Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation and Structure of Pupillage
5 Stone Buildings is an outstanding set of Chancery chambers, described as “an outstanding set with incredible strength in depth across the board” by Chambers & Partners, with many distinguished present and former members, including former law lords and other members of the higher judiciary. We have 41 members of whom nine are silks. Chambers consistently receives outstanding rankings in the legal directories and the vast majority of our members are individually recognised as leaders in their field.
We are a small chambers compared to the largest chancery sets; we believe that our size and ethos enables us to ensure that pupils and junior tenants receive the best possible training and clerking and are well prepared for all of the problems and opportunities that practice will throw at them. All members of chambers, however senior, are always happy to assist junior members and to provide advice and guidance when requested.
Chambers’ work is highly specialised and focuses on traditional chancery work, with a particular focus on trusts and inheritance, pensions and revenue law through to real property and associated professional negligence. Members are instructed by a wide range of solicitors, from the largest City firms to high street firms in the regions. Many members have practices involving work from the major offshore financial centres.
Applicants should normally have at least a 2:1 degree. We aim to offer up to two 12-month pupillages each year and to recruit tenants from our pupils. Our policy is only to offer pupillage to candidates whom we believe to be potential tenants. We welcome applications from law and non-law graduates alike.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in chambers and will use Rare Recruitment data supplied through the Pupillage Gateway to contextualise pupillage applications.
Pupils will normally sit with four pupil supervisors during their period as a pupil with a view to experiencing a wide range of work. Pupils are given regular feedback as to how they might improve or refine their work.
Financial and Other Support Available
Pupillage carries with it an award of up to £75,000. Part of the award is tax free. Chambers also pays for compulsory courses that are undertaken during pupillage.
We recognise that the BPTC year is costly, particularly in terms of the expense of the BPTC course itself, and so we allow up to £18,750 of the pupillage award to be drawn down.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We welcome applications from law and non-law graduates alike. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in chambers and were for many years partnered with Rare Recruitment to contextualise pupillage applications (although this is now offered through the Pupillage Gateway). Any applicant who would like to discuss reasonable adjustments to the application process whether because of disability, neurodivergency or any other reason should contact kmacfarlane@5sblaw.com
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Thursday 02 January 2025 and Thursday 06 February 2025 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? (1200 characters max.)
2. Why do you want to join our chambers? (1200 characters max.)
2. Why do you want to join our chambers? (1200 characters max.)
3. Please briefly describe anything you have seen in the press related to our areas of practice. (1200 characters max.)
4. Can you give us an example of when you needed to use your skills of persuasion to reach a desired outcome? (1200 characters max.)
5. Is there anything else we should know? (1200 characters max.)
