Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Doughty Street Chambers (DSC) comprises of over 170 barristers supported by 45 staff who all share a fundamental commitment to going “above and beyond” for our clients. Striving for access to justice, professionalism and excellence remains the driving force behind all that we do, coupled with our desire to innovate in the way that we offer services to our clients. Read more about our values here.
Doughty Street barristers are specialist practitioners, regularly involved in high profile, precedent-setting cases. Although we work across many fields, we are particularly known for our commitment to protecting and furthering human rights and civil liberties. We are noted as leaders in our fields, for our intellectual excellence and for cultivating a collaborative approach between our various practice teams.
Structure of Pupillage
We are offering a specialist pupillage in the Housing and Community Care teams to start in October 2026. The Housing and Community Care Teams at Doughty Street Chambers are recognised leaders in those fields and top-ranked in the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories.
The Housing team largely acts for tenants, service users and their families, and homeless applicants. The Community Care and Health team has extensive cross-disciplinary expertise across the full range of social welfare law, including children’s and adults social care, mental health, mental capacity, social security, and migrant support. Team members edit the Community Care Law Reports and have authored some of the leading texts in these practice areas. Both teams’ members have acted in many of the significant public interest cases across the housing, community care and health areas, and regularly act for individuals as well as organisations.
The successful candidate will undergo 12 months training under 2 or 3 supervisors in either or both teams.
After successfully completing your 12-month pupillage, you will be invited to apply for membership of Chambers as an integral part of the the Housing and/or Community Care teams.
This specialist Housing and Community Care pupillage is in addition to Specialist Immigration and General pupillages (for which, see separate adverts on the Pupillage Gateway).
Financial and Other Support Available
The pupillage award for the year is £50,000 comprising of a grant of £40,000, in addition to guaranteed earnings of £10,000 in the second-six practising element of pupillage. Chambers also provides a contribution to cover travel expenses during pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer. Doughty Street Chambers is committed to creating a diverse workspace and to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of merit.
We aim to stifle the myth that there is an acceptable way to look, talk or act to be a member of the Bar.
A commitment to promoting human rights and equality has always been part of our ethos.
We are committed to promoting careers in the law to those from under-represented backgrounds. Our outreach initiatives page details more information about this, together with Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Policy and Chambers' Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS)
As part of our work as a Disability Confident Employer, under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS), Doughty Street Chambers will offer a guaranteed interview to pupillage candidates who are Disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010, if they meet the minimum requirements of the position for which they have applied and subject to a cap on interviews offered under the GIS.
The minimum requirements for pupillage recruitment are calculated as a minimum combined score across our criteria of intellectual ability and dedication. These are set each year by the Pupillage Committee in consultation with Chambers’ Equality & Diversity Officer and the Disability Working Group, with final approval from the Management Board.
Applications will be considered under GIS if candidates declare a disability and meet the minimum requirements. It does not depend on a candidate requesting reasonable adjustments. If a candidate wishes to be considered under the Scheme, they must send a separate email confirming this to the email address: recruitment@doughtystreet.co.uk
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Thursday 2 January 2025 and Thursday 6 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
- Why do you wish to become a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers? (Maximum 250 words)
- Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career. (Maximum 250 words)
- Please explain how you have demonstrated motivation, commitment, and drive in any aspect of your life. We are particularly interested in activities in relation to civil liberties and the welfare of others, but you should also include significant achievements or experience in unrelated fields.(Maximum 250 words)
- Please explain why you are applying for a Housing and Community Care Pupillage, giving details of any experience that demonstrates your interest in and commitment to these practice areas. (Maximum 250 words)
