Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Type of work undertaken
Devereux is a leading multi-specialist set and its members are recognised as leaders in their fields by both Legal 500 and Chambers UK, and our Practice Management team winning the Client Service Award in 2023. We are friendly and forward-thinking and have an excellent reputation for the quality of our work. Our core areas of practice are: employment; personal injury; clinical negligence; tax (acting for both HMRC and the taxpayer); and commercial litigation and arbitration (including insurance, reinsurance, professional negligence and telecommunications).
Devereux Chambers regularly receives the highest accolades for its work, demonstrating its respected status within the profession. 43 members of Devereux are currently ranked within the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide with 51 members ranked in The Legal 500 Guide. Devereux’s employment team (nominated for Employment Set of the Year with both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in 2025) remains the go-to set for Industrial Relations and complex Employment Litigation, spearheaded by five leading silks. Our head of chambers, Andrew Burns KC, recognised by Chambers & Partners as ‘Employment Silk of the Year’ in 2024. In 2025, our Personal Injury team was named 'Personal Injury Set of the Year' at The Legal 500 awards, with Rob Weir KC recognised by Chambers and Partners 2025 as ‘PI Silk of Year’. Devereux’s tax team (nominated in every category for the Legal 500 Awards 2025 and for tax junior in the Chambers and Partners 2025 awards) is now the second largest in London with strength and depth in both direct and indirect taxes.
Structure of Pupillage
We want our pupils to succeed. In line with our reputation as a progressive set, we have developed a well-structured and challenging pupillage programme. Our aim is to ensure that a pupillage with us is stimulating and interesting and that pupils receive the support necessary to fulfil their potential.
The assessed pupillage at Devereux normally includes three seat rotations across our core areas of work. Typically, this will involve seats in tax, employment, and personal injury/clinical negligence. However, these seat rotations can be adjusted by agreement on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances. No prior knowledge of any of Devereux’s practice areas is required.
In recent years the vast majority of our pupils have successfully obtained tenancy at the end of the 9-month assessed part of the pupillage programme. In the fourth unassessed seat in the final three months, pupils are able to gain expertise in an additional practice area or to return to an earlier seat rotation to gain a deeper knowledge of one of the practice areas already assessed.
Typical responsibilities during pupillage include working on client papers, undertaking legal research, drafting advices, pleadings and skeleton arguments, as well as joining pupil supervisors in client conferences and accompanying them to court. Pupils also have the opportunity to work with other members of Chambers thus benefiting from varied feedback and gaining insight into a wide range of practice areas and ways of working. In the second six months pupils start to take on their own cases, usually in tribunals and the county court. An important part of the pupillage programme is the completion of a number of pieces of assessed written work and the participation in two advocacy exercises in front of current members of Chambers and former members of Chambers who are judges.
Financial and Other Support Available
We are offering two 12-month pupillages, each carrying an award of £75,000, £20,000 of which can be advanced for the BPTC year. The first tranche (£20,000) is payable in the BPTC year and will be paid in two instalments of £10,000, the first in December and the second in May. Please visit www.devereuxchambers.co.uk for the most up-to-date details and terms relating to the pupillage award.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Devereux is committed to supporting the vision of a diverse and inclusive Bar. We take steps to ensure that the best candidates are selected for pupillage regardless of their background. All application forms received are initially reviewed on an anonymous basis and candidates are selected for the first-round interviews based upon objective scoring criteria. In assessing academic achievement, we look at a candidate's performance at university, without knowing which particular university they attended.
In support of greater diversity at the Bar, we continue to participate in the 10,000 Black Interns programme as well as supporting, PASS, COMBAR Mentoring Scheme and Bridging the Bar.
When pupils are taken on, we support the transition to tenancy through a well-established mentoring scheme. Informal, supportive networks are also encouraged, such as our women's network. More formally, there is an on-going monitoring of members' incomes and the distribution of work to ensure there is no bias based upon any gender or race.
Every barrister who completes pupillage at Devereux will have completed a pupillage in employment law and most tenants do or will at some time have practised in equality law. Members and staff undertake equality, diversity and inclusion awareness training annually.
Applications are very welcome from candidates who require any form of reasonable adjustments. Any candidate who wishes to discuss such adjustments, or who wishes to discuss any issue of equality or access to Devereux pupillage, is encouraged to contact our Equality and Diversity Officer, Christopher Stone KC (stone@devchambers.co.uk).
How to Apply
In selecting our pupils we look for potential tenants: graduates who can demonstrate incisive analysis, strong advocacy skills and intellectual rigour. Common sense, practicality and the ability to get on with people from a variety of backgrounds are also key requirements. Applicants are invited to apply to Devereux Chambers between Monday 5 January 2026 (from 11am) and Thursday 22 January 2026 (until 23:59) for pupillage using the Pupillage Gateway 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 do you believe you will make a good barrister? (Word limit: 300)
2. Why do you want to join Devereux Chambers? (450 words)
3. Please identify any additional experiences / skills gained that you believe may help you in your career as a barrister. Word limit: 250
4. Please state all advocacy experience that you wish us to consider when assessing your application Word limit: 300
