Attracting highly able and committed individuals to pupillage plays a major part in our strategy for the future.  Our pupillage programme is well planned and structured and we have an excellent record of recruiting from our pupils.

12 Month Pupils – We offer a £35,000 Package

Each pupil will receive £35,000 by way of award and guaranteed minimum receipts, which includes a BVC award of £8,000 available on application.

Structure

As a pupil, you will spend 2 periods of 6 months with different pupil supervisors. In each 6 month period you will be assigned, in addition to your main pupil supervisor, a deputy supervisor practising a different core discipline so as to gain good all round exposure to the different types of work undertaken by Chambers.  We believe a balanced pupillage is essential and that specialisation should only take place after a few years’ experience.

Assessment

You will be assessed regularly throughout your pupillage by your pupil supervisors.  We focus particularly on the quality of paperwork throughout pupillage as well as your skills as an advocate during the second 6 months.  Feedback from the Clerks and from Instructing Solicitors is actively sought to assist you to achieve your maximum potential during pupillage.

Work during the second 6 Months

You will receive a variety of work.  Second 6 months pupils are regularly in the County Court (mostly on Personal Injury, Landlord & Tenant and Family matters) and Magistrates’ Courts (Crime, both Prosecution and Defence).  Pupils are normally in court 3-4 times a week.  You will be expected to continue with paperwork for your pupil supervisors during this busy time.

Being taken on as a Tenant

We only offer 2 pupillages because we prefer to recruit from our own pupils each year.  If you are good enough you will be taken on.  You will be considered for a tenancy approximately 9 months into your pupillage. If you are taken on as a tenant you are supported financially for the first 3 years of your tenancy through a very generous subsidised rent package.

Earnings as a Tenant

There are many misconceptions about life at the Common Law Bar.  One of them is that you cannot earn enough.  We have not found that to be the case, unless you have a high rolling lifestyle.  For the ambitious and industrious, your hard work will be amply rewarded; recruitment as a tenant promises attractive receipts in the early years of practice.

The Ideal Candidate

We look for candidates of high intellectual ability, usually evidenced by at least a 2:1 degree but who can also demonstrate a commitment to the Bar and a flair for advocacy, combined with common sense and sound judgment.  If words such as “highly motivated”, “robust”, “a real team player” apply to you, then we would like to hear from you.

When and How to Apply

Applications for pupillage commencing October 2009 must be received by 30 April 2008.  Chambers is not a member of OLPAS and there is no application form.  Applications must be made by CV (3 copies + SAE), with covering letter together with one academic reference and your completed Equality and Diversity Questionnaire.  Applications are to be addressed to Dan Lawson and marked “Pupillage 2009”.