Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation (Practice Areas)
Family practitioners provide a multidisciplinary and socially responsible approach to family legal services in all areas of national and international law. Members specialise in public law and private law Children Act applications, as well as ancillary relief and cohabitee disputes. The family team has a large mediation group and is committed to developing a holistic ADR service for all client groups.
The crime group consists of an experienced team of barristers practising exclusively in criminal defence work. Members of the group provide representation to defendants charged with the whole range of criminal offences at every stage of criminal proceedings.
The civil group includes practitioners specialising mainly in housing and immigration. Housing work concentrates on problems faced by tenants and the homeless. Our large immigration team is committed to both asylum and non-asylum work with a particular emphasis on representing vulnerable clients in the face of increasingly restrictive legislation.
Judicial review is an important area of work within chambers, particularly in respect of housing, education and immigration work.
Chambers works closely with law centres and other agencies who are addressing unmet legal needs. Some members are prominent in legal pressure groups and voluntary organisations, seeking to reform and improve the provision of legal services and access to justice. Chambers also operates a strong prison law team.
Structure of Pupillage
Pupils have the opportunity to complete periods of training across one or more specialist areas within Chambers: family, housing, crime and immigration. There are also opportunities to gain experience in other areas including community care law, prison law and inquests/inquiries. Chambers will endeavour to fulfil prospective pupils’ request to train in any of the given specialist areas set out above but cannot guarantee that training will be provided in the requested areas.
We are committed to legally aided work and to ensuring access to justice. We seek to promote diversity and equality in all aspects of our work. Chambers undertakes work at all levels, and members practise in the following specialist groups: family, crime and civil. Many members are also direct access qualified, and Chambers actively promotes this avenue of work.
Financial and Other Support Available
We offer 12-month pupillages funded by way of a grant for the London living wage (the minimum pupillage award as set annually by the BSB), plus pupillage related travel expenses incurred within London to be covered by a travelcard provided by chambers during the first six and during the second six by way of payment on production of proof of travel. Chambers shall also provide an allowance for out-of-London travel during the first six when appropriate. Pupils shall also retain all earnings received in the second six in addition to the grant.
We are recruiting for 2 pupillages to commence in April 2027.
Chambers Ethos
Chambers has a strong commitment to human rights and access to justice which is reflected in the type of work we do, as well as the structure of chambers. We are a non-hierarchical set and treat every member with respect, regardless of seniority. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity at the Bar and are the only chambers to offer compulsory in-house anti-oppression training.
Chambers has a complaints procedure. Members are required to comply with Chambers’ quality codes by which standards are set, monitored and developed. Chambers has a strong commitment to equal opportunities and to combatting discrimination. Chambers select candidates solely on merit, seeking to ensure that we reflect the community that we serve. We will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for those with disabilities under the Equality Act 2010.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
One Pump Court is committed to equality of opportunity. Our policies and practices on equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) inform every aspect of how we operate as an organisation. We have an ED&I Officer and Committee. Our pupillage recruitment policy (please see the attached recruitment brochure) has been designed to give effect to the principles of fair recruitment. Our pupils are provided with copies of Chambers’ Pupillage Handbook, Equality and Diversity Policy, Harassment Policy, Complaints Procedures, Reasonable Adjustment Policy, and Pupillage Handbook and receive dedicated pastoral support, including assistance with any issue involving ED&I throughout pupillage from the Pupillage Committee. If candidates have any additional questions about the accessibility of Chambers, they are encouraged to contact our ED&I Officer, David Chirico KC (dac@onepumpcourt.co.uk).
Pupillage Selection Criteria
1. Marking Applications
Applicants are awarded marks in each of the four criteria:
Written Communication and Presentation, Academic Achievement, Experience (Applicants are marked on the basis of both their legal and non-legal experience, where skills developed or used would have application to practice at the bar. For example, this includes developing legal knowledge; client-focused skills; public speaking or other forms of advocacy; knowledge and experience in related areas.)
Commitment to Human Rights and Access to Justice (Applicants are marked on the extent to which they can evidence, by specific examples, their commitment to human rights and access to justice.) All applications are marked in accordance with our criteria by at least two members of Chambers.
2. Interviews
We usually hold two rounds of interviews. The final arrangements for the upcoming round of interviews in spring 2025 will be confirmed nearer the time, and will be notified in due course to candidates who are invited to interview. The interview process usually includes an advocacy exercise, and a short presentation on a subject chosen by candidates from a list of topical questions relevant to Chambers’ practice areas (both of these are prepared in advance), as well as a range of unseen questions.
Answers to all the questions and exercises are marked on the basis of the following criteria: advocacy, legal knowledge, and commitment to human rights and access to justice. These criteria are weighted differently depending on the question.
All interviews are conducted by a panel of members of Chambers and are observed by an equality, diversity and inclusion monitor.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Thursday 2 January 2025 and Thursday 6 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career. (Character limit 2500)
2. Why do you want to join our chambers? In your answer, please give reasons for your choice of chambers and explain why you are interested in our areas of practice. (Character limit 2500)
3. What is the greatest challenge you have faced so far? (Character limit 2500)
4. If there is anything else you would like us to know about you, please tell us here. (Character limit 2500)
Attached documents
