Pupillage Vacancy Information
We are offering three specialist pupillages: Business & Property, Family and Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence. 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.
FAMILY PUPILLAGE
This pupillage will be in the Family Department. The pupillage is intended to be a specialist family law pupillage involving private law and public law children work and related litigation. The pupil will be allocated a supervisor but it is anticipated that they will also spend time with as many other members of the Family Department as possible. Work in Chambers includes public and private children law, adoption and wardship, surrogacy issues, domestic abuse injunctions, international relocation, divorce, Court of Protection, forced marriage and FGM issues. There will also be some exposure to family finance work.
In the first/non-practising six months of pupillage, the pupil will attend hearings and conferences with their pupil supervisor and others. They will also assist their supervisor in legal research and case preparation. The supervisor will provide feedback and training to ensure that the pupil is ready to commence a busy family practice. In the second/ practising six months, the pupil will have their own workload, which is likely to comprise of hearings, predominantly on the Northern Circuit.
PI, CLIN NEG & COSTS PUPILLAGE
This pupillage will be in the Civil & Personal Injury 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
6 months non-practising /6 months practising
It is anticipated that the overall package for the Business & Property pupil will be worth in excess of £60,000. The package for the Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Pupil will be worth in excess of £40,000 and the Family pupil will be worth in excess of £55,000.
Financial support comprises:
- £21,060 in the form of a grant (to rise in line with the BSB minimum pupillage award);
- Guaranteed billings in second six of £40,000 (Business & Property), £20,000 (PI & Clinical Negligence) £35,000 (Family). 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 • 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.
The application process for pupillage commencing September 2026 will run in line with the standard Pupillage Gateway timetable.
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.
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)
Our Assessment Weekend will be 4th and 5th 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 4th and 5th April.
Successful candidates will be notified at 9.30am on 9th May 2024.
