Which Bar Professional Ethics edition is valid for exams now?

22nd ed (2026): Current edition - published July 2026. Always check the edition against your exam sitting before buying.

Bar Professional Ethics books

Q: Can I use last year's Bar Professional Ethics edition?

Possibly - check what changed. Since 2020-21 Professional Ethics has been assessed centrally during pupillage rather than on the course, with sittings in January, May and July (2027: 12 January, 11 May, 27 July). The BSB Handbook is the only material allowed in the exam, and it is updated from time to time - so a 2024 Professional Ethics Bar Manual is fine for the principles, but always revise against the current Handbook, which is free from the BSB.

The standard books for Bar Professional Ethics from OUP - check which edition is worth buying, then get it used from someone who just passed.

Bar · Pupillage

Can I use last year's Bar Professional Ethics edition?

Possibly - check what changed

Since 2020-21 Professional Ethics has been assessed centrally during pupillage rather than on the course, with sittings in January, May and July (2027: 12 January, 11 May, 27 July).

Valid for exams now

22nd ed (2026) - Current edition - published July 2026

Every edition and publisher

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Professional Ethics edition validity

Which Bar Professional Ethics editions are valid for which exam sittings.

OUP Professional Ethics Bar Manual
Current
22nd ed (2026) - Current edition - published July 2026
Publisher price new: £45.99
OUP Professional Ethics Bar Manual
Superseded
21st ed (2024) - Previous edition - out of print

Publisher	Product	Edition	Valid for exams	Status	Publisher price
OUP	Professional Ethics Bar Manual	22nd ed (2026)	Current edition - published July 2026	Current	£45.99
OUP	Professional Ethics Bar Manual	21st ed (2024)	Previous edition - out of print	Superseded	-

What changes between Professional Ethics editions

Since 2020-21 Professional Ethics has been assessed centrally during pupillage rather than on the course, with sittings in January, May and July (2027: 12 January, 11 May, 27 July). The BSB Handbook is the only material allowed in the exam, and it is updated from time to time - so a 2024 Professional Ethics Bar Manual is fine for the principles, but always revise against the current Handbook, which is free from the BSB.

Always double-check the edition against your exam sitting before buying. When in doubt, the Bar Standards Board's official syllabus documents are free and definitive.