Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
We are offering one crime pupillage commencing in April 2026.
Our criminal pupils will access a varied training program, with an opportunity to be supervised by members across our core areas: crime, extradition, proceeds of crime & asset forfeiture and with some access to our professional discipline work.
Structure of Pupillage
Pupillage is usually divided into 3 periods of 4 months, with 3 different pupil supervisors.
Each pupil will also have a mentor in chambers who is separate from their pupil supervisor. We also encourage our most junior tenants to support our new pupils. We recognise that our junior tenants have just been through the pupillage process and can often offer invaluable hands-on advice to the new pupils.
Pupil supervisors will provide each pupil with and/or contribute to a suitable training programme that enables the pupil to meet the competencies in the Professional Statement to the required standard and will provide all necessary assistance in complying with the pupil’s regulatory obligations.
Pupil supervisors will conduct periodic formal appraisal meetings with their pupils. The objective of these appraisals is to ensure that the pupil is on track to meet the standard required for a Provisional Practising Certificate at the end of the first-six, and to complete pupillage. At the conclusion of the seat, the pupil supervisor will conduct a final appraisal and assist in the smooth handover between seat supervisors.
At the end of the ‘first six’ months of pupillage our pupils will be on their feet and commence their ‘second six’. Pupils will undertake cases in their own right, whilst still having the support of a Pupil Supervisor. You will be undertaking your own cases, covering cases for other members of chambers, and receiving work from your pupil supervisor should they need your assistance.
The second six is an exciting time where our pupils finally get to undertake their own advocacy and develop their own work streams.
Before the end of the 12-month pupillage, our pupillage selection board undertakes a review of all pupillage feedback, appraisals from pupil supervisors and makes a final recommendation for tenancy to all members of chambers. We are proud of our strong record of taking on our pupils after pupillage, and we recruit our pupils with a view to taking them on as tenants.
We aim to provide significant support throughout pupillage so that pupils achieve the required standards and achieve well beyond this.
Financial and Other Support Available
Our pupillage award will be £45,000, which is made up of a grant of £25,000 in the first six months and a guaranteed income of £20,000 in the second six months.
Successful pupils can apply to ‘draw down’ a proportion of the grant to assist with their Bar Course or other pupillage-related costs.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We are an equal opportunities set, committed to equality and diversity. We encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.
For any queries regarding accessibility and/or reasonable adjustments, please do not hesitate to contact Serena Mignott at serenamignott@5sah.co.uk.
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’
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. Why do you want to join our chambers? In your answer, please explain why you are interested in our areas of practice (200 max word limit).
2. Describe a time you acted on your own initiative to good effect (200 max word limit).
3. With which well-known person, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner and why? (200 max word limit)
