Pupillage Vacancy Information
Preparing for taking pupils has been a useful opportunity to review the thinking behind the training and support we offer with a view to quality and ensuring one of our key aims – sustaining the future of the criminal bar – can be met. Having considered the purpose of the AETO structure, the professional statement and the training framework we can understand how this will support us in ensuring we can deliver training which should allow us to recruit tenants from pupils – one of our stated aims. We endorse the concept that pupils are entitled to expect a good standard of training. We understand that we need to support pupils in the process and ensure they gain as much as possible from their time in first six in terms of completion of the professional statement, advocacy training and in introductions to members of the profession within and out with chambers.
Pupil supervisors will ensure that training progresses as expected, with a system for review of the structure of pupillage and progression supported by a junior mentor scheme and an in-house advocacy programme.
We understand the importance of a pupil knowing what is expected of them, and what they can expect as to progression in pupillage and coverage of the appropriate areas of work to ensure they are ready as they begin their own practice.
We aim to ensure we are accessible in our application process and accessible for pupils – including in terms of disability and background. We begin the training process intending to be genuinely accessible in the widest sense of the term and knowing that we will endeavour to meet all reasonable requests to adapt to an individual’s circumstances. It is an approach that begins with diversity in mind.
We offer a pupillage award in excess of the minimum award for London pupillages to ensure that those that wish to join the bar in a publicly funded area can realistically do so regardless of personal means, and bearing in mind the debt carried by those who enter the profession. We hope this strikes a balance between realistic funding and being able to offer pupillage in a dynamic, engaging and advocacy focused area of practice.
In pupillage we will focus on assisting a pupil to understand how to build and maintain a viable practice for the future to try to increase retention at the criminal bar.
Accessibility officer: Amanda Kneafsey
akneafsey@libertaschambers.com
Queries to:pupillage@libertaschambers.com
