Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Drystone Chambers, led by Allison Summers KC, is a specialist criminal law set based in London. Our members practice nationwide, handling a substantial amount of high-quality and complex Crown Court work, particularly in London and on the South-Eastern (including East Anglia), Midland, and Western circuits. Although we are based in London, many members practise outside of London.
- General Crime: Representing clients in serious criminal cases, from violent offences to complex fraud cases.
- Local Authority and Trading Standards: Working closely with local councils and trading standards bodies, providing expert legal representation and advice on issues such as consumer protection, environmental law, and housing.
- Regulatory and Professional Discipline: Acting for both prosecution and defence in cases involving professional misconduct and regulatory compliance.
Structure of Pupillage
We are offering two 12-month pupillages to commence on 6th October 2025 (and two 12-month pupillages to commence on 5th October 2026 - see separate advert).
As a 12-month pupil at Drystone Chambers, you can expect to be in court every working day. For the first six months, you will shadow our senior juniors and silks in their busy crown court practices. Previous pupils at Drystone Chambers have commented on the strong support and encouragement of their first-six supervisors. Structured feedback is always given on any piece of written work and the pupil’s supervisor manages any requests from other members of Chambers to ensure a fair distribution of work between pupils.
Drystone Chambers has Pupil Supervisors in all the regions where we regularly practice, from East Anglia to the Western Circuit. Given the geographical range that Drystone Chambers covers, you can expect to travel a significant amount during pupillage and the first-six award includes an amount to reflect the costs of travel throughout pupillage.
During the second-six period, you will have a busy practice honing your advocacy skills by conducting Magistrates’ court trials and first appearance hearings. An effort is made to ensure pupils also gain experience in the Crown Court, for example attending mention hearings and bail applications and conducting appeals against conviction/sentence. Based on recent experience, it is more than likely that you will have the opportunity to conduct a trial in the Crown Court in the second six months of pupillage.
We are supported by a team of experienced clerks who will help to develop and shape your practice. Also, we are supported by a separate management and finance team, as well as a billing and fee collection department.
We offer a structured in-house training programme. Pupils will therefore benefit from training during pupillage from silks, senior juniors and external experts, sharing their knowledge in specific areas including DNA, cell-site analysis, disclosure, closing speeches and cross-examination. The training programme also covers different practice areas, such as Trading Standards and Professional Discipline work.
Financial and Other Support Available
The pupillage award for 2025 – 2026 is £35,000. This is comprised of a grant of £20,000 in the first-six months and guaranteed earnings of £15,000 in the second-six months.
The award is paid by bank transfer in equal instalments each month. The £20,000 first-six grant includes £5,000 to cover the pupil’s travel expenses. Pupils’ expenditure on travel during their first-six months has been carefully monitored by Chambers in recent years to ensure that the £5,000 will realistically cover all travel expenses.
During the second-six, the £15,000 will continue to be paid in equal instalments each month, i.e. £2,500 per month.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Drystone Chambers is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
If a candidate for pupillage or a pupil wishes us to consider making reasonable adjustments to assist with a disability, they are invited to inform the Head of Pupillage in writing, setting out the context of any reasonable adjustment and to suggest, where they are able to, any adjustments that they think may help them.
All requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered on a case-by-case basis with the advice and assistance of Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Officer. Where it is neither possible nor reasonable to make the adjustment requested Chambers will discuss viable alternatives with the candidate and/or pupil.
All requests for reasonable adjustments should be made to Claire Howell, Head of Pupillage: claire.howell@drystone.com
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to Chambers between Thursday 02 January 2025 and Thursday 06 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
First round interviews are currently scheduled to take place on Saturday 8th March 2025.
Candidates who are successful after their interview will be required to undertake an assessed mini-pupillage in Chambers. This will be for the week commencing Monday 31st March 2025.
We expect candidates to be available for the full week but will consider individual requests for a shorter period. Chambers provides a bursary to cover all travel arrangements for the week. We do this to allow candidates every opportunity to show us their potential and to understand what practice at the Criminal Bar involves.
Offers will be made to successful candidates on Friday 09 May 2025, in accordance with the Gateway timetable.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
- Should an ill judged tweet ever be the basis of criminal liability? (max 200 words)
- Should individuals have the legal right to choose when to die? (max 200 words)
- What three words best describe you, and why? (max 200 words)
