Pupillage Vacancy Information
Sponsorship is available for the Bar Training Course, where the course has not started, or has only just started at the point of offer (i.e. starts during September 2023). A bursary/grant is also likely to be available.
We provide our pupil barristers with a laptop and mobile phone and other working from home equipment as required and are willing to consider requests for flexible working e.g. remote working for part of the week. There is funding available to meet the costs of compulsory courses during pupillage and reimbursement for pupils’ travel expenses for court attendance. Other arrangements in place to support employees may include, for example, season ticket loan, rental deposit and salary advance schemes.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
SOLS is looking to recruit high quality legal trainees (pupil barristers and trainee solicitors) from a wide range of backgrounds.
How to Apply
For further details and to apply please visit the GLP website at www.gov.uk/glp. Please note that the deadline for applications is 12:00 on Monday 17 May 2023.
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the UK’s tax and customs authority, responsible for making sure that the money is available to fund the UK’s public services and for helping families and individuals with targeted financial support. It is responsible for the administration and collection of taxes and duties in the UK.
HMRC Solicitor’s Office and Legal Services (SOLS) is an integral part of HMRC, providing legal services to the whole department. We advise on legal issues arising from HMRC’s policy and operational work and conduct the Department’s litigation.
We provide advice on the interpretation and application of legislation and guidance on the full range of HMRC work including advising Treasury ministers on tax law. We work closely with Treasury and HMRC colleagues in developing policy and on proposals for the Budget. We also implement policy through primary and secondary legislation, principally the annual Finance Bill.
We conduct litigation in the most significant and valuable cases for HMRC, protecting billions of pounds for the exchequer each year. Our caseload regularly takes us to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
SOLS is offering two pupil barrister positions to start in September 2024 and two pupil barrister positions to start in September 2025, through the 2023 Government Legal Profession (GLP) Legal Trainee Scheme.
The training period will last two -years in total. The pupillage period (first 12 months) is likely to comprise of a six-month training seat in the SOLS and a six-month seat in a set of external barristers’ chambers - with the focus being on the development of the competences in the Professional Statement. During the following 12 months of the training period the aim will be to provide you with wider experience of the legal work undertaken within SOLS.
Whilst you can expect to be involved in the wide and interesting range of work in which your department and chambers are involved, government departments use the services of external counsel for a significant amount of their court work. There may possibly be some opportunity to conduct cases in tribunals or courts, although the extent of that opportunity will be limited and will vary between departments and teams. Those wishing to focus principally on a court-based advocacy career should bear this in mind.