Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation and Structure of Pupillage
15 NBS Chambers, the Chambers of Brian St. Louis KC, are recruiting 4 pupils to start 12-month pupillages in either October 2025 or April 2026.
15 NBS offer expert advice and representation in all aspects of criminal law. We prosecute and defend matters throughout the court system, generally within the South Eastern Circuit. Chambers combines the highest standards of professional service with a friendly and approachable manner.
Our pupils are supervised and supported throughout their 12-month contract, by three supervisors, each covering a period of 4 months. Pupils will be allocated a mentor [one of our junior tenants] who will assist with the transition from the observational first six months to working within the magistrate’s courts during second six. Advocacy and practical skills training is provided within chambers, alongside provision and funding for the Inns and BSB compulsory pupillage courses. 15NBS engenders a collegiate atmosphere and pupils are encouraged to participate in the life of chambers and wider chambers events. 15NBS Chambers has an excellent track record of recruiting tenants from those who complete pupillage with us. Both our pupillage and tenancy selection process consider each candidate on their own merits. Pupillage will start in either October 2025 or April 2026 and run for a period of 12 months.
Financial and Other Support Available
The successful candidate will receive funding of £35,000 by way of 12 equal payments throughout their pupillage. Pupils will also be able to claim reasonable travel costs for work outside London. In 2025 chambers will offer pupils the possibility of an advanced payment [drawdown] on application to assist with the financial transition from work / study to pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Chambers has a strong commitment to equality of opportunity for all and welcomes applications from people from all sections of society, regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or religion.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 2 January 2025 and 6 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. What skills do you have that will make you a good criminal barrister? (Max 200 words)
2. Please set out what you feel are the four most important qualities for a criminal barrister and explain why. (Max 200 words)
3. Please provide us with an example of a situation where you were out of your depth. What did you do and what would you change if you had the chance again? (Max 200 words)
4. Please describe a situation where you worked within or led a successful team and explain how you contributed to that success.(Max 200 words)
5. What more could the criminal bar do promote inclusivity? (Max 200 words)
Further additional information
To ensure that the marking of application forms is carried out in a manner which is as fair and transparent as possible, 15NBS adopts the following approach:
- Applications are anonymised prior to assessment by redacting the candidates’ names.
- No monitoring data (gender, ethnic background, etc) is available to assessors.
- The “institution” fields on each application form for both secondary and tertiary education are redacted.
- All applications are double marked against set criteria, where we look at intellectual ability, written and oral advocacy, communication skills, ability to work in teams and suitability for criminal pupillage.
- At the conclusion of marking those candidates who meet Chambers criteria are invited to a first interview where the focus is communication skills and your ability to engage, think and respond under pressure.
- Our second interview will include an advocacy exercise and the submission of a piece of written work.
