Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
33 Bedford Row is a leading common law set offering outstanding legal advice and advocacy in Civil, Criminal, Family, Immigration and Regulatory law at all levels including work with an international element. Chambers consists of more than 100 barristers.
The Family team at 33 Bedford Row is both Private and Public Law. The Private Law includes Financial Remedies, Private Law Children as well as international and domestic relocation. In Public Law the team represents Local Authorities, Guardians and Parents and specialises in adoption, Special Guardianship, serious injuries and abuse, domestic abuse and significant mental health.
Part of the family team are based in our Sheffield Annex where there is a strong presence on the North Eastern Circuit.
On both circuits our barristers there are well respected and are often leading or being led in serious cases.
A number of members of the Family Team are ranked in Legal 500.
The family team works closely with an excellent clerking team and receives briefs from Specialist Family Solicitors in London and around the country.
Chambers is seeking to recruit a specialist family pupil to be based in London and to begin in October 2027.
Structure of Pupillage
Family pupils at 33 Bedford Row attend court daily during their first six and may also have the opportunity to assist with ongoing larger cases. They can also attend court with various members of the team to enable observation of different areas of Family Law.
In second six, pupils can expect to have busy diaries conducting Public and Private Law work in the Family courts.
In-house advocacy training is provided throughout pupillage and our aim is to help our pupils develop the skills they need to become exceptional advocates. Our in-house advocacy training is run by members of Chambers who are also qualified to provide training at their respective Inns.
We offer a friendly and supportive environment and, in addition to having experienced pupil supervisors, a pupil will be assisted by a mentor appointed from amongst our more junior tenants. Chambers has a good track record of offering tenancy upon the successful completion of pupillage.
Financial and Other Support Available
Pupils will receive a pupillage award of £30,000 made up of a grant for the first six and guaranteed earnings in second six.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
33 Bedford Row is one of the most diverse sets at the Bar and values equality, diversity and inclusion. Chambers ensures that all its pupils receive equality and diversity training provided by the Bar Council. All pupils are covered by 33 Bedford Row’s Equality and Diversity Policy.
AI policy
We expect applications to be entirely the work of the applicant without the assistance of AI.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 5 January 2026 and 23 January 2026 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. Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? (300 words)
2. Why do you want to join the Family team at 33 Bedford Row? (300 words)
3. What skills and characteristics are the hallmark of a good advocate? (300 words)
4. What is the greatest challenge you have faced so far? (300 words)
5. How would your friends describe you? (300 words)
6. If there is anything else you would like us to know, please tell us here. (300 words)
