Pupillage Vacancy Information
Magdalen Chambers in Exeter invites applications for up to two pupillages commencing in October 2025. One pupillage will be in civil law and the other in family law. Please specify in your application for which pupillage you are applying. Magdalen Chambers is a friendly and welcoming set with a reputation for excellence in both family and general civil law, cultivated by members across Chambers who have been consistently recognised by legal directories such as Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. The success of Chambers is demonstrated by its consistent track record of producing judges with three former members becoming circuit judges, five becoming district judges and one becoming an employment tribunal judge in the last six years. Chambers seeks to grow and build on its success via the recruitment of outstanding pupils with the potential to become tenants. Chambers currently comprises 42 members plus 6 associate members. Chambers is committed to ensuring that pupils receive training of the highest standard. Training is designed to ensure that pupils are able to meet the competences in the Professional Statement to the threshold standard by the end of their pupillage. Chambers is equally as committed to the wellbeing of its pupils and has been awarded the Bar Council Certificate of Recognition for the support it provides to members and staff. Pupils will be allocated one pupil supervisor but will be expected to spend time with other members in order to gain exposure to the different types of work that Chambers undertakes. In your second six, you will start to take on your own cases as well as continuing to undertake work with, or on behalf of, tenants. A junior member will be allocated as a mentor to provide more informal support and advice. The training for pupillage will include:
The pupillage award will be £21,060 plus reasonable expenses (including the cost of undertaking mandatory courses). The pupillage award will be made up of Chambers’ grant plus earnings (in the second six). Pupils can reasonably expect their earnings to exceed the minimum award in their second six. Chambers has a good track record of seeing its pupils successfully obtain tenancy at Chambers. In the last 3 application rounds, 8 out of 8 pupils have been offered (and taken up) tenancy with Chambers. The timetable for applications is likely to be as follows:
Pupils will be able to apply for tenancy from approximately month 10 of their 12 month pupillage, to commence at the end of their pupillage. |
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 2 January 2025 and 6 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
Alongside the Bar Council Standardised Questionnaire you will also be asked the following questions by chambers
- Please provide details of your interests and any non-work related involvement. If relevant to your proposed area of practice, please explain in what way. (min 500-1250 characters)
- With reference to your experiences and achievements, please explain why you would be suited to a career at the bar. (min 500-1250 characters)
- Please explain why you want to join Magdalen Chambers (min 500-1250 characters)
- Which areas of civil or family law are you interested in and why? (min 500-1250 characters)
- What is the greatest challenge you have faced and how have you dealt with it? (min 500-1250 characters)
