Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.
Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation and Structure of Pupillage
Lamb Chambers is a leading and forward thinking set with a long-established reputation for offering specialist advocacy and advice in our core practice areas: commercial, property, construction, insolvency, international, employment and personal injury.
We are based in Middle Temple. A number of our past members have gone on to have outstanding judicial careers and Chambers’ alumni include a former Lord Chancellor, a former Lord Justice of Appeal and a Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Falkland Islands.
We believe recruiting outstanding individuals via pupillage to be central to Chambers’ growth strategy and that offering pupillage is an important contribution to the independent Bar. We provide a professional, ambitious and supportive environment in which to undertake pupillage, with a view to providing our pupils with the best platform to develop a rewarding practice at the Bar. We expect candidates to be driven and demonstrate dedication and commitment to having a successful career at the Bar.
We prioritise developing the potential of each pupil, enabling them to enjoy a varied and rewarding pupillage designed to promote and produce well-rounded, first-class advocates. The diverse work of our members enables pupils to work with leading practitioners across specialisms. Pupils will observe the full range of work undertaken by members of Chambers, gaining experience and insight across our practice areas.
Pupillage at Lamb Chambers
Lamb Chambers is offering one 12-month pupillage in 2025.
The 12-month pupillage is divided into three consecutive four month ‘seats’, with a different pupil supervisor assigned to the pupil for each ‘seat’. This structure is designed to increase the pupil’s experience of and exposure to different practice areas, at different levels of seniority.
During the first six months of pupillage (the non-practising period), pupils will primarily shadow their supervisors, observing their written work, court hearings and conferences. The pupil’s supervisor will review the pupil’s work and provide constructive feedback, with a view to helping a pupil to develop the skills necessary to build and manage a successful practice at the Bar. Pupils will also get the opportunity to shadow other members of Chambers.
During the second ‘practising’ six months of pupillage, pupils should expect to be on their feet from the outset, undertaking court hearings and written work across Chambers’ practice areas, subject to confirmation from the supervisor(s) that the pupil is sufficiently prepared and capable to carry out such work. Pupils will still be supervised (and supported) by their supervisors during the practising period of pupillage, but pupils will be carrying out work in their own name and will be encouraged to focus on developing their own practice. Due to the structure of our pupillage, pupils will have continuity of their supervisor into their second six months when they commence practice ‘on their feet’.
Over the course of the 12-month pupillage, pupils will be asked to participate in regular formal and informal reviews regarding their progress as a pupil, these providing an opportunity to discuss constructive feedback, future development and any additional support needs. Training will always be flexible and adapted as necessary to the individual to meet the objectives of pupillage.
At the beginning of pupillage, pupils will be provided with a Pupillage Handbook, a Pupillage Training Programme, a Pupillage Checklist and copies of relevant policies. Throughout their pupillage, pupils will be asked to keep a record of their experiences and learning. Formal feedback will be collected from supervisors, the Pupillage Committee and members of chambers for whom pupils undertake work.
Financial and Other Support Available
Lamb Chambers provides an award of £60,000 to its 12-month pupils, which comprises an award of £24,000 in the first six months of the 12-month pupillage (by equal monthly instalments) and guaranteed earnings of £36,000 in the second six months of the 12-month pupillage (by reference to guaranteed earnings of £6,000 pcm, meaning that in the unlikely event that a pupil’s earnings do not exceed £6,000 in any given month, Chambers will ‘top-up’ the difference).
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Lamb Chambers is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and knows that excellence comes from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We support flexible working and have a focus on wellbeing so pupils, members and staff can enjoy a happy and healthy work environment.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the accessibility of our organisation, please feel free to contact John Ditchburn or Chelsea Sparks, our Equality and Diversity Officers, at pupillage@lambchambers.co.uk. We will be happy to assist you and address any specific requirements or accommodations you may need.
How to Apply
Lamb Chambers is committed to ensuring that pupillage is open to all on merit and ability. We follow our Fair Recruitment Policy for all recruitment including pupillage. We are looking for candidates who have proven academic ability, excellent communication and advocacy skills, and demonstrate tenacity and initiative.
To apply, applicants should by 11.59pm on 6 February 2025 email to pupillage@lambchambers.co.uk (as an attachment to the email): (i) a covering letter addressed to the ‘Pupillage Committee’, answering the four application questions set out immediately below and providing the names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses of two intended referees, with confirmation of their role/relationship to the applicant; and (ii) a copy of their curriculum vitae.
Application questions
- Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify relevant experiences or skills that you believe will help you in your career (Max 250 words)
- 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 (Max 250 words)
- What in your opinion is a significant development of the law in the last 5 years and why? (Max 250 words)
- Any other relevant information you would like us to consider (Max 250 words).
The selection process is overseen by the Pupillage Committee who are trained in fair recruitment in line with our recruitment policy.
Approximately 20 candidates will be invited for interview. The number of interview rounds will depend on the number of candidates that pass the initial selection process. Each member of the interviewing panel has received Fair Recruitment Training. Candidates will be advised in advance of the interview as to its structure. This will be provided shortly before the interview.
We will not contact any referees for references unless you are shortlisted for an interview and until after a first-round interview has taken place.
The features of the interviews are:
- Each candidate will be asked the same questions related to the criteria and competency being assessed.
- All candidates will be asked to undertake an advocacy exercise. The candidate will be asked to attend prior to the allotted interview time, and will be given a short piece of advocacy to prepare, such as an application to set aside a judgment or order, or an application for an ‘unless’ order or relief from sanctions.
- The candidates will be asked questions about their application.
- Candidates will have the opportunity to ask any questions of the interviewing committee at the conclusion of the interview.
Throughout the interview process interviewers will use a standardised scoring procedure approved by the Pupillage Committee, again to try and make the process as fair as possible. The marks for each candidate at all stages are kept in confidence by the secretaries to the Pupillage Committee.
The recruitment process will follow the following timetable for October 2025 pupil recruitment:
17 Jan 25: | Applications open |
6 Feb 25 (23:59): | Applications close |
7 Feb 25: | Shortlisting of applications will begin. |
24 Feb 25 – 2 May 25: | Interviews will be conducted. |
9 May 25 (09:30): | Offers will be made by email. |
Our Chambers is in the process of obtaining Authorised Education and Training Organisation (AETO) status and currently has Provisional Training Status pending AETO application approval. As such, any offers of pupillage will be contingent upon the approval of AETO status.
We remain fully committed to meeting all regulatory requirements and ensuring a high standard of training for our pupils.
Any Other Relevant Information
Tenancy after Pupillage
We view our investment in pupils as an investment in the longer-term development and growth of Chambers and as such pupils who attain the required standard in pupillage will ordinarily be offered tenancy. Applications for tenancy will be expected to open around the 10th month of the 12-month pupillage.
