Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Guildford Chambers has dedicated civil and family teams and is uniquely positioned to provide competitive and effective advocacy on behalf of individuals and businesses in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, London and the South-East.
We are currently offering a single pupillage within each team.
Structure of Pupillage
This vacancy is for the civil team.
Each pupillage is for twelve months. The pupil is allocated to a specific supervisor but will be rotated to other members. This ensures exposure to the various areas of law covered by Guildford Chambers. Progress is subject to active review with additional support provided as required.
Towards the end of the first six, pupils will spend time with junior members to prepare them for the type of work they will typically undertake during their second six.
During second six pupils will be kept busy. They undertake their own cases to gain the experience required to complete pupillage successfully. Pupils appear in the lower courts and receive instructions to prepare written work.
Typically, the civil pupil will gain experience in a broad range of civil work, focused around out our areas of specialist practice (Chancery, Commercial, Personal Injury) and with the opportunity to see Employment work.
Second six pupils will undertake a variety of instructions including small claims, Stage 3, and interlocutory hearings.
Financial and Other Support Available
Interest free loans of up to £600 can be arranged for the purpose of purchasing a laptop. Arrangements must be agreed such that the laptop is available for use from the outset of pupillage. The exact terms would depend your individual circumstances.
Pupils are entitled to reimbursement for the following expenses: travel from chambers (including train tickets, and mileage at a rate of 45p per mile), parking tickets, the courses required to be undertaken during pupillage expenses, and travel for compulsory training provided by the Inns of Court.
Pupils will also be paid a monthly sum of £40 to cover subsistence at court or other professional commitments outside of Chambers.
Consideration will be given, in the event of any financial difficulty, for funds to be paid in advance.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Guildford Chambers is committed to providing equality of opportunity regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, sex, gender re-assignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, religion or belief, political persuasion, pregnancy or maternity.
If you have any queries about accessibility, please contact Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Officer, Christine Julien, at:cjulien@guildfordchambers.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’.
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1.Why do you believe that 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 (1200 character limit).
2. 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 (1200 character limit).
3. What personal oral advocacy experience do you have? Please give an example of your advocacy experience. The example need not be in a legal context (1200 character limit).
4. Give an example of an occasion you recognised and valued diversity and showed sensitivity to the different needs of individuals. Please use only one example, which need not be related to the law. (1200 character limit).
5. Persuade us of an opinion you hold, serious or otherwise. We are assessing judgment in choosing your opinion and written advocacy when providing your reason(s). It need not be related to the law. (1200 character limit).
Attached documents
