could be formally offered would not be deferred.

Following a software problem with the portal, operated by GTI, the Bar Council was assured that the overwhelming majority of pupillage applicants were not prejudiced by this error. As such, the BSB decided that there was no need to defer the 2 August offer date.

The Bar Council "deeply regrets that a very small number of applicants" may have been affected by GTI's software error. Those applicants should now have been notified by email. A full review of the portal is underway, with the Bar Council promising that the arrangements for next year "will be much improved and more robust".