How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Wednesday 4 January 2023 and Wednesday 8 February 2023 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? (Character limit 1000)
2.Why do you want to join our chambers? (Character limit 1000)
3. Discuss a recent family law case (from the last 12 months) that interested you. (Character limit 1000)
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
Description of Chambers:
Routinely ranked as one of the top chambers for family law by the major guides to the legal profession, we can justifiably lay claim to being the most modern and dynamic of the top specialist family law sets. Our record of recruitment from amongst our own pupils is second-to-none, and our pupils – both those who are recruited, and those who are not – comment on the thoroughness of the training they receive here, and the friendliness of the set as a place in which to complete their training. As an organisation, our belief, and experience, is that the source of our ongoing success is in our pupils and junior members. The level of our pupillage award and our commitment to the pupillage programme is a testament to the strength of that belief.
The Legal 500 describes us as a 'first-class set” with “great strength in depth” and a reputation for being “a force to be reckoned with at the family Bar”. Chambers & Partners is in a similar vein, describing us as a set with “demonstrable strength at silk and junior level that assists clients in both children and divorce proceedings” with “sought after” members. Many members, both silks and juniors, are individually listed as leaders in the field in both directories.
Recent cases involving members of chambers include the Supreme Court appeals in Villiers v Villiers UKSC 2018/0114, Mills v Mills [2018] UKSC 38, Sharland v Sharland [2015] UKSC 60, and Vince v Wyatt [2015] UKSC 15 and the Court of Appeal appeals in Villiers v Villiers [2022] EWCA 772, Moher v Moher [2019] EWHC Civ 1482, Lachaux v Lachaux [2019] EWCA Civ 738, Brack v Brack [2018] EWCA Civ 2862, Sharp v Sharp [2017] EWCA Civ 408, Hart v Hart [2018] EWCA Civ 1058 and [2017] EWCA Civ 1306.
Areas of work
We offer specialist knowledge in every aspect of family law. Work is largely based in London and the South East, but all members practice nationwide with many practitioners practicing regularly in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and the other main regional centres. We boast a strong team of top-flight matrimonial finance practitioners, dealing with domestic and international cases. We have expertise in all aspects of the law relating to children; including abduction and adoption. In public law cases we act for parents, local authorities and guardians. We also specialise in work arising out of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, TLATA and the Inheritance Act.
Pupillage programme
Up to two 12-month pupillages are available with awards of £35,000. Pupillage will normally be spent with three supervisors and all pupils are encouraged to attend court with other members of chambers. Pupils can expect to be in court (and earning) on a regular basis during their second six.
