Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation and Structure of Pupillage
KCH Garden Square is a large, progressive, inclusive and well-respected set based in the East Midlands. With centres in Nottingham and Leicester, KCH Garden Square has a significant presence on the Midland Circuit.
We offer specialist Counsel in all areas of civil, family and criminal work. To this end, we enjoy an excellent reputation for high standards of advocacy, expertise and professionalism whilst remaining approachable to both our professional and lay clients.
We enjoy a strong local practice across the Midlands, meaning our members and pupils do not have to embark upon frequent, lengthy journeys to court centres out of area. Our busy practice means pupils and junior tenants have access to higher quality work than may otherwise be the case, given their lack of seniority. Junior members therefore enjoy interesting and rewarding work which accelerates their professional development, supported by our friendly, dedicated practice managers and administrative staff.
Pupillage is offered with a view to Tenancy and is for a period of 12 months. We do not recruit pupils to compete with one another for a limited number of tenancies, as to do so is not, in our view, conducive to an effective training environment or compatible with the supportive and collegiate nature of KCH Garden Square.
We are looking to recruit a pupil who will be trained in all three areas of practice.
Financial and Other Support Available
The Pupillage award is £27,000 over 12 months, consisting of a monthly award of £2,000 in the ‘first six’ plus reasonable travel expenses, followed by guaranteed minimum earnings in the ‘second six’ of £2,500 per month. We will also cover the costs of compulsory training and assessments required by the BSB during your Pupillage year.
There is no ‘clawback’ on receipts earned by the pupil. Pupils are guaranteed to earn the above amounts as a minimum, each month, regardless of how much they may earn in excess of the above minimums in other months.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We value our pupils as members of our professional team and are committed to your development, training and wellbeing. Pupils can expect to take advantage of our comprehensive policies, if they so wish, including those relating to:
- Compassionate and parental leave,
- Equality, diversity & inclusion,
- Wellbeing,
- Part-time working.
Our pupils and members enjoy a good work-life balance, are expected to work reasonable hours and to take periods of leave to safeguard their wellbeing, ensuring they are able to work efficiently, delivering a high standard of service to their clients.
How to Apply
Applications are by way of application form found on our website. Completed applications should be sent by e-mail to pupillage@kchgardensquare.co.uk and marked for the attention of Ms Claire Roden. The deadline for applications to have been received is 11:59pm on 06 February 2025, any applications received after this time will not be considered.
Any Other Relevant Information
KCH Garden Square applies an ‘equal merit’ approach to pupillage recruitment, in accordance with the Bar Council Fair Recruitment Guide and section 159 of the Equality Act 2010, insofar as if two or more candidates at interview are of equal merit when the scoring criteria is applied to their application for pupillage and performance at interview, the selection panel will prefer the candidate who exhibits a protected characteristic which is underrepresented in KCH Garden Square’s membership.
KCH Garden Square operates a ‘blind marking system’ whereby markers do not see an applicant’s name, address or educational institutions. Markers do see qualifications and grades, but not the name or address of the institution which awarded those qualifications. If an applicant is invited for interview, the interview panel will see all details on the application form, including institution details.
Each section of the application form is marked individually; out of 6, using the following ranking:
1 – Poor
2 – Below Average
3 – Average
4 – Good
5 – Very Good
6 – Outstanding
Markers of applications are looking to assess an applicant in the following areas (in no particular order):
Academic Ability,
Non-Legal Extra Curricular Activity, including transferable skills,
Legal Experience,
Advocacy Experience/Aptitude,
Commitment to the Bar and practising at KCH Garden Square.
Written presentation including clarity and persuasiveness of presentation/argument,
Work Ethic,
Insight/awareness of practice as a Barrister.
You should therefore consider, when drafting your applications, how you meet the above criteria.
Applications will be assessed by the Pupillage Committee and thereafter a shortlist of applicants will be invited for interview. There are typically one or two interview rounds, which typically include an advocacy exercise provided to interviewees 30 minutes in advance. All pupillage applications are second marked, with some moderated by a third marker.
Subject to the number and quality of applicants, we reserve the right to recruit more or less pupils than advertised and to make ‘reserve offers’.
Due to the high number of applications received, we will not usually be able to offer feedback on unsuccessful applications. Those shortlisted for interview may request
feedback, to be provided in line with the availability of the interviewers.
The Pupillage Committee will endeavour to produce a generic feedback report, highlighting common feedback themes, which will be made available on the Pupillage section of our website, after completion of this recruitment cycle.
