Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
At Kings Chambers we believe that our clients' interests are best served by strong dedicated teams and an uncompromising attitude to quality and client service. Kings Chambers is committed to providing clients with high quality specialist legal services through barristers with the highest reputation for advocacy, knowledge and professional standards. We are a large specialist set with a national and international reputation practising from Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, and with designated facilities available to us in London, in the following specific practice areas:
Administrative & Public Law, Arbitration, Chancery, Civil Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Common Law, Construction & Engineering, Court of Protection, Employment, Insolvency / Restructuring, Intellectual Property, International, Licensing, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, Planning & Environment, Professional Negligence, Revenue and Sports.
We believe that regular, positive recruitment of exceptional candidates has been the key to our success. We are committed to continuing development in all areas of practice in chambers and the recruitment of ambitious and outstanding individuals who seek a successful career at the Bar. A pupillage at Kings Chambers provides the best possible foundation for a career at the bar. We are proud of the quality of training and support our pupils receive, and pupillage is offered with a route to tenancy.
Structure of Pupillage
Our pupils spend 12 months working on cases with leaders in their chosen field, in a warm and supportive environment. Supervisors, the wider team and the clerks will work with the successful pupil throughout the year, working towards an application for tenancy.
Each pupil is assigned to 2 supervisors in the course of the year. Pupils spend the first six-month period of pupillage shadowing members of chambers whilst undertaking specialist learning and training and the second six taking on work in their own name. Supervisors provide frequent feedback and monitor their pupil’s progress to ensure that the work they are given fulfils their training needs. Pupils undergo a monthly assessment process with their supervisor and chambers Director of Pupillage Training.
We strive to make pupils feel a part of chambers from the time that they accept their offers of pupillage. They are invited to chambers’ events, both formal and informal, and encouraged to get to know both members and staff.
There is a tenancy available for every pupil that we are satisfied meets our standard of excellence at the end of their pupillage.
Pupillage will normally be based in Manchester (although consideration will be given to the second six months being based in Leeds or Birmingham, where practicable, on request).
Financial and Other Support Available
The pupillage award for those commencing pupillage in 2027 will be £50,000. Up to £25,000 of this award is available to be drawn down in the BPTC year. In addition, we guarantee the income of pupils in their second six months up to £25,000. As such, our pupil's guaranteed income in pupillage is £75,000.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Our recruitment process and the remuneration package we offer are intended to ensure that we attract the best pupils in each year.
We are wholeheartedly committed to the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Code.
Our application process is designed to ensure fairness and we are wholeheartedly committed to the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Code. All personal information is redacted from Pupillage application forms prior to being provided to the reviewing panel. We monitor diversity by anonymised forms which applicants are requested (but not required) to complete alongside their application. These forms are kept separate from the application forms and are only used for monitoring purposes.
AI policy
By submitting your application to Kings Chambers you confirm that you have not used any AI tools, including but not limited to generative AI or AI review platforms, to generate, formulate, assist or review the answers you have provided in this application form and that all responses are the sole creation and original work of the candidate submitting the application.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 5th January 2026 and 22nd January 2026 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
We invite applications from those committed to a career at the bar who can demonstrate by their outstanding analytical ability and sound judgment, that they have the potential to become excellent advocates and a capacity to establish and maintain good relationships with clients. We require a degree classification of a good 2:1 as a minimum, albeit we will consider extenuating circumstances.
Our selection criteria will be published on our website, and we recommend considering these carefully when preparing your application.
We encourage those interested in applying for pupillage to apply for our Mini Pupillage Programme so that they can see what chambers is like for themselves. Details of the programme we run can be found on our website.
Other Relevant Information
We are recruiting one pupil for each of our Business and Property, Court of Protection, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence and Planning departments. You may apply to one department only.
We expect to conduct first round interviews on the 12th & 13th March 2026 and second interviews on the 23rd April 2026.
Planning Pupillage
We are seeking to recruit a pupil for our Planning team to start in September 2026. The pupillage can be based in either Manchester or Leeds taking into account the pupil’s preference; however, the work undertaken by the team is national in scope.
Kings Chambers and its planning, environmental and public law team are nationally ranked as a leading set by Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, and other sector-specific legal directories. To help us maintain and enhance this reputation, we are seeking applicants who are enthusiastic about the challenges and opportunities of a nationwide practice.
Our team has been at the forefront of the field for over 70 years, dating back to our foundation by C N Glidewell in response to the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act. We have produced leading figures in the field, including Sir Iain Glidewell, Sir Douglas Brown, Mrs Justice Patterson and Mr Justice Gilbart.
There are presently eight King’s Counsel and 18 junior counsel who regularly act in planning cases. Our members regularly appear throughout the country in planning inquiries, in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Courts. This can cover development ranging from housing, renewable energy, retail and leisure, infrastructure to sports and entertainment. In addition, we cover a range of planning and environmental enforcement matters.
Members also undertake a wide range of associated public law work which includes topics such as local and central government powers and duties, matters relating to the Habitats Regulations and other environmental protections.
We act for a broad range of clients – including major national developers, local authorities, government departments, environmental NGOs, private individuals and interest groups. As a pupil at Kings you will be exposed to, and be given the opportunity to develop a practice in, all areas of the team’s work.
Recent Case Studies
Manchester Co Op Live
The Manchester Co Op Live is the UK’s largest indoor arena. Since opening it has played host to national and international performers, drawing significant investment into Manchester. It was designed and built to operate to the highest environmental and sustainability standards, including 100% electric power, zero waste to landfill and collecting and reusing Manchester’s famous rain. Members advised the developers of the scheme through the planning process to secure the successful consent.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a catalyst for the regeneration of Haringey, playing a pivotal role in transforming the area economically and physically. As one of the largest and most advanced stadiums in Europe, its development has not only drawn significant investment but also stimulated broader urban renewal. The stadium has triggered substantial new housing development, both market and affordable, helping to address local housing need. It has also spurred the delivery of supporting infrastructure, including new hotels, retail units, and public realm improvements, creating employment opportunities and attracting visitors year-round. By anchoring the High Road West regeneration scheme and other local plans, the stadium has helped reposition Tottenham as a growing and dynamic part of London, with a stronger local economy and improved community facilities. Members have represented Tottenham Hotspur football club at a series of public inquiries, compulsory purchase order inquiries and high court challenges.
Sky Studios
Members of Chambers acted for Sky Studios together with the landowner and also appeared for the local planning authority in a public inquiry which considered the expansion of Sky Studios in Borehamwood. The initial development hosted production of Wicked and Paddington in Peru. The application for an expansion raised issues in relation to national policy, the film studio market in the UK and internationally and the intersection between planning controls and economic policies on a national scale.
The work we do sits at the intersection of law, policy and public life. It includes some of the most pressing and high-profile legal issues of our time. The team offers a stimulating and supportive environment for a pupil seeking to develop in this dynamic and impactful area.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. Please indicate if you have a preferred location for your Second Six months (Manchester, Leeds). As noted, whilst we cannot guarantee to accommodate a preference for Leeds or Birmingham, we will consider such requests where practicable. If you do not have a preference, please indicate “none”.
Word Limit: 100 words
2. Why are you interested in Planning Law?
Word limit: 250
3. What are the most important challenges facing the Bar and how should we prepare to address them?
Word Limit 250
4. Why do you believe you will make a good barrister?
Word limit: 250
5. Please read the judgment in R. (on the application of Finch) v Surrey CC [2024] UKSC 20 and argue that it was wrongly decided.
Word limit: 500
