The PAJE programme supports talented lawyers from underrepresented groups to feel more equipped, confident and prepared when considering applying for a future judicial role. The judge-led discussion groups will provide additional support to lawyers who are eligible for judicial appointments from the following four underrepresented groups:
- Lawyers with disabilities
- Lawyers from ethnic minority backgrounds
- Women lawyers and/or
- Solicitors and chartered legal executives (both with litigation and non-litigation) and those from a non-litigation background including academic and non-practising barristers
Applications to join a discussion group course will be prioritised for those individuals.
From November 2026, we will be running 3 virtual discussion group courses, with dates outlined below. These discussion group courses consists of four judge-led workshops, each lasting for two hours and held on a weekly basis.
It is expected that you will attend all four workshops to complete a PAJE course and be granted the completion certificate, unless there are exceptional circumstances, which will need to be communicated to your discussion group course lead in advance.
You will also have to attend an IT Tech Support session prior to the course beginning.
Course dates:
- Course 1: Monday 16 November, Monday 23 November, Monday 30 November and Monday 7 December (17:30-19:30).
IT Support Session: Monday 9 November 2026 (17:00 - 18:00)
The final workshop of this course on Monday 7 December will be held in person, at the Bar Council office: 289 – 293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HZ
- Course 2: Tuesday 17 November, Monday 23 November, Tuesday 1 December, Tuesday 8 December (17:30-19:30).
IT Support Session: Wednesday 11 November (12.30 - 13:30)
- Course 3: Wednesday 18 November, Wednesday 25 November, Wednesday 2 December, Wednesday 9 December (17:30-19:30).
IT Support Session: Wednesday 11 November (12:00 - 13:00 )
The application window for all courses will close at 23:59 on 11 October 2026. Any applications submitted after that will not be reviewed.