Guide to creating your Barrister Connect (online) account and applying for your practising certificate

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1 Introduction Guide to creating your Barrister Connect (online) account and applying for your practising certificate Barrister Connect is the system from the Bar Council and Bar Standards Board that allows you to update your details and renew your practising certificate online. To enable you to apply for your practising certificate or delegate permission to your chambers or employer to complete the process, you will need to create your account. How to access Barrister Connect Go to: or go to the Bar Council or Bar Standards Board websites. What you need to create your Barrister Connect account for new users All barristers who have a current practising certificate have been sent a practising certificate renewal notice. This letter also includes your Barrister Connect user number. Separately, you will have been sent a password in a sealed envelope. You require both your user number and password in order to create your account. Registering with Barrister Connect You are able to create your Barrister Connect account on your first visit to Be sure to have your user number and password to hand. 1

2 Step 1 Go to or access Barrister Connect via the Bar Council or Bar Standards Board website to view this screen: Enter your user number and password in these boxes. Step 2 Once you have entered your user number and password for the first time, you will be directed to this screen: Enter a preferred address where password reminders can be sent. Enter a new password (must be a minimum of six characters containing a mixture of upper and lower case letters as well as numbers). 2

3 Step 3 Once you have read through the terms and conditions, scroll to the bottom of the page and select yes and submit your details to accept the terms and conditions. Step 4 You have now reached the home screen and have successfully completed your Barrister Connect account. 3

4 Applying for a practising certificate Step 1 Select Apply for practising certificate Select Apply for practising certificate. Step 2 If your practising details are correct, go to the practising certificate box and select Confirm details and apply. If your practising status or practising address has changed, please contact the Records Office on or Records@BarCouncil.org.uk to change your details. Until your details are amended you will not be able to proceed with this process. Once your details have been updated by the Records Office, they will confirm to you and you should select Confirm details and apply to proceed with your practising certificate application. If your practising details are correct select Confirm details and apply. 4

5 Step 3 You will now reach the declaration page where you will be required to: declare which band of income you fall within, from income earned as a barrister during the 2013/14 financial year and complete three declarations: CPD, insurance and a declaration of truth. Declaration page part 1: Complete a CPD declaration, if you have not completed your CPD, select no and what you are doing to remedy the situation. All barristers are required to complete an insurance declaration. Click on the guidance for further information about what this means. Declaration page part 2: Declare which band of income you fall within, from income earned as a barrister during the 2013/14 financial year Sign a declaration of truth, which is designed to ensure understanding of the process and new system. 5

6 Step 4 After completing the declarations, click to Continue. Step 5 Pro bono donation. If you wish to make a donation to the pro bono unit press Continue to online payment. Otherwise untick the box if you wish to remove this donation Step 6 At this screen you will be able to either submit your details and pay where you will be able to pay online or submit your details and delegate payment if you have chosen to delegate payment to your chambers or employer To pay online click submit your details and pay and continue to step 7 of the guidance To delegate payment to your chambers or employer click submit details and delegate payment and skip to page 8 of the guidance 6

7 Step 7 Pay online. By agreeing to pay online you will be directed to a SagePay payment facility. Click to pay online Once you have successfully paid, you will receive a confirmation from SagePay confirming this. Step 8 This screen confirms that you are authorised to practise, it also invites you to provide diversity data. You will also receive an confirming that your practising certificate has been issued and is available to view online. 7

8 Delegating permission to your chambers or employer to apply for your practising certificate Step 1 - If you have chosen to delegate payment to your chambers or employer, click on submit details and delegate payment. To delegate to your chambers or employer, select the submit details and delegate payment button Step 2 Select your chambers or employer to whom you are delegating permission and submit your details to register the delegation. Please note that barristers are solely responsible for the contents of their application for a practising certificate and information submitted by them or on their behalf, even when they have delegated permission to their Chambers/employer to make payment. Select your chambers or employer to whom you will be delegating permission. Click on submit your details to confirm the delegation 8

9 This screen confirms the delegation has been accepted Once you have delegated to your chambers or employer you may log out of Barrister Connect. This will mean that your chambers or employer will be able to request to pay for your practising certificate through their Barrister Connect account. Additional help New rules and frequently asked questions about the new online application process for practising certificates are available online at: If you are having difficulties with the application process, you can or call our helpline on for assistance. 9