Pupillage Vacancy Information
The grant paid during the year's pupillage will be £40,000, which will include some element of guaranteed earnings in the second-six practising element of pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
At Doughty Street Chambers, diversity is welcomed, celebrated, essential. 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. Securing equality, diversity and inclusion is one our five key values.
Diversity at the Bar is a driver of excellence. It is necessary to improve public confidence in the justice system: legal representatives need to reflect the society we live in. We also know that diversity is not just a fad, nor is it merely a ‘numbers’ game.
Our policies and culture play a vital role in ensuring we build an inclusive environment where all our people can grow and flourish. To achieve this, Doughty Street takes a systematic approach, with bold action on diversity and inclusion. We have a clear, innovative, impactful and joined-up diversity and inclusion strategy across Chambers that reflects our values and needs.
Our Equality, Diversity, Wellbeing and Inclusion Strategy Committee co-ordinates the initiatives of all diversity groups within chambers through a dynamic action plan for chambers towards achieving its diversity and inclusion goals. Doughty Street ensures there is cross representation of diversity across all governing committees within Chambers.
Doughty Street promotes diversity-targeted initiatives via partnerships and chambers diversity groups which cover all EDI aspects of Chambers life, including: Anti-Racist Pledges, OUTy Street LGTB+ group, #DoughtyStWomen, Fair Allocation of Work, Wellbeing and Inclusion, Neurodiversity in Law, Disabled Lawyers Network, City Disabilities (we are a Disability Confident Employer), Sutton Trust, The Bar Council, Diversity Working Group, Bridging the Bar, Stamma and Urban Synergy. We hold selected inclusive events such as Holocaust Memorial Day, International Justice Day, and the International Women’s’ Day conference.
Our new website now clearly showcases Doughty Street’s commitment to securing equality, diversity and inclusion, and our first Diversity-specific page demonstrates best practice throughout for the legal profession with regard to this agenda.
We are committed to promoting careers in the law to those from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds. Our outreach initiatives page details more information about this, together with Chambers’ E&D Policy and Chambers' Bullying and Harassment Policy.
Additionally, you can contact HR (Amendeep Callo) at recruitment@doughtystreet.co.uk to enquire about the accessibility of our AETO prior to making an application. Please use the sub heading 'Pupillage 2024/25' for reference.
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 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?
- What skills and experience do you have that would make you a good barrister?
- 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 experiences in unrelated fields.
- What areas of practice are you interested in and why?
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
Doughty Street Chambers is recognised as being home to some of the very best lawyers practising at the Bar of England and Wales. Our casework involves clients, cases and courtrooms all over the world. We now comprise over 160 barristers supported by over 40 staff who all share a fundamental commitment to going “above and beyond” for our clients. Our members are noted as leaders in their fields, for their intellectual excellence and for cultivating a collaborative approach between our various practice teams. Many of our members undertake work in a variety of areas of law. 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.
Doughty Street barristers are specialist practitioners at all levels of seniority in civil and criminal work, offering advice and representation before all the courts of England and Wales and the rest of the UK, as well as in Europe and other jurisdictions worldwide. Members are 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.
The Chambers UK Bar directory describes our members as "very dynamic barristers who are at the cutting edge of the law. Amongst their number lie some of the most recognisable silks in the market, as well as juniors who impress instructing solicitors with the quality of work they do and how much experience they have”.
Areas of practice include:
Actions against the police and public authorities; administrative and public law; clinical negligence and personal injury; community care and health; corporate governance and policy; education law; employment law and industrial relations; equality and discrimination; freedom of information and data protection; housing and social welfare; asylum and personal immigration; business and commercial immigration; inquests and public inquiries; public and private international law; land and property; media law and defamation; mental health and Court of Protection; national security; prison law and criminal justice; product liability and group actions; professional discipline and regulation; solicitors' negligence and professional liability; sports law; criminal appeals; courts martial; extradition; homicide and related grave offences; international crime; protest cases; regulatory and financial crime; terrorism.
We are offering two general pupillages to start in October 2024, in addition to a Crime, Employment, Media & Information and Court of Protection specialist pupillage (for which please see the separate advert on the Pupillage Gateway). Please note that applicants applying for the general pupillage cannot also apply for, and will not be considered for, our specialist pupillage.
Each successful applicant will undergo a year's training with three pupil supervisors and will have the opportunity to work with experts in a range of civil and criminal practice areas. After successfully completing your year's pupillage, you will be invited to apply for membership of Chambers.
Any Other Relevant Information
Please note that the maximum character count for each question is 2000.
