Pupillage

Applying for Pupillage
We normally offer 2 or 3 twelve-month pupillages, each carrying an award of £39,000 (2011 figure), part of which can (in Chambers’ discretion) be drawn down in advance. We recruit through the Pupillage Portal (formerly OLPAS) and all applications must be made through this scheme even if you are formally exempt. If you are unable to use the Pupillage Portal for any reason, then please contact us. We recruit in the summer season and in accordance with the Pupillage Portal timetable. Although subject to change, is usually as follows:

May: Applications considered on the papers

June: First round interviews (usually mid- to late-June and sometimes early July)

July: Second round interviews (usually mid to late July)

August: Offers made

In addition we usually hold an informal drinks party for all second-round candidates at some point between the two rounds of interviews. This is not part of the selection process but is to enable candidates to meet members of Chambers and find out more about us. It does not matter if you attend or not and those who do attend are not in any way being assessed. We have consistently had very positive feedback from applicants about this event.

We are fully committed to the principle of equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, marital status, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Candidates for pupillage and tenancy are assessed, and offers of pupillage or tenancy made, solely on merit. When we consider applications, we are looking for for candidates who can demonstrate outstanding academic ability, the potential to be an excellent advocate, and an interest in Chambers’ areas of work.

We receive approximately 300 applications each year. To help us deal with these applications as fairly as possible, we ask candidates to confirm on their application that they have read this section of our website and complied with the following requirements, and if they have not then to explain why. If any of the following requirements are not complied with without a good explanation, then this may lead to your application being rejected.

Requirements for Pupillage Applications
Applications for pupillage must comply with the following requirements:

1. Applications must be made through the Pupillage Portal or (if this is not possible for any reason) on the Pupillage Portal application form. All required sections must be completed.

2. Candidates must have a minimum of a 2:1 degree (or the equivalent as explained below) or, where you have not yet obtained your degree, have a realistic expectation of getting at least a 2:1 (or equivalent).

3. Where you have academic grades which are not expressed in standard UK terminology you must try and explain somewhere on your application form what their exact or approximate equivalent is using such standard terminology. By “standard UK terminology” we mean A*, A, B, C etc. for school qualifications and 1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd for undergraduate degree qualifications. If you were given a rank in a class of candidates then the rank and the size of the class should be stated.

4. Applicants with post-graduate degree qualifications must not only state what grade was achieved but also the range of grades that could have been awarded.

5. Where you have a done a mini-pupillage you must confirm whether this was awarded by the Chambers in question in ordinary open competition, or whether it was the result of a private arrangement.

6. We do not require applicants for pupillage to have done a mini-pupillage with us. Nor do we expect applicants to have done a mini-pupillage at another set of Chambers which does similar work to us if there is a good reason why this was not possible (e.g. lack of funds). However, if you have not done a mini-pupillage either at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square or another set of Chambers which does similar work to us, then you must explain why.

Compliance with these requirements will help us to consider all the applications against our criteria as fairly as possible.

Making Offers of Pupillage

We adhere strictly to the Pupillage Portal timetable and rules about making offers. We make firm offers and reserve offers. In our experience it is not unusual for recipients to have other offers (both firm and reserve) from other sets of Chambers. As such, we understand that the two-week period during which the rules say offers must remain open can be a difficult time. We are very happy for applicants to whom offers have been made (whether firm or reserve) to come in to Chambers to speak to us before making any decisions, if they wish. We do the best we can to keep applicants with reserve offers informed of the situation as it develops.

The Pupillage Year
Our pupils receive a thorough training in the full range of Chambers' work during their pupillage. During the first nine months of pupillage, pupils will generally be assigned to three different pupil supervisors, for periods of three months each, so as to ensure that they see the full range of work in which these Chambers specialise. The final three months of pupillage usually takes place after the tenancy decision has been made and there is flexibility as to whether the pupil remains with the third pupil supervisor or moves on to a fourth.

During the first term, pupils generally work exclusively for their pupil supervisor. Thereafter, pupils will work for many members of Chambers (including silks) as well. The pupil supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the pupil sees the full range of work suggested on the Bar Council's subject checklist. We aim to provide pupils with written feedback on all their work.

For second six month pupils there is some opportunity to gain advocacy experience by appearing in employment tribunals or in court. To gain additional advocacy experience pupils may take cases for the Free Representation Unit.

Each pupil undergoes a small number of assessed written and advocacy exercises, starting towards the end of the first six months. We have found that such exercises help us to make a fair assessment of each pupil’s abilities and to provide feedback. These exercises are assessed by a tenancy selection committee, which is ultimately responsible for making a recommendation to Chambers on each pupil’s suitability for tenancy (see below).

If at the six months stage it seems unlikely that a pupil will be offered a tenancy we will let the pupil know which has the advantage of giving the pupil the opportunity to look for a second six-month pupillage elsewhere if he or she so wishes. However, there is no obligation to do this and he or she is welcome to continue as a pupil in Chambers and be considered for tenancy in the usual way.

The Tenancy Decision
The decision to offer a pupil tenancy is taken by Chambers as a whole following a recommendation by the tenancy selection committee. The decision is taken some time from the end of June to mid-July and is given very careful consideration.

The tenancy selection committee takes into account written reports from the pupil supervisors and others on pupils’ work as well as the formal assessments described above. Although we cannot guarantee that any pupil will be taken on as a tenant or how many may be taken on in a given year, our recruitment record is excellent. As stated above, all 13 of our pupils since 2005 have been offered tenancy.

In the event that we are unable to offer a pupil tenancy, or if a pupil wishes to look for a second six-month pupillage elsewhere, then we will try to assist in finding an alternative set of Chambers. Although this has only happened with 3 pupils in the last decade, all of them obtained further pupillage elsewhere.

Life as a Tenant
New tenants have the opportunity to gain a wide range of advocacy and advisory experience whilst at the same time being able to specialise at an early stage if they so wish. From a very early stage our junior tenants appear in the High Court on their own (for example in judicial review applications), as well as in lower courts, planning inquiries and tribunals such as the employment tribunal and the First-tier tribunal.

In addition to conducting their own cases, new tenants have the opportunity to act as juniors to silks and senior juniors both in Chambers and from other sets.

New tenants usually spend about half of their time doing advisory work and, if they have time, there are plenty of opportunities to undertake devilling for other members of Chambers.

Chambers pays for all new tenants to attend the week-long residential Advanced Advocacy course which is run each year in Oxford by the South Eastern Circuit.

Equal Opportunities
We repeat that the barristers and clerks of 4-5 Gray's Inn Square are fully committed to the principle of equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, marital status, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Candidates for pupillage and tenancy are assessed, and offers of pupillage or tenancy made, solely on merit.

Applications for pupillage should be made using the specific connection which can be found in this website under the heading "pupillage".