Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
- We are a friendly and forward-thinking multidisciplinary set that is committed to investing in and nurturing the next generation of talent at the Bar.
- We aim to provide our pupils with an outstanding opportunity to develop the practical skills they need to thrive in practice.
- Successful applicants can look forward to having a dedicated pupil supervisor and support from the whole Chambers team. Each group has its own team of experienced clerks who service a well-established network of professional clients.
- We want you to succeed!
Structure of Pupillage
We are looking for one Family Specialist Pupil based in Teesside and one Civil Specialist Pupil based in Newcastle to begin in September 2025.
During the first period the pupil will work almost exclusively for his or her supervisor. After Christmas, and increasingly as the year goes on, the pupil will also work for other members of Chambers of all levels of seniority. A pupil’s working hours and holidays are arranged with his or her supervisor and will generally be consistent with the Bar Council’s recommendation that pupils should work a minimum of 35 hours per week and have a minimum of 20 days holiday per year. Pupils are also encouraged to work for FRU and to undertake FRU cases before starting pupillage. During pupillage Pupils are expected to carry out work for their Pupil Supervisor, any Member of Chambers with whom they are placed for any period and for other Members of Chambers, particularly during the latter stages of pupillage. No payment is permitted in respect of any such work. Paid devilling work may be available to junior tenants but not Pupils.
Chambers makes every effort to place each individual Pupil with a Pupil Supervisor best able to provide training suited to the individual needs of that Pupil. Chambers will also take into account any expression of interest by a Pupil in particular practice areas when allocating a Principal Pupil Supervisor.
The purpose of Pupils spending time with members other than their Pupil Supervisor is to enhance the training offered and to maximise the breadth of the Pupil’s experience of differing types and methods of work at the Bar. This also ensures that the Pupil’s work is seen and reported upon by a variety of Members of Chambers. During the last month or so of the first six months, so far as feasible, Pupils will accompany the very junior Members of Chambers to Court so that they can gain experience of the type of work they will be expected to perform during their second six months.
Although any Member of Chambers with whom a Pupil is placed will be expected to perform the duties of the Pupil Supervisor, the Principal Pupil Supervisor retains overall responsibility for the Pupil and remains available to offer advice and assistance throughout the pupillage. It is the responsibility of the Principal Pupil Supervisor to ensure that the Pupil obtains their Provisional and Full Practising Certificates at the appropriate times so that the Pupil can continue to practise.
Financial and Other Support Available
Chambers presently offers an award of £12,500 per Pupil for the first six months and guarantees receipts of a further £25000 in the second six months. This guarantee operates on a month by month basis, so that in any single month where gross receipts are less than £4,166.67 the balance is made up by Chambers. There is no “clawback” if receipts in other months exceed £4,166.67. Further, Chambers will pay the costs of attending compulsory courses as required by the BSB and those additional courses that Chambers wishes the Pupil(s) to attend. In view of the above Chambers has an exemption from the requirement to pay travelling expenses of pupils. Off-circuit expenses will in any event be reimbursed by Chambers upon production of the relevant receipt.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
It is our policy to treat everyone equally and fairly regardless of their racial group, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, religion or political persuasion. Please see our website for full details.
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 Dere Street? Max 200 words
2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? Max 200 words
3. Why should we recruit you over anyone else? Max 200 words
4. What aspect of pupillage do you think is going to be most challenging for you and how do you intend to deal with this? Max 200 words
5. You recruit yourself 3 figures on your personal Executive Board. Who are they and why? Max 200 words
6. What matters most to you? Max 200 words
7. Are you applying for pupillage in 2025 or 2026 or both?
