IBC Introduction to Business Management Course
Designed by the IBC Education specifically for junior barristers' clerks. Covering law, negotiation, communication, and chambers operations, the essential foundation for a successful clerking career.
- 6-month programme
- 0–3 years' experience
- CMI certificate on completion
- January and July intakes
Standard price
£1,924
+vat
IBC member price
£1,593
+vat
Overview and dates
Introduction to Business Management
This course has been designed by the IBC, particularly for junior barristers’ clerks. The content, format and agenda of the course has been specified by the Education Committee of the IBC. This course, and its contents, are solely owned by the IBC, who will constantly strive to improve and develop the topics to react to the demands of the profession, legal and cultural changes, and delegates’ feedback.
It was very important from the start of designing the course that it is accessible to all clerks, no matter their geographic location.
Chambers vary tremendously in what level of tasks and responsibility they place on new starters. So, generally speaking, this course has been written to appeal to clerks who have just joined chambers, as well as those with up to three years’ experience in the profession. It covers all the foundation information and skills required for a good start in the profession, widening knowledge and developing business management skills.
Suitable for
Clerks with 0–3 years' experience
Overall Pass Mark
65%
Duration
6 months from commencement
Format
eLearning + 1 mandatory in-person day
*In-person training can be conducted remotely if required for overseas students
Key dates and intakes
There are two intakes per year - January and July. The mandatory in-person training day for Module 2 is held at a Central London Chambers.
| January intake - in-person day | 16 March 2027 |
| July intake - in-person day | 28 September 2027 |
| Location | Central London chambers |
| Remote alternative | Available for international delegates |
| Intakes per year | Two (January and July) |
| Course Completion | 6 months from start |
How to study
The course has been constructed to give you a basic understanding and wider knowledge of what is needed to be a barristers' clerk. Flexible working is built in — only one fixed training day is required (Module 2), conducted as a group session in a central London chambers.
You should aim to dedicate one to one and a half hours each week to your course to ensure you complete it on time. Please allow yourself quiet study time to read through the eLearning material and follow the embedded links for extra reading. Make notes and print off materials to keep. Contact the course facilitators for any queries at any time.
Course handbook PDF
- Full assessment criteria
- Essay marking guide
- Study guide
- Course structure
Accreditation
On successful completion, delegates receive a CMI passing certificate.
Enrolment also provides 12 months' CMI associate membership and access to the CMI Thrive Portal.
Need help?
Contact course facilitators for any course questions, technical issues, or general assistance.
Quick Facts
| Modules | 3 |
| Total Lessons | 9 |
| MCQs (Module 1) | 100 questions |
| Essay (Module 2) | 1,250-2,000 words |
| Open questions (Mod 3) | 15 questions |
| Overall pass mark | 65% |
Course content
Assessment Module 1 · The Legal and Professional Environment
- E-learning
- 30% of mark
An eLearning module. Multiple-choice questionnaire at the end of each online lesson. Take your time to read through the information supplied and follow the relevant embedded links for extra reading. Make notes and print off materials. The pass mark for Module 1 is 75%, learners get two attempts to pass.
| 1.1 | An introduction to the court system of England and Wales | MCQ assessed |
| 1.2 | The role of barristers, solicitors, and chartered legal executives in the legal profession | MCQ assessed |
| 1.3 | An introduction to types of civil dispute resolution, the function of the criminal justice system, legal funding, and cost recovery | MCQ assessed |
| 1.4 | An introduction to regulatory and professional conduct rules for clerks and the wider legal profession | MCQ assessed |
Assessment: 100 multiple-choice questions in total — 75 correct required to pass (75%). Two attempts allowed. Completed online via the learner portal.
Learning outcomes
- Have demonstrable general knowledge of the wider legal system of England and Wales.
- To understand the different roles of lawyers and how they work together in the legal system.
- Have knowledge of all types of dispute resolution, and how law is funded.
- Understand the various aspects of chambers and legal professional governance.
Assessment Module 2 · Negotiation and Communication Skills
- In-person day
- 40% of mark
This module is conducted as a group session, in person, facilitated by a professional trainer. The day comprises of presentations and delegate exercises.
| 2.1 | An introduction to working with people - Principles of negotiating, including agreeing and collecting fees, there are five questions asked in the exercise.The assessment tests the ability of the learner to understand what information and considerations are required to master a fee negotiation | Exercise (5%) |
| 2.2 | 1,250 to 2,500-word essay, delegates will be able to choose one of five subjects to complete their essay on. View essay assessment criteria through course handbook PDF | Essay (35%) |
Assessment: (1) A fees negotiation exercise — 5 questions, 60% pass mark. (2) A formal essay of 1,250–2,000 words, submitted via the learner portal. Both assessed against a published competency matrix.
Learning outcomes
- Be able to communicate clearly and professionally, a deep understanding of working with different types of people.
- Demonstrate written, research, business and conceptual skills.
- Understand the elements involved in commercial fee negotiation.
Assessment Module 3 · The Work of Chambers, Including Business Development
- E-learning
- 30% of mark
An eLearning module comprising of three lessons. Completed remotely at the delegate's own pace. Take your time answering the 15 open questions, which are spread across the different lessons. Each question is designed to test the learner’s ability to understand the information given in the supplied text. Each answer should be a paragraph or two long. Show your knowledge clearly and concisely.
| 3.1 | Diary and administrative management | Five open questions |
| 3.2 | Managing workload | Five open questions |
| 3.3 | Networking and marketing | Five open questions |
Assessment: 15 open questions spread across the three lessons, each question is marked out of 10 points. Pass mark is 6 points per question (90 of 150 total points).
Learning outcomes
- Understand workflow and chambers’ administration systems.
- Have knowledge of the procedures of working with the CPS.
- Understand how barristers work and the pressures they face.
- Have a wider view of business development and understand how chambers promote themselves.
- Gain new skills in networking and rapport-building with clients.
Assessment criteria
The course is split between three modules, and is assessed to produce an overall mark. The eLearning management system guides you through the necessary steps to complete each module. Each module is weighted to produce an overall percentage for the course.
The majority of the course is conducted online. Work which is conducted offline should be uploaded to the learner platform.
Assessment Module 1 · The Legal and Professional Environment
Multiple-choice questionnaire at the end of each online lesson. In total there are 100 questions designed to test the learner’s ability to read and understand the given text on the subject. Some extra reading of external material is required via embedded website links.
Format
100 MCQs total
Pass mark
75 correct (75%)
Attempts
Two allowed
Assessment Module 2 · Negotiation and Communication Skills
This is a module that is delivered in a group training room setting. There are two assessments delivered during this session:
- Online submission of a fees negotiation exercise – there are five questions asked in the exercise, of which 20 points are awarded to each question. The assessment tests the ability of the learner to understand what information and considerations are required to master a fee negotiation. The pass mark for this exercise is 60%.
- The second task set during Module 2 is a 1,250 to 2,500-word essay. This will be given a deadline when the task is set, and submissions must be uploaded into the learner portal.
Essay information
The training for Module 2, Negotiation and Communication Skills, is conducted in person and therefore more detailed information is covered. Learners are asked to produce an essay concerning one of the elements from the course. The subject is chosen by the learner from a list provided in the training material.
Essay assessment
The written essay makes up 35% of the course’s overall mark, and therefore carries great importance to the overall final mark. It will be assessed according to the criteria below:
| Marking criteria | Marks | What the learner must demonstrate |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Brief | 10 pts | Answers the question throughout, remains focused on the title, meets the required word count (within ±10%) and follows all submission requirements. |
| Structure & Presentation | 15 pts | Professionally presented, logical structure, clear headings, excellent grammar and spelling, effective paragraphing and readability. Tables, diagrams or appendices should only be included where they genuinely enhance the discussion. |
| Introduction | 10 pts | Clearly introduces the topic, explains its importance and outlines the argument that will be explored. |
| Knowledge & Professional Application | 20 pts | Demonstrates detailed understanding of the subject and consistently applies the discussion to barristers’ chambers using realistic examples and commercial awareness. |
| Critical Thinking & Analysis | 25 pts | Evaluates ideas rather than simply describing them. Considers alternative viewpoints, demonstrates independent thinking and reaches balanced, well-reasoned conclusions. |
| Research & Referencing | 10 pts | Demonstrates quality research using a range of authoritative sources from both within and beyond the legal profession. All sources must be referenced correctly using Harvard referencing throughout the essay. |
| Conclusion | 10 pts | Draws together the discussion, answers the essay question directly and demonstrates how the evidence supports the final conclusions. |
Assessment Module 3 · The Work of Chambers, Including Business Development
This module is an eLearning module to be conducted online. The assessment is 15 open questions which are spread across the different lessons. Each question is designed to test the learner’s ability to understand the information given in the supplied text. Each question will be marked out of 10 points, based on the following criteria:
| How each answer is marked | Points |
|---|---|
| The question was answered precisely – not too long or too short | 3 |
| Learner’s knowledge of the subject | 3 |
| General standard of written English | 2 |
| Extra information added that is not in the course’s text | 2 |
| Total per question | 10 |
Pass mark
6 pts / question
Overall required
90 of 150 pts
Questions
15, open format
Overall proportioning of the course assessments
| Module | Exercises | Pass mark | % of total mark | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 Multiple-choice questions | 75 correct answers | 30% | |
| 2 | Negotiation exercise | 5 elements of the exercise – 20 points awarded to each question | 60% | 5% |
| Essay, 1,250 to 2,000 words | Against a competence matrix | 60% | 35% | |
| 3 | 15 open questions | Graded 0 to 10 for each question | 6 points per question = 90 overall points required | 30% |
The overall pass mark for this course is 65%
The information given should allow all learners to achieve a good pass mark. If anything is unclear or if you need help or assistance, please contact us.
Course handbook PDF
- Full assessment criteria
- Essay marking guide
- Study guide
- Course structure
GENERAL SUBMISSION ARRANGEMENTS
Please note the following:
- Answers to questions should be written to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject
- Any uploaded files should be Word/Excel/PowerPoint documents only
- Documents should always include, name, page numbers and the date
- Essay submissions below the minimum word count, and content over the maximum word count will not be marked.
- Work must be submitted online to the relevant assessment submission area before 12:00 noon on the day specified
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS
Your essay should fulfil the following:
- The course title, your name and the date
- A formal structure written in professional business language
- Adhere to a consistent language and layout style. Third person is often the standard chosen
- Submitted through the upload portal on the ibc-eduction.co.uk website
- Provide references where appropriate – this could be a reading list as an appendix
- Label any attached appendices clearly
- Avoid plagiarism by referencing where appropriate
QUESTIONS?
Contact the course facilitators for any assessment queries.
Glossary
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Bar Council | The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It is also known as the General Council of the Bar and is the approved regulator of the Bar. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board. |
| Bar School | The informal name for a provider of the vocational component. |
| Bar Standards Board | The Bar’s independent regulator. |
| Bench | The judge/judges. |
| Bencher | A senior member of an Inn of Court, also known as a Master of the Bench. |
| Brief | The documents setting out case instructions for a barrister to argue a case in court. |
| Call to the Bar | The bestowal of the title of “barrister” by an Inn of Court on those who have completed the necessary training requirements and have satisfied their Inn that they are fit and proper to be called to the Bar. |
| Circuits | The six geographical areas into which the courts of England and Wales are divided: North-Eastern, Northern, Midland, South-Eastern, Western and Wales, and Chester Circuits. |
| Chambers | The collective name for a group of self-employed barristers who share premises, a corporate identity, staff, and overheads. |
| Counsel | This is simply another way of referring to a barrister. |
| CPS | The Crown Prosecution Service, the primary body responsible for the prosecution of criminal offences in England and Wales. |
| Devilling | Completing paid work for other members of chambers. |
| EL | Employers Liability. |
| Head of Chambers (HOC) | A senior barrister in a set of chambers who is elected or appointed as its head |
| HMCTS | His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service. |
| Legislation | Legislation is a law or a set of laws that have been passed by Parliament. |
| Inn of Court | The four historic institutions with the exclusive right to call barristers to the Bar. |
| Indictable offence | An offence where the defendant has the right to trial by jury. |
| Injunction | A court order requiring a person to do or cease doing a specific action. |
| RCJ | Royal Courts of Justice – Strand, London WC2A 2LL. |
| RTA | Road Traffic Accident. |
| Set | Another name for a barristers’ chambers. |
| Statute | An Act of Parliament is a law made by the UK Parliament. |
| PI | Personal Injury. |
| PL | Public Liability. |
| Pupillage | Pupillages are divided into two six-month periods. Most chambers now only offer 12-month pupillages; however, it is still possible to undertake the two sixes at different sets. |
| Independent Bar | Describes self-employed barristers. |
| Judiciary | The system of courts that interprets, defends, and applies the law in the name of the state. |
| Junior | A barrister not yet appointed silk. Note: older juniors are known as senior juniors. |
| Junior brief | A case on which a junior is led by a senior. Such cases are too much work for one barrister alone and may involve a lot of research or run for a long time. Ordinarily, junior counsel will not conduct advocacy. |
| KC | Kings Counsel, also referred to as Silk. |
| Member | A term for a barrister – a member of the Bar or a Member of chambers. |
| Mini-pupillage | Work experience at a set of chambers, normally lasting between one and five days. |
| MOJ | Ministry of Justice. |
| SLA | Service Level Agreement. |
| Supervisor | The name of a barrister who supervises pupils, also known as a pupil master. |
| Tenant/tenancy | A barrister who is given permission from chambers to join their set and work with them. A “squatter” describes someone who is permitted to use chambers’ premises but is not actually a member of the set. |
| Tenant (door) | A “door tenant” describes someone who is affiliated with the set but does not conduct business from chambers’ premises. |
| Third Six | When pupils are not successful in gaining tenancy, they can apply for a third six (months’) vocational training at another set, in the hope of success in securing tenancy. |