Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Lincoln House Chambers is a barristers chambers based in Manchester. For over 45 years, Lincoln House has provided advocates of distinction. The set is renowned for its strength in depth, high quality advice, robust advocacy and outstanding client service.
We are a multi-disciplinary set with specialist teams providing a service in the areas of Criminal Defence & Prosecution, Inquests and Public Inquiries, Professional Discipline, Health & Safety, Environmental, Fraud, Personal Injury, Tax Tribunal, Health Care Regulation, Transport Law and several other related areas.
There are 87 members, comprising 20 King's Counsel and 67 Juniors. A substantial number of the members hold judicial positions. Lincoln House Chambers and its members are consistently ranked in the leading legal publications. This year Chambers and Partners identified members as class leaders in several practice areas, including inquests, public inquiry, health and safety, financial crime and general crime.
The Legal 500: “At every level, they have quality barristers and a depth of choice many other chambers don’t have. It is evident they have a robust policy on new tenants and pupils as right down to that level they exude quality.”
Chambers UK: “Lincoln House sets the benchmark for quality advocacy on the Northern Circuit and has names that one readily associates with top-quality advocacy.”
Structure of Pupillage
We recruit pupils with the ambition to join our tradition of excellence. Chambers also recognises the importance of sustaining the junior Bar in all practice areas; pupillage at Lincoln House is designed to prepare pupils for a long and successful career at the Bar. Pupils are automatically considered on their own merit for tenancy; they are not in competition with each other.
There is a strong collaborative approach in the training of our pupils, with an emphasis placed on developing candidates’ advocacy and ability to build strong productive relationships within the team. Pupils can expect to be exposed to the full range of work undertaken in Chambers, and are encouraged to develop their own understanding and practice in any area they encounter. Regular advocacy exercises with senior members of chambers alongside fortnightly reviews with members of the Pupillage Committee ensure rapid development ahead of second six, so that pupils can maintain Chambers’ high standards.
Financial and Other Support Available
Lincoln House offers a substantial pupillage award (a total of £40,000), reflecting the faith and confidence it puts into recruitment of pupils. Additionally, Chambers pay pupils reasonable travel expenses in the event they are required to attend hearings off circuit and for mandatory courses including the Ethics exam to be taken during pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Chambers is committed to their equality and diversity policy and actively supports all those who are seeking to achieve a successful career at the Bar irrespective of their background and personal circumstances. Reflecting this commitment, Chambers applies the RARE Recruitment Software to the Pupillage Application process, as it has done for a number of years.
Chambers is equally committed to the wellbeing of their members and pupils. Pupils establish a close relationship with their pupillage supervisor and are well supported by all members throughout the pupillage year. Lincoln House ensures that their pupils are tested and developed throughout pupillage whilst taking care of their wellbeing, both physical and mental, with fortnightly reviews throughout pupillage. Additionally, Chambers have recently introduced a nominated member of Chambers to act as a single point of contact for any professional or personal difficulty which might arise during pupillage.
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:
1. Why do you want to undertake pupillage at Lincoln House Chambers? [200 words]
2. Barristers often work under various forms of pressure. Please provide an example of when you have had to work well under pressure. [200 words]
3. Barristers frequently explain complex issues to people who struggle to understand. When have you demonstrated this ability? [200 words]
4. Aside from the competencies in questions 2 and 3 above, why do you think you will be a good barrister? [300 words]
5. "Domestic violence should be treated as a public health emergency. The right to trial by jury should be restricted in such cases in order to deal with them swiftly and protect the public. To force traumatised victims to wait years for a trial is unjust and unconscionable." Do you agree? [500 words]
Candidates' anonymised written applications will be considered by members of chambers trained in Fair Recruitment and in conjunction with the RARE Recruitment Software. A shortlist of candidates for interview will be drawn up, with those interviews to take place over a single Saturday in early April. That interview typically features an advocacy exercise, the structure of which will be provided to candidates in advance. A final round of interviews will take place on a single Saturday in late April or early May. The final round may also feature an advocacy exercise.
