Transferring Qualified Lawyers (TQL)
Transferring Qualified Lawyers (TQLs) are lawyers who are already qualified, in England and Wales or abroad, and want to become barristers in England and Wales. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) decides what each TQL must complete before call to the Bar. Our tutors, who include barristers and Bar course specialists, prepare you for every assessment the BSB sets.
Who counts as a transferring qualified lawyer
- Solicitors and other lawyers with rights of audience granted by another approved regulator in England and Wales
- Lawyers qualified in a jurisdiction outside England and Wales
- Academics who teach the law of England and Wales
The current position: a pause in most applications
The BSB has temporarily paused applications from TQLs who do not have a confirmed route into practice, so that it can clear a backlog and review its rules. It explains that many TQLs, particularly those qualified overseas, apply for exemptions so that they can be called to the Bar, but only a very small number go on to practise. At the time of writing (November 2026), the BSB is only accepting applications from TQLs who can show evidence of at least one of the following:
- A pupillage offer from an authorised pupillage training provider, due to start before 1 January 2029
- An offer of tenancy or employment that requires a practising certificate for the Bar of England and Wales (other types of employment offer are not considered)
These criteria do not apply to lawyers qualified in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, whose applications are still accepted under the recognition of professional qualifications framework. Applications already started on MyBar are saved and can be finished once applications reopen. Foreign lawyers who only want to appear in a particular case in England and Wales can still apply for temporary call to the Bar, which the pause does not affect.
The BSB's rules for transferring lawyers are under review and may change. Always check the latest position on the BSB transferring lawyers page before you apply.
How to apply
- Check you are eligible. Complete the BSB's eligibility form with evidence of your pupillage, tenancy or employment offer. The BSB aims to reply within five working days.
- Gather your documents. You will need a certificate of good standing from every regulator you are registered with, a CV, certificates and transcripts for each qualification from your first degree onwards, any certificate of higher rights of audience, and certified English translations of documents not in English. Advocates can add a case list.
- Show your English language competence. Evidence is needed at the start of the application. The BSB accepts the IELTS Academic test and the Pearson Test of English (Academic); a degree taught in English is not enough.
- Submit the application and fee. The fee is £610 if you are qualified with and regulated by an approved regulator in England and Wales, such as solicitors, and £1,810 if you are regulated outside England and Wales. A complete application currently takes around 12 to 16 weeks.
- Complete what the BSB requires. The BSB decides which parts of Bar training you are exempt from. You may need to pass Law Conversion Module assessments, Vocational Bar Training assessments or both, and in some cases complete pupillage, before you are called to the Bar and can apply for a practising certificate.
Full details are on the BSB's transferring lawyer applications page.
The assessments TQLs take
Law Conversion Module assessments
- Public law, criminal law and EU law
- Contract, tort, land law and equity and trusts
- The English legal system
Vocational Bar Training assessments
- Civil litigation
- Criminal litigation, evidence and sentencing
- Professional ethics and advocacy
Further requirements
- Some TQLs may also need conference skills, drafting or opinion writing
- Pupillage, in full or in part, if not exempt
- Joining one of the four Inns of Court before call
BPP University is currently the only Authorised Education and Training Organisation that registers TQLs for the Vocational Bar Training assessments, and there are at least two opportunities a year to sit them.
What happened to the Bar Transfer Test (BTT)
The Bar Transfer Test was the old route for transferring lawyers. Its last sitting was in spring 2021. Since August 2021, anyone with outstanding BTT papers completes the equivalent assessment instead:
| Former BTT paper | Assessment taken now |
|---|---|
| Paper 1: Public Law | Public Law (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 2: Law of the European Union | Law of the European Union (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 3: Criminal Law | Criminal Law (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 4: Obligations | Obligations I (Contract) and Obligations II (Tort) (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 5: Property and Land Law | Land Law (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 6: Equity and Trusts | Equity and Trusts (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 7: English Legal System | English Legal System (Law Conversion Module) |
| Paper 8: Advocacy | Advocacy (Vocational Bar Training) |
| Paper 9: Civil Litigation and Evidence | Civil Litigation (Vocational Bar Training) |
| Paper 10: Criminal Litigation, Evidence and Sentencing | Criminal Litigation, Evidence and Sentencing (Vocational Bar Training) |
| Paper 11: Professional Ethics | Professional Ethics (Vocational Bar Training) |
- You do not need to resit any BTT paper you have already passed.
- Outstanding Part A papers (Law Conversion Module assessments) must be passed within a maximum of three attempts.
- Outstanding Part B papers (Vocational Bar Training assessments) can be resat as often as needed within a five-year period.
- If you used all three BTT attempts at a paper, you must apply afresh as a TQL, and the BSB will reassess your exemptions.
See the BSB guidance for transferring lawyers with outstanding BTT requirements.
How we help transferring lawyers
Foundation subjects
- English contract, tort and land law
- Public law and the English legal system
- Equity and trusts for civil law lawyers
Bar training assessments
- Civil and criminal litigation
- Evidence, sentencing and professional ethics
- Advocacy practice with feedback
Into practice
- Understanding pupillage and tenancy
- Pupillage applications and interviews
- Legal English for advocacy
Experienced lawyers often find the challenge is not the law itself but the way it is examined in England and Wales. Civil law lawyers may need help with case law and precedent, while common law lawyers from other jurisdictions often need to adjust to English procedure, evidence and professional conduct. Our tutors explain the differences clearly, using comparisons with your own legal system, and give you practice in drafting, opinion writing and courtroom advocacy with detailed feedback.
Who our TQL tutoring suits
- TQLs with a BSB decision letter setting out the assessments they must pass
- Lawyers with outstanding BTT papers from before 2021
- Solicitors moving to the Bar, including solicitor advocates
- Overseas lawyers with a pupillage, tenancy or employment offer in England and Wales
How it works
- Tell us what you need. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp with your course, modules and deadlines.
- Meet your tutor. We match you with a tutor who has excelled in the same course or exam and suits your learning style.
- Learn one to one. Sessions run online by Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or in person in London, at times that fit around your studies or work.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bar Transfer Test still running?
No. The last BTT sitting was in spring 2021. Transferring lawyers now take Law Conversion Module assessments and Vocational Bar Training assessments instead.
Can I apply to transfer to the Bar now?
At the time of writing the BSB is only accepting TQL applications from those with a pupillage offer starting before 1 January 2029, or a tenancy or employment offer that requires a Bar practising certificate. Lawyers qualified in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein can still apply.
How much does a TQL application cost?
The BSB fee is £610 for lawyers regulated by an approved regulator in England and Wales, such as solicitors, and £1,810 for lawyers regulated outside England and Wales.
I passed some BTT papers. Do I need to resit them?
No. You only complete the assessments that match your outstanding BTT papers.
Who runs the assessments for transferring lawyers?
BPP University is currently the only provider authorised to register TQLs for the Vocational Bar Training assessments, which run at least twice a year.
Do you also help foreign lawyers qualify as solicitors?
Yes. Many foreign qualified lawyers qualify as solicitors through the SQE instead. See our SQE page.
Our minimum booking is normally 10 hours, and you can change tutor at any time. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp to get started.
