Pupillage Vacancy Information
7BR is a multi-disciplinary set with an outstanding reputation for advocacy and for the high quality work we attract across a range of complementary practice areas.
We are a friendly, welcoming chambers and our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Whilst we are all self-employed individuals, we support one another as colleagues. To this end, we won the Legal Cheek Award for ‘Best Chambers for Colleague Supportiveness’ in 2022.
We are proud of our distinguished alumni who include Lord Chief Justices, Lord Justices of Appeal and High Court Judges. Our members routinely appear in high profile, law-changing and important litigaton, including cases in the Supreme Court. Many of us, and chambers as a whole, are highly ranked in the directories.
We own the buildings from which we practice and in 2020 we completed extensive renovations. We were shortlisted for Best Chambers for Facilities by Legal Cheek in 2022. The building provides an optimal working environment with the latest technology.
We have strong roots on circuit and so while much of our work is in London and the surrounding area, some of our members’ work is in the Midlands; this is particularly the case for those with a criminal or family law practice.
Candidates are invited to browse the ‘pupillage’ section of our website,. We host a virtual open evening each year. The most recent was on 1 November 2023, and a recording is available on our website.
We pride ourselves on the investment we place in our pupils. The structure of pupillage at 7BR ensures that all pupils receive training in civil, criminal and family law, with a unique arrangement that allows pupils to choose a practice area for their last four-month “seat” and tailor their pupillage to their interests. Our pupillage programme is designed to develop and challenge, equipping candidates with the skills and experience needed to enjoy a successful and stimulating career. Having invested heavily in each pupil, we do what we can to help them succeed. We were shortlisted for Best Chambers for Training by Legal Cheek in 2022.
Pupils are always welcome at chambers events and any member – whether supervisor or not – is happy to support and advise them in their work. Whilst chambers is based in London, pupils will be required to travel, and to manage a demanding schedule across all our practice areas.
Our retention rate is excellent and we have offered tenancy to 20 of our last 22 pupils.
Pupils are not in competition with each other; we have plenty of work and, if you are good enough, we will offer you a tenancy. This also means pupils often develop close and supportive friendships over the course of the year.
What are we looking for?
This year, we will recruit up to three pupils, to commence pupillage in October 2025.
We welcome candidates who are committed to the Bar but who are still working out the areas in which they will specialise, and candidates who already know where they wish to end up.
Whilst our members usually specialise as they become more senior, all of our very junior tenants are expected to undertake a mixed practice, giving them broad advocacy experience at the start of their career. Experience across all practice areas in the early years provides firm foundations for success in any specialism, and means we are well placed to undertake work in some of the most interesting cases at the intersections between various fields of law.
We are looking for highly motivated, hardworking applicants who have the potential to be exceptional advocates. In your application, you will also need to demonstrate that you have the necessary intellectual and analytical skills to be able to understand and advise on complex legal issues across a variety of practice areas. You will need to show first-rate communication skills, both oral and written
The pupillage award is broken down as follows:
- £10,000 is paid during the year before the commencement of pupillage.
- £40,000 is paid in instalments during the first six months of pupillage.
- Billed earnings, free of chambers’ rent or contributions, are guaranteed at a minimum of £10,000.
The total value of the package available at 7BR is therefore at least £60,000, and often more.
We welcome applications from candidates with a qualifying degree in any discipline and give no special preference to those with a law degree. We are happy to consider those coming to the Bar as a second career.
7BR is committed to equal opportunities. We encourage and welcome applications from groups under-represented in the legal sector and we will always make reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs.
We have a fully accessible building and pride ourselves on appropriately accommodating the needs of all members, staff and guests.
If you have any questions about equality, diversity or inclusion at 7BR please contact Gareth Weetman at gweetman@7br.co.uk.
Questions to be answered in addition to the Pupillage Gateway standard questions:
- Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? Max 250 words
- Which areas of legal practice are you interested in and how does this inform your decision to apply to 7BR? Max 250 words
- Apart from academic studies, which two experiences have most influenced you and why? Max 250 words
- Any special features not already mentioned. Include here any mitigating features in respect of your exam results (please refer to (g) on the ‘selection process’ page on the 7BR website) Max 100 words
- Legal problem question (the detailed question is available in the application form, and is viewable in the attached document) Max 350 words
Attached documents
