Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Fenners Chambers is a warm and welcoming set based in Cambridge. It has a strong reputation for advocacy across many jurisdictions. The Criminal Team both defends and prosecutes. Chambers are pleased to be recruiting a dedicated criminal pupil wishing to build a future with us.
Structure of Pupillage
The pupillage will consist of the traditional 6 months non-practising and 6 months practising period, during which you will be allocated a main Pupil Supervisor but also benefit from a Seat Supervisor – both of whom practice in Criminal Law. We have a well-structured training programme and during the pupillage you will prepare, and receive feedback on, a wide range of written exercises that will become part of your regular day to day life as a criminal barrister. In addition, there will be three advocacy assessments, one of which will be a Mock Trial. The programme is designed with the aim to permit our pupil to progress into the Crown Court quickly and confidently, always ensuring you have the support you need. At Fenners, we strive for a genuine work/life balance and we have a collegiate atmosphere which we hope will be an asset to your career at the Bar.
Financial and Other Support Available
Chambers offers a pupillage award of £15,000 plus guaranteed earnings of at least £7,019 in the Second Six. Chambers also assists pupils with the costs of travel to Court in their First Six and with the costs of compulsory courses undertaken during pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Our current Accessibility Officer is Ms Shahin Ismail. If you have any queries about the accessibility of Fenners Chambers, or queries with respect to equality, diversity and inclusivity, please do not hesitate to contact pupillagecommittee@fennerschambers.com
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 2 January 2025 and 6 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
- Why do you want to join our chambers? In your answer, please explain what draws you to a regional practice? (1000 character limit)
- Please identify any oral advocacy experience, relevant experience within the criminal justice system, work experience/mini-pupillages, or any other experience you have which you consider relevant to being a criminal advocate. (1000 character limit)
- Thinking in terms of being a criminal and jury trial advocate, what qualities and/or skills do you believe you possess as an individual that would make you an outstanding one at Fenners Chambers? (1000 character limit)
- If you could change one law, procedure or aspect of the criminal justice system, what would it be and why? (1000 character limit)
- Give an example of where you made a mistake or error of judgement and explain how you overcame it and what you learnt from it? (1000 character limit)
- If applicable, please tell us anything else you would like us to know about you of relevance to your application for pupillage. (1000 character limit)
Attached documents
