Pupillage Vacancy Information
After successfully completing your year's pupillage, you will be invited to apply for membership of Chambers. 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.
- Please explain why you are applying for a specialist pupillage in Court of Protection. We are particularly interested in anything that you have done, or to which you would like to point, that demonstrates your commitment to this area of practice.
- What issues are currently impacting your preferred area of specialism and how do you think this may impact your practice moving forward?
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
Doughty Street Chambers comprises almost 140 barristers supported by 40 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.
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 Court of Protection specialist pupillage to start in October 2024. We offer two general pupillage places per year and, when required, specialist pupillages (for which see separate advert on the Pupillage Gateway). Please note that applicants applying for the specialist pupillage cannot also apply for, and will not be considered for our generalist pupillages.
Doughty Street’s Court of Protection Team is at the forefront of litigation in Court of Protection and Mental Health matters. The Legal 500 directory describes the team as “excellent expertise and depth of knowledge”. Many of the Team’s members have complementary practices in housing, community care, and inquests.
The successful applicant will undergo a year's training with at least two pupil supervisors and will work predominantly with our Court of Protection specialists. You will also be exposed to work in community care and other related disciplines. Please see our website for more details.
Any Other Relevant Information
Please note that the maximum character count per question is 2000.
