Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.
Pupillage Vacancy Information
We are offering three specialist pupillages: Business & Property, Criminal and PI, Clinical Negligence & Costs. Applicants are invited to choose one specialism when applying.
Business & Property Pupillage
This pupillage will be in the Business & Property Department. The pupillage is intended to be a specialist business & property pupillage, with an emphasis on business & property work. The pupil will be allocated a supervisor but it is anticipated that they will also spend time with members of chambers and experience other areas of expertise, such as Tax and Employment.
In the first non-practising six months of pupillage, the pupils will attend hearings, conferences and negotiations with their pupil supervisor and others. They will also assist their supervisor in the drafting of advices, pleadings and skeleton arguments. The supervisor will provide feedback and training to ensure that the pupil is ready to commence a busy business & property practice. In second six, the pupil will have their own workload, which is likely to comprise of hearings throughout England and Wales, advices, the drafting of pleadings and conferences.
Criminal Pupillage (x2)
We are advertising for two Pupils in this area of law, ideally one to start March 2025 and the second September 2025, subject to agreement with the successful candidates and Chambers. This pupillage will be in the Criminal Department. The pupillage is intended to be a specialist criminal law pupillage, including both prosecution and defence work. The pupils will be allocated a supervisor but it is anticipated that they will also spend time with as many other members of the Criminal Department as possible. Work in Chambers includes homicide, terrorism, serious sexual and violent offences, fraud and serious organised crime. In addition we are instructed in regulatory offences, road traffic offences, confiscation hearings, Parole Board hearings and forfeiture of cash and goods.
In the first/non-practising six months of pupillage, the pupils will attend hearings and conferences with their pupil supervisor and others. They will also assist their supervisor in legal research and in the drafting of advices, case openings and skeleton arguments. The supervisor will provide feedback and training to ensure that the pupils is ready to commence a busy criminal practice. In the second/ practising six months, the pupils will have their own workload, which is likely to comprise of hearings and conferences, predominantly in the Crown Courts on the Northern Circuit.
PI, Clin Neg & Costs Pupillage
This pupillage will be in the PI, Clinical Negligence & Costs Department. The pupillage is intended to be a specialist civil law pupillage, with an emphasis on personal injury and clinical negligence work. The pupil will be allocated a supervisor but it is anticipated that they will also spend time with members of chambers and experience other areas of expertise, including regulatory work, inquests and costs.
In the first non-practising six months of pupillage, the pupil will attend hearings, conferences and negotiations with their pupil supervisor and others. They will also assist their supervisor in the drafting of advices, pleadings and skeleton arguments. The supervisor will provide feedback and training to ensure that the pupil is ready to commence a busy civil practice. In second six, the pupil will have their own workload, which is likely to comprise of hearings throughout England and Wales, advices, the drafting of pleadings and conferences
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
18 St John Street Chambers is one of the longest established and most well-regarded sets of Chambers on the Northern Circuit. Our barristers have been delivering the highest standards of advice and advocacy to clients for over 50 years, combining the traditions of the independent Bar with a modern and forward-looking approach.
We currently comprise over 90 members. Across our core departments we offer exceptionally skilled practitioners in business and property, personal injury, clinical negligence & costs, criminal law and family law. The depth of each department allows us to offer an extensive list of barristers across the full range of seniority and experience who are knowledgeable, insightful and analytical with particular expertise in verbal and written advice, legal drafting, negotiation and court advocacy. Within our dedicated practice groups we provide further teams specialising in additional areas of expertise including Court of Protection, employment, military proceedings, regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, sports law and tax. Chambers also has an accredited team offering arbitration and mediation services.
Whilst the majority of our work is conducted on the Northern Circuit, members regularly attend conferences, meetings and mediations and undertake advocacy in every level of the Tribunals and Courts across the United Kingdom and further afield. We are understanding and sympathetic but firm, focused and professional. We represent individuals directly and via high street, regional and national law firms. The success of our members is epitomised by the number who have gone on to take silk or be appointed as District, Circuit and High Court Judges, as well as those who have been ranked in the legal directories.
The interests of our clients are at the heart of everything 18 St John Street Chambers does. Members approach each case with firm and focused professionalism, which ensures that clients receive the best advice and service available. Our clerking teams have a thorough understanding of their practice areas. Clients receive an efficient and effective service from the first moment they contact Chambers. Every barrister provides an expert approach to cases by offering realistic advice, innovative solutions and incisive and effective advocacy.
Financial and Other Support Available
It is anticipated that the overall package for the Business & Property pupil will be worth in excess of £50,000. The package for the PI, Clinical Negligence & Costs Pupil will be worth in excess of £45,000 and the Criminal pupil will be worth in excess of £40,000. Financial support comprises:
- £19,045 in the form of a grant (to rise in line with the BSB minimum pupillage award);
- Guaranteed billings in second six of £30,000 (Business & Property), £25,000 (PI, Clinical Negligence & Costs) £20,000 (Criminal). In our experience, pupils have been extremely busy and bill in excess of the guaranteed amount;
- Reasonable travel expenses from Chambers to Court during the non-practising period of pupillage;
- Compulsory training costs;
- Access to online legal resources.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
18 St John Street Chambers commits:
- To create an environment in which all individual differences and contributions are recognised and valued.
- To create a working environment that promotes dignity and respect for everyone.
- To not tolerate any form of intimidation, bullying, or harassment, and to discipline those that breach this policy.
- To make training, development, and progression opportunities available to all trainees and staff and, where applicable, members.
- To actively promote equality in the workplace and in the wider legal profession.
- To encourage anyone who feels they have been subject to discrimination to raise their concerns so we can apply corrective measures.
- To regularly review all our recruitment, employment and other regulatory practices and procedures so that fairness is maintained at all times.
How to Apply
We are looking for well-rounded applicants who have the potential to build busy practices.
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Wednesday 3 January 2024 and Wednesday 7 February 2024 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:
- Which one specialist pupillage are you applying for? Why have you chosen that specific practice area? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career (2500 character limit)
- Why should we offer you a pupillage? This is intended to be a broad question that enables us to have an understanding about you and your path to pupillage. In your answer, please give reasons for your choice of chambers and explain why you are interested in our areas of practice (2500 character limit)
Each application form will be anonymised and independently scored by multiple members of Chambers. Applicants are marked on intellectual ability, interest/aptitude for the chosen practice area, commitment/motivation and achievement to date. We recognise that potential can be shown in many different ways and therefore we do not have a minimum requirement for undergraduate degree classification, A-levels or other qualifications. We view each application on its own merit.
Our Assessment Weekend will be 20th & 21st April
The top-scoring candidates will be invited to our assessment day. The assessment day usually comprises of a written task, a prepared public speaking task and an impromptu public speaking task. The top scoring candidates at the assessment day will be invited for interview. It is anticipated that the interview and assessment day will take place in person at Chambers on the weekend of 20th & 21st April.
Successful candidates will be notified at 9.30am on 10th May 2024.
