Pupillage Vacancy Information
Each 12 month pupillage will carry an award of £65,000 – subject to the following conditions. 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. Following commencement of the pupillage, the second tranche (£22,500) will be payable by monthly instalments for the first 6 months, and the third tranche (£22,500) by way of a guaranteed sum paid monthly for the second 6 months. The guarantee operates to ensure a cash income during the second 6 months. Any money actually received by the pupil during the second 6 months for work on their own cases will be offset against the guaranteed sum. However, any money received for work on a pupil’s own cases which took place in the second six but where payment is received after the end of the second 6 month period is not offset and will be retained by the pupil, subject to Chambers’ usual deductions.
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. For example, all applications forms are initially reviewed on a ‘name-blind’ basis and candidates are selected for the first-round of interviews based upon objective scoring criteria. In assessing academic achievement, we look at a candidate’s performance at university, but candidates are not awarded extra points because of the particular university that they attended.
In support of greater diversity at the Bar, last year we participated in the inaugural 10K Black Interns initiative and will be doing so again this year.
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 a recently established women’s network. More formally, there is on-going monitoring of members’ incomes and the distribution of work to ensure there is no bias based upon gender or race.
Every barrister who did pupillage at Devereux will have done a pupillage in employment law and most tenants do or will at some time have practised in equality law. We recently devised our own ‘equality, diversity and racial awareness’ training, which has been rolled out to all staff and made available to all barristers.
Applications are very welcome from disabled candidates and we will happily consider any reasonable adjustments. Any candidate who wishes to discuss such adjustments, or who wishes to discuss any issue of equality or access to a Devereux pupillage is encouraged to contact our Equality & Diversity Officer, Christopher Stone, at stone@devchambers.co.uk
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Wednesday 4 January 2023 and Wednesday 8 February 2023 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy then selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
In addition to the two standardised Bar Council questions, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
- Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? (1500 character limit)
- Why do you want to join our chambers? (2250 character limit)
- Please identify any additional experiences / skills gained that you believe may help you in your career as a barrister. (1250 character limit)
- Please state all advocacy experience that you wish us to take into account when assessing your application. (5000 character limit)
- In addition to its two vacancies Devereux Chambers has two vacancies for a twelve-month pupillage commencing in October 2023. Do you wish to be considered for this vacancy in addition to being considered for pupillage commencing in October 2024? (1250 character limit)
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
Devereux is a top civil set and its members are recognised as leaders in their fields by both Legal 500 and Chambers UK. 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 (and its members) regularly receives the highest accolades for its work, indicating its respected status within the profession.
In 2022, Devereux received numerous nominations and awards at the leading industry awards. Rob Weir KC won Personal Injury Silk of the Year and Chris Stone won Tax Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022. As a set, Devereux was nominated for Chambers of the Year at the Legal Business Awards, and for the Employment, Personal Injury, Technology, and Tax Set of the Year categories at the Legal 500 Bar Awards. Devereux members received four individual nominations at the Legal 500 Bar Awards and three individual nominations at the Chambers UK Bar Awards. Previously, Devereux was nominated for Personal Injury Set of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2020, and won Tax Set of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019 and Legal 500 Awards 2019.
Chambers UK Bar 2022 has ranked Colin Edelman KC, Bruce Carr KC, and Robert Weir KC as Star Individuals. Colin Edelman KC is the sole Star Individual in Chambers UK Insurance rankings. He is also ranked as a Star Individual in Arbitration: Arbitrators. Bruce Carr QC is one of only seven Employment Star Individuals.
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 includes three rotations: in employment, tax, and personal injury/clinical negligence. There is also exposure to commercial practice at various points during the year. No prior experience of tax law is expected or required and applicants unfamiliar with this area should not be daunted. A grounding in tax law, as provided by this seat, is beneficial not just to aspiring tax lawyers but also to those with an interest in employment, personal injury or insurance, for example.
In recent years the vast majority of our pupils have successfully applied for 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 a fourth practice area or a deeper knowledge of one of the three 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, including members of the Court of Appeal.
Mini-pupillage
We have around 15 mini-pupillage places available each year during our mini-pupillage window between 5 December 2022 and 16 December 2022. We do not require pupillage candidates to complete a mini-pupillage with us as part of our application process. However, mini-pupillages are a good way of learning more about the work and atmosphere of Chambers. To be considered, please complete and submit the application form on the Pupillage section of www.devereuxchambers.co.uk.
Any Other Relevant Information
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.
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