Pupillage Vacancy Information
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.
We are offering a specialist Crime Pupillage to start in October 2025. The Crime Team at Doughty Street Chambers offers a genuinely holistic advice and advocacy service for all issues relating to criminal justice including trials, appeals, business crime and fraud, extradition, international crime, and civil and public law issues arising from criminal proceedings. Few other sets offer such broad experience in criminal law and the domestic and international criminal justice systems. Our team is ranked as a leading set by the industry directories Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.
The successful candidate will undergo a year's training with three specialist crime pupil supervisors (split into 3 periods of 4 months each). After successfully completing your year's Pupillage, you will be invited to apply for membership of Chambers as an integral part of the Crime Team.
This specialist Pupillage is in addition to a specialist Media and Information and a specialist Health & Human Rights Pupillage (for which see separate adverts on the Pupillage Gateway). Please note that applicants applying for this specialist pupillage cannot also apply for and will not be considered for the other specialist pupillages.
At Doughty Street Chambers, diversity is welcomed, celebrated and essential. For more information on our equality, diversity and inclusivity initiatives please see here. Please see details on Chambers accessibility here. You can contact DSC Head of Facilities, Terrance Munduru directly to enquire about our accessibility prior to making an application.
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Wednesday 3 January 2024 and Wednesday 7 February 2024 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? (Max. 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. (Max. 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. (Max. 250 words)
- Please explain why you are applying for a specialist Crime Pupillage. Please include what you have done, or anything else to which you would like to point, that demonstrates your interest in and commitment to this practice area. (Max. 250 words)
