Applications will continue for lawyers with a confirmed route into practice in England and Wales.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has temporarily paused new applications from Transferring Qualified Lawyers (TQLs) who do not have a confirmed route into practice in England and Wales.
Under the change announced on 30 September 2026, the BSB will currently accept TQL applications only where applicants can provide evidence of an offer of pupillage with an authorised pupillage training provider, and/or an offer of tenancy or employment requiring a practising certificate for the Bar of England and Wales.
The BSB said the temporary pause follows a large number of applications from TQLs who ultimately do not practise in England and Wales. It said this has contributed to a significant backlog in the system.
The regulator’s current guidance confirms that pupillage offers must be from an authorised provider and be due to start before 1 January 2029. Employment or tenancy offers must require the applicant to hold a practising certificate for the Bar; other types of employment are not currently accepted.
The pause does not apply to lawyers qualified in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, whose applications will continue to be processed under the relevant recognition of professional qualifications framework.
The BSB has also stated that the change will not affect individual cases where reciprocal arrangements are in place or international arbitration cases seated in England and Wales.
For applicants who have already started a TQL application through MyBar but have not submitted it, the BSB says the application will be saved and can be continued when applications reopen.
Phil Golding, Director General of the BSB, said the organisation needs to change its processes and rules so that resources are focused on people who intend to practise in the jurisdiction. He said the changes would also help address the existing backlog.
The BSB said the intention is not to discourage lawyers who can demonstrate the necessary skills and a route into practice. Instead, it is reviewing the TQL process to focus on applicants with a realistic prospect of practising in England and Wales.