Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.
Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation and Structure of Pupillage
Hogarth Chambers is a specialist Intellectual Property set who also undertake significant commercial crossover work. All of our pupils see the full range of Chambers’ work, which includes intellectual property of all kinds, media and entertainment, IT and a range of Chancery/commercial work. We take the view that it is important for pupils to have exposure to a wide variety of work during their pupillage, to give them a thorough grounding, not just in intellectual property rights but also in related fields, and so that they experience the full range of instances and procedures.
During their 12 months with us, pupils usually sit with four pupil supervisors. They may also sit with other members of Chambers either for a short period or for the duration of an interesting case. Pupils will undertake internal advocacy exercises at regular intervals. Pupils also take part in Chambers’ regular internal focus group meetings, at which we discuss recent developments in the law.
Pupils are encouraged to attend hearings, when available, at the European Patent Office in Munich and the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. We reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for these attendances.
It is important to us that pupils feel that they are obtaining the maximum benefit from spending a year at Hogarth. Members of the Pupillage Committee regularly meet with pupils to review their progress and address any concerns in confidence.
In addition to the pupillage award, Chambers will pay for all obligatory training courses during pupillage.
Financial and Other Support Available
We offer a competitive pupillage award for a 12-month pupillage, of which a proportion may be drawn down during the BPTC year to assist with your funding. Any sum drawn down during the BPTC year may, in the discretion of Hogarth Chambers, be recoverable if you do not proceed with your pupillage.
For pupils starting a 12-month pupillage, Chambers will offer a pupillage award of £75,000, consisting of £50,000 award and £25,000 in guaranteed earnings.
During this period, any money earned (whether or not received) by a pupil in one month will be deducted from the monthly sum paid by Chambers for the following month. No clerks’ fees or chambers expenses will be payable in respect of any such earnings.
Pupils may be permitted to draw down a portion of the pupillage award in advance to help cover their expenses during their Bar Professional Training Course if undertaken in the year before the start of pupillage, subject to agreeing to repay any such sums if they do not take up the pupillage in September 2021. Any sums drawn down will be deducted from the award monthly over the 12-month period.
If you feel that your circumstances mean that this process will be beyond your financial means there is discretionary funding operated by the Inns of Court that you might be able to access.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Chambers is firmly committed to equality and diversity in all aspects of chambers’ operation and management. This includes taking positive action where appropriate to increase our diversity.
We have a written policy setting out our commitment, which is regularly reviewed.
Members and staff receive equality and diversity training. This covers both legal obligations and good practice in relation to all equality strands, including age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 3 January 2024 and 7 February 2024 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 wish to become a barrister? (2000 character limit)
- Why do you believe 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. (2000 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. (2000 character limit)
- Apart from AI, what do you think will see the most interesting developments in IP over the next 10 years? (2000 character limit)
