Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Devereux is a leading multi-specialist 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 Chambers regularly receives the highest accolades for its work, demonstrating its respected status within the profession. 42 members of Devereux are currently ranked within Chambers & Partners across 15 practice areas, with 51 members ranked in Legal 500, also across 15 practice areas. In 2024, our Head of Chambers, Andrew Burns KC, was named Employment Silk of the Year by Legal 500. Devereux was also recognised by Chambers & Partners in 2023, with Robert Weir KC winning Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year, and Stephen Killalea KC winning Personal Injury Silk of the Year, while the Devereux Practice Management team won the esteemed Client Service Award.
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 employment, personal injury/clinical negligence and tax. 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 2 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. For example, all application 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, we continue to participate in the 10,000 Black Interns initiative as well as supporting 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 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 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 racial 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 & 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. Applications should be made through the Pupillage Gateway, www.pupillagegateway.com between 2 January 2025 and 6 February 2025, searching for the relevant vacancy and selecting 'Apply for this pupillage'.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. Why do you want to join Devereux Chambers? (200 words)
2. Please identify any additional experiences/skills gained that you believe may help you in your career as a barrister. (250 words)
3. Please state all advocacy experience that you wish us to take into account when assessing your application. (1000 words)
2. Please identify any additional experiences/skills gained that you believe may help you in your career as a barrister. (250 words)
3. Please state all advocacy experience that you wish us to take into account when assessing your application. (1000 words)
