Pupillage Vacancy Information
Deka Chambers is a leading common law (mixed practice) set known for its core strengths in advocacy, drafting and advisory work. Clients include solicitors, local government, central government, corporate bodies and individuals.
Pupils and tenants (for at least three years after tenancy) practise in all areas of our work, an arrangement which provides enviable advocacy experience and develops an interesting and varied practice. Pupils in their second six (practising period) are routinely in court most or all days of the week in a range of civil, criminal and family cases.
We are offering up to three pupillages of 12 months’ duration, commencing in October 2026.
We look for candidates who can demonstrate their analytical ability, expression and persuasion skills, practical professional skills and motivation to have and develop a common law practice. Candidates are required to have a minimum of a second class degree (the minimum qualification level in the Bar Qualification Manual) and be in a position to have been called to the Bar by the commencement date of pupillage. Otherwise, there are no formal academic requirements to apply or be selected for pupillage with us
We operate and observe a robust equality and diversity policy, including in recruitment; and for many years we have been at the forefront of E&D issues at the Bar.
We offer a financial package worth £65,000.
The funds are delivered in two tranches. The first half of the funding, £32,500, is directly paid as an award. In line with Bar Council guidance, each pupil receives an equal amount of £5,416.66 every month for the first six months of the pupillage. The second half of the funding, £32,500, takes the form of guaranteed earnings. Pupils undertake work in their own names in the second six months of pupillage. At the end of that period (which is also the end of the 12-month pupillage), each pupil is paid the difference between £32,500 and what they have received.
We are committed to administering an application process which invites and facilitates applications from as wide a range of candidates as possible. Over the years we have selected for interview, and recruited, candidates from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of characteristics.
We mark application forms on an anonymous basis and (as set out on the details of the application process) we strongly discourage the inclusion of identifying features and protected characteristics on the forms.
At every stage of the process (including the pre-interview stage), we are open to considering and making reasonable adjustments to ensure the full and meaningful participation of candidates with particular requirements, and we are open to discussing adjustments at all stages of the process.
We do not accept applications through the Pupillage Gateway: instead, candidates should apply on our own application form through our dedicated online system.
All the information, including the form, will be available on the pupillage pages on our website, which can be accessed here: https://www.dekachambers.com/join-us/pupillage/
We intend to publish the application form in advance of the opening of the application window (and likely before Christmas).
The application window will be open from 2 January 2025 to 6 February 2025 inclusive. First round interviews will be held on 22 March 2025. The dates for second round interviews will be announced shortly.
