Pupillage Vacancy Information
Guildhall Chambers is one of the UK’s leading multidisciplinary sets, with a national reputation for formidable advice, advocacy and client service. We are described in the directories as “an amazing set” offering “first-class“ service where “the quality all round is phenomenal”.
Chambers comprises 87 barristers including 11 silks practising from Bristol. We also have premises in London near the Royal Courts of Justice. We are ranked by Legal 500 in 18 practice areas, with 89 individual rankings. Chambers UK Bar ranks us as a top-tier, leading set in 20 practice areas with 80 individual rankings, putting Guildhall Chambers in the top 20 UK sets nationally by number of practice area rankings.
We are proud to be ranked so highly in all our core practice areas and our strength is further reflected in our continued success with legal awards: chambers won ‘Set of the Year – Regional Bar’ at the 2015 Legal 500 Bar Awards and ‘Regional Set of the Year’ at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2017, and has received several other nominations since. Chambers was shortlisted for six awards at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023, and two at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023.
Chambers is offering one pupillage within the Crime team at Guildhall, commencing in October 2026. The team has a mix of barristers ranging from junior members who have recently completed their pupillage to very experienced ‘senior juniors’ and KCs. In their first six months, a pupil can expect to see all areas of criminal defence and prosecution work from murder, serious sexual allegations, slavery, complex drugs conspiracies, and serious fraud, to road traffic cases. In the second six months, the pupil will undertake their own cases at the junior end. Some members of the team also undertake regulatory and professional discipline work and there may be an opportunity to become involved in these areas.
Chambers is committed to ensuring that our pupils receive the highest quality training and guidance. Our aim is not only to ensure that our pupils excel in the necessary competencies within the Professional Statement, but that they also develop as individuals who are rounded and confident advocates, with the skills and insight they will require for a successful career at the Bar.
Pupils' progress is monitored closely by the supervisor and feedback is given regularly. Pupils will spend time with, and do work for, as many members of the team as possible to gain maximum experience of different styles of work and levels of seniority. Members will provide constructive feedback to the pupil on every piece of work undertaken.
A career at the Bar is incredibly rewarding; however, it is also challenging. That is why each pupil has, as well as a supervisor, a mentor who is another member of the team to whom he or she can turn in confidence if necessary. It is of great importance to Chambers that each pupil feels properly supported during what can be an exciting and daunting year. Our objective is to help every pupil fulfil their potential.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate intellectual ability, excellent communication/advocacy skills, and an ability to work under pressure as well as flexibility of thinking, sound judgement, and good interpersonal skills. It is also necessary for candidates to be able to demonstrate an interest in and commitment to a specialist practice within the Crime team.
Our selection process aims to be rigorous and fair, and to comply with the Bar Standards Board Bar Qualification Manual and the Fair Recruitment Guide. We select pupils on ability and potential alone, without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Financial level of support: £25,000 grant and £30,000 guaranteed earnings. £7,500 can be drawn down in the Bar Training Course year.
Questions - Crime
- Why are you interested in practising in Criminal law?
- What are your reasons for applying to Guildhall Chambers?
- Why do you believe you will make an exceptional barrister? In your answer, please identify the relevant experience and skills that you believe will help you in your career.
- Please give an example of a time when you have used advocacy skills in a non-legal and difficult situation to achieve a better outcome.
- Please identify an important case or development in the law in the last year (relevant to Criminal Law) and explain why you find it interesting.
All questions have a maximum 1250 character count
