Pupillage Vacancy Information
Pupils receive an award equivalent to the BSB's minimum London pupillage award plus retention of second-six earnings and an allowance for travel outside of London.
In addition to the supervision and training provided by their pupil supervisors, our pupils receive dedicated pastoral support and assistance with all aspects of pupillage from the Pupillage Officer, supported by the Pupillage Committee.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
One Pump Court is committed to equality of opportunity. Our policies and practices on equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) inform every aspect of how we operate as an organisation. We have an ED&I Officer and Committee. Our pupillage recruitment policy (please see the attached recruitment brochure) has been designed to give effect to the principles of fair recruitment. Our pupils are provided with copies of Chambers’ Pupillage Handbook, Equality and Diversity Policy, Harassment Policy, Complaints Procedures, Reasonable Adjustment Policy, and Pupillage Handbook and receive dedicated pastoral support, including assistance with any issue involving ED&I, throughout pupillage from the Pupillage Committee. If candidates have any additional questions about the accessibility of Chambers, they are encouraged to contact our ED&I Officer, Stephen Knight (skn@onepumpcourt.co.uk).
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Wednesday 4 January 2023 and Wednesday 8 February 2023 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 believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career. (Character limit 2500)
2. 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. (Character limit 2500)
3. What is the greatest challenge you have faced so far? (Character limit 2500)
4. If there is anything else you would like us to know about you, please tell us here. (Character limit 2500)
About AETO and Structure of Pupillage
We are recruiting for 3 pupillages to commence in October 2024.
We offer 12-month pupillages funded by way of a grant for the London living wage (the minimum pupillage award as set annually by the BSB), plus an allowance for out-of-London travel, plus the full retention of all earnings received in the second six in addition to the grant.
Pupils have the opportunity to complete periods of training across one or more specialist areas within Chambers: family, immigration, crime, and housing. There are also opportunities to gain experience in other areas including community care and prison law.
We are committed to legally aided work and to ensuring access to justice. We seek to promote diversity and equality in all aspects of our work.
Chambers undertakes work at all levels, and members practise in the following specialist groups: family, crime and civil. Many members are also direct access qualified and Chambers actively promotes this avenue of work.
Family practitioners provide a multidisciplinary and socially responsible approach to family legal services in all areas of national and international law. Members specialise in public law and private law Children Act applications, as well as ancillary relief and cohabitee disputes. The family team has a large mediation group and is committed to developing a holistic ADR service for all client groups.
The crime group consists of an experienced team of barristers practising exclusively in criminal defence work. Members of the group provide representation to defendants charged with the whole range of criminal offences at every stage of criminal proceedings.
The civil group includes practitioners specialising in housing and immigration. Housing work concentrates on problems faced by tenants and the homeless. Our large immigration team is committed to both asylum and non-asylum work with a particular emphasis on representing vulnerable clients in the face of increasingly restrictive legislation.
Judicial review is an important area of work within chambers, particularly in respect of housing, education and immigration work.
Chambers works closely with law centres and other agencies who are addressing unmet legal needs. Some members are prominent in legal pressure groups and voluntary organisations, seeking to reform and improve the provision of legal services and access to justice. Chambers also operates a strong prison law team.
Chambers has a complaints procedure. Members are required to comply with Chambers’ quality codes by which standards are set, monitored and developed. Chambers has a strong commitment to equal opportunities and to combatting discrimination. Chambers select candidates solely on merit, seeking to ensure that we reflect the community that we serve.
Any Other Relevant Information
Candidates are asked to read our attached recruitment brochure carefully before filling out their applications. This document includes our criteria for marking pupillage applications.
