Great James Street Chambers – 12 Months – October 2023 | 08 February, 2023

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

Pupillage Vacancy Information

The pupillage award is expected to cover the pupil’s cost of travel within Greater London. In the non-practising period, should the pupil have to travel outside Greater London, Chambers will reimburse all reasonable expenses. In the practising period, where the pupil is required to travel outside the South Eastern Circuit, Chambers will reimburse all reasonable travel expenses. Chambers covers the cost (where there is any) of the pupil’s mandatory courses. Pupils in the practising period of pupillage do not pay any Chambers’ contribution on earnings. Pupils are given access to Chambers' Westlaw subscription. Both Chambers’ wide and at junior level, and also within certain practice areas, members and pupils have support WhatsApp groups used to discuss work issues and plan social activities, and all members are open to helping and supporting our pupils.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Chambers has a robust Equality and Diversity Policy, together with various related statements and policies, which can be found at www.greatjames.co.uk. Chambers prides itself on the diversity of its membership. Chambers supports members undertaking inclusivity activities which include:

Mock-trials within schools and communities local to them;
Outreach work amongst groups unrepresented at the Bar;
Setting up initiatives such as Her Bar, which works towards greater gender equality at the Bar;
Undertaking mock interviews and career advice in relation to all the above groups.

Chambers welcomes applications for mini-pupillages and offers the opportunity of work experience with our clerks.

Chambers' Accessibility Officer is Vishal Misra: vishal.misra@greatjames.co.uk

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 believe you will make a good criminal barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career. (1,200 character limit)
Why do you want to join our chambers? In your answer, please give reasons for your choice of chambers and explain why you are interested in our areas of practice. (1,200 character limit)
Should the Human Rights Act 1998 be repealed? (1,200 character limit)
Should it be a criminal offence to enter the United Kingdom without a valid visa? (1,200 character limit)

About AETO and Structure of Pupillage

Great James Street Chambers was founded in 2004. In 2020 Chambers embraced the changes facing the legal profession by becoming a virtual set of Chambers, whilst retaining access to physical office space at 20 Old Bailey. Members provide specialist advisory and advocacy services in crime, extradition, family, public law, search warrants and production orders, restraint and asset confiscation orders, immigration, regulatory, civil law and arbitration/mediation. Our aim is to provide our members and clerks with a modern, friendly and supportive environment that allows our members to develop practices in areas of law about which they are passionate, whilst providing the very best service to our clients. Numerous members are dual-qualified in jurisdictions including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cameroon, Australia, St Vincent and Ireland, and we have strong links to the UAE. A large number of members are Direct Access qualified. Chambers is proud of the level of support that is given to our junior members in developing their careers in their chosen practice areas. Our website is at www.greatjames.co.uk.

Our pupils are usually assigned two pupil supervisors for the duration of their 12 month pupillage to ensure a broad learning experience. Pupillage is focused on criminal practice, but pupils are exposed to Chambers’ other specialisms and are encouraged to explore further those areas that particularly interest them. In the non-practising period the pupil will work closely with both supervisors, and with other members on an ad hoc basis, attending court on most days. The aim is for the pupil to gain a comprehensive insight into the type of work that members undertake. Pupils will be expected to demonstrate their ability to undertake research, and draft opinions. Chambers conducts in house advocacy exercises for pupils alongside junior members. Pupils spend a day shadowing the clerks. In the practising period the pupil will be in court on most days if not everyday, and will continue to be supervised. Applicants should read carefully our Pupillage Policy and should view our Pupillage Handbook.