Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
1GC | Family Law is one of the foremost Family Law Chambers in the country, recognised both nationally and internationally for providing expert advice and representation, and for acting in the most high-profile, sensitive and important cases arising from family breakdown.
Our pupils are our future. For this reason, we place great emphasis on providing a friendly, supportive environment in which pupils are able to develop the skills they require for a successful career at the Family Bar. We are committed to the continuing education of pupils and ensure ongoing support and assessment throughout pupillage.
Once a tenant, our members go on to develop successful practices and to appear in some of the most significant cases in Family Law. Former members have been recruited to be High Court Judges, Circuit Judges and District Judges. Many of our current members sit as Deputy Judges at all levels.
Structure of Pupillage
We are offering two 12-month pupillages starting in September 2026. Pupillage is divided into two parts: a six-month non-practising period and a six-month practising period.
Financial and Other Support Available
Our pupillages come with an award of £40,000 for each pupil, paid in monthly instalments. At Chambers’ discretion, a proportion of the award might be available for early drawdown during the BPTC year.
Pupils can also expect to be in court regularly during their second six and, although we cannot guarantee any particular figure, recent experience suggests that our pupils can expect to earn a good additional income during these six months. Our pupils are entitled to retain all of their earnings during their second six and are not expected to pay Chambers rent.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Chambers is committed to equal opportunities for all and to promoting and improving diversity at the Bar. To this effect, we recruit our pupils through the Pupillage Gateway, and our application process follows the timetable and fair recruitment recommendations set down by the Bar Council.
Our Chambers' building is wheelchair accessible with an entrance ramp, has dedicated facilities and lifts that serve all floors. We are committed to implementing reasonable adjustments to ensure equal access opportunities for all. Should you have specific additional requirements, please contact our Accessibility Officer at clerks@1gc.com.
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’.
The candidates have the opportunity to attend a 1GC Pupillage Open evening with Q&A on Wednesday 15th January 2025 – please find the registration information on our website.
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
Q1: 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. Min/Maximum word count: 100-200
Q2: Why are you interested in Family Law? Min/Maximum word count: 100-200
Q3: Should the standard of proof in children cases change from the balance of probabilities? Min/Maximum word count: 150-350
