The Inns of Court College of Advocacy

What The Inns of Court College of Advocacy does

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) is a London-based not-for-profit education and training organisation operating as the education and training division of The Council of the Inns of Court (COIC). It is a Bar Standards Board (BSB) Authorised Education and Training Organisation and a registered Higher Education Provider with the Office for Students. ICCA was formally established in 2020 (evolving from the earlier Advocacy Training Council, active since at least 2016) to deliver Bar vocational training and continuing professional development for the English and Welsh Bar, with its Bar Course validated by King's College London's Dickson Poon School of Law.

ICCA's product portfolio centres on the ICCA Bar Course, a two-part programme: Part One is delivered entirely online over 12–16 weeks via a Moodle-based Virtual Learning Environment featuring interactive forums, films of real courtroom scenes, and practice exercises; Part Two is delivered in person at the four Inns of Court over 20–22 weeks, focused on skills and advocacy preparation. Beyond the Bar Course, ICCA operates the New Practitioner Program and Established Practitioner Program for BSB-mandated CPD, plus specialist advocacy training including the Advocacy for Vulnerable People and Children programme (delivered through approximately 300 trained Facilitators to around 10,000 advocates), the Hampel Method, Trauma-Informed Advocacy (PROCESS framework), Principles for Remote Advocacy, Pupillage Training, and an international advocacy training programme delivered to overseas Bars in Common Law jurisdictions.

ICCA generates revenue through Bar Course tuition, CPD and specialist training fees, and supplementary bursary-funded access models supported by Specialist Bar Associations such as the Chancery Bar Association and COMBAR. Its customers are individual prospective barristers, pupils, practising barristers, and overseas legal institutions. Distribution combines direct in-person delivery through the Inns of Court and six Circuits with self-serve online access via the PQT portal, supplemented by international in-country training engagements. The organisation is governed by a Board led by Chair Paul Stanley QC, with Dean Lynda Gibbs KC (Hon) providing academic leadership.

Name

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy

Legal name

The Council of the Inns of Court

Website

https://icca.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) is a London-based not-for-profit education organisation, authorised by the Bar Standards Board, that delivers the validated ICCA Bar Course, CPD programmes, and specialist advocacy training to prospective, pupil, and practising barristers in England and Wales and to overseas Common Law Bars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Professional Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

ABA-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools (EDAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online/Distance Education Quality & Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAK)

Keywords

• Bar vocational training
• Advocacy training
• Continuing professional development
• Barrister education
• Legal professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bar Course Fees: The ICCA charges fees for the Bar Course, a Bar Vocational Training Course funded by the Inns of Court. Part One is delivered online with Part Two at the Inns of Court.
2. CPD and Training Programs: Post-qualification training, advocacy courses, and professional development programs for barristers at all levels.
3. Bursary Scheme Funding: Specialist Bar Associations (Chancery Bar Association, Commercial Bar Association) provide bursary funding to support students on the Bar Course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) is the Bar Standards Board Authorised Education and Training Organisation (AETO) that delivers the ICCA Bar Course — a two-part Bar Vocational Training Course validated by King's College London. Part One is delivered entirely online (12–16 weeks), and Part Two is delivered in-person at the Inns of Court (20–22 weeks). ICCA also provides post-qualification training including CPD programs, pupillage training, and specialized advocacy courses such as vulnerable witness handling, trauma-informed advocacy, and international advocacy training.

Product overview

The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) is an education and training organization, not a technology product company. It offers a portfolio of legal education programs including the ICCA Bar Course (a two-part Bar Vocational Training Course validated by King's College London), Post-Qualification Training programs (New Practitioner Program and Established Practitioner Program for CPD requirements), and specialized advocacy training courses including Vulnerable Witness handling, Trauma-Informed Advocacy, Remote Advocacy, and International Advocacy Training. Training is delivered through both an online Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle-based PQT portal) and in-person at the Inns of Court. The organization operates as a BSB Authorised Education and Training Organisation (AETO) and registered Higher Education Provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICCA Bar Course A Bar Vocational Training Course validated by King's College London, delivered in two parts: Part One (online, 12-16 weeks covering criminal and civil litigation) and Part Two (in-person at the Inns of Court, 20-22 weeks focused on skills teaching and advocacy training). Designed for prospective barristers seeking qualification at the Bar in England and Wales.
• New Practitioner Program (NPP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% pass rate in BSB exams across last six sittings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Australian Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ICCA supported the Advanced Trial Advocacy Intensive Course in Brisbane in January 2025, with senior advocates and judges from multiple jurisdictions delivering training.
• Poland BarminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022ICCA trainers traveled to Krakow, Poland to deliver advocacy training including Hampel Method review for examination-in-chief and cross-examination.
• American Inns of CourtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint delivery of the National Advocacy Training Programme (NATP) via Zoom and in-person. ICCA leads training on Case Analysis, Opening and Closing Arguments, and Witness Examination.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2020The Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College London acts as the validating body for the ICCA Bar Course. First graduates receive a Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Practice from King's College London. King's Online helped develop Part One of the Bar Course. The ICCA is also registered as a Higher Education Provider with Office for Students.
• Guyana DPP OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ICCA trainers delivered vulnerable witness training to 24 delegates including High Court prosecutors and Magistrates' Courts prosecutors in Georgetown, Guyana.
• Cyprus Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018ICCA delivered advocacy training using the Hampel Method to Cypriot lawyers in Nicosia and Limassol, with a training-the-trainers element to build local capacity.
• General Council of the Bar of South AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016ICCA trainers delivered advocacy training to South African advocates through the National Pupillage Advocacy Training Programme, with support from the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy.
• The Council of the Inns of Court (COIC)coreOthersCOIC is the parent organisation of ICCA. ICCA is the education and training division of COIC. COIC is a company limited by guarantee (Company No. 8804708) and registered charity (No. 1155640).
• The Inns of CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe four Inns of Court (Gray's Inn, Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple) provide funding and prestige for the ICCA Bar Course. Part Two of the Bar Course is delivered within the Inns of Court.
• Bar Standards BoardcoreOthersThe BSB is the regulator for barristers in England and Wales. ICCA is a BSB Authorised Education and Training Organisation (AETO).
• Bar CouncilminorOthersThe Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. ICCA engages with the Bar Council on advocacy training initiatives.
• Circuits (Midland, Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, Wales & Chester, Western, European)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe six Circuits of England and Wales provide advocacy training and CPD programs for barristers in their regions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The University of Law: The largest UK specialist legal training provider, offering the Bar Course alongside LPC, SQE and CPD programmes; competes with ICCA for the same applicant pool with established regional campuses and broader portfolio.
• BPP University Law School: One of the largest UK providers of Bar training and vocational legal courses; directly competes with ICCA for Bar Course applicants across England and Wales with a multi-campus, scaled delivery model.
• Nottingham Trent University — Nottingham Law School: Long-established provider of Bar training in the UK Midlands; competes with ICCA for Bar Course applicants and shares the same BSB-authorised vocational training market.
• Northumbria University — Northumbria Law School: Major UK Bar training provider with strong Newcastle-based delivery; competes with ICCA for Bar Course students, particularly those seeking an alternative to London-based training.
• City, University of London — The City Law School: London-based Russell Group law school delivering the Bar Course alongside other postgraduate legal programmes; directly competes with ICCA for prospective barristers, particularly in London.

Regional players

• General Council of the Bar of South Africa: South African Bar's representative body and an existing ICCA partner for National Pupillage Advocacy Training; comparable as a peer Bar that ICCA actively trains and supports.
• Australian Bar Association: Peak body for Australian barristers and an existing ICCA training partner (Brisbane 2025 Advanced Trial Advocacy Intensive); comparable in its advocacy-training mission for the Australian Bar.
• The Honourable Society of King's Inns: Ireland's equivalent Inn of Court and the body that trains and calls barristers in Ireland; comparable in mission and governance to the Inns of Court/ICCA structure but operating in the Irish jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• American Inns of Court: Established US organisation promoting excellence in legal advocacy through local Inn chapters; an existing ICCA partner that operates a comparable (but broader and longer-established) advocacy-training mission in the US.

Others

• The Law Society of England and Wales: Representative body for solicitors in England and Wales with extensive CPD and training functions; adjacent rather than directly competing, but operating in the same broader UK legal-professional education and standards ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-inns-of-court-college-of-advocacy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Inns of Court College of Advocacy