Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
There are over 120 members of Chambers at present (including seven silks). About half of members of chambers are based in London, and half distributed between Chambers’ other locations in Winchester, Canterbury and Swindon. There are three practice teams: Family, Criminal and Civil. The spread of work in Chambers is approximately 50% family, 25% crime and 25% civil. Members of Chambers regularly undertake work in courts at all levels, from magistrates and tribunals to the High Court and Court of Appeal. London practitioners travel out on Circuit when their practice requires it.
Our Civil barristers practice in a range of diverse areas, though predominantly in employment, inquests and inquiries, property, inheritance, personal injury and regulatory. Juniors have the opportunity to experience any and all civil practice areas in Chambers and are encouraged to specialise in time as they see fit. Several of our members are ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers directories.
Each team focuses attention upon its practice area, arranges marketing, seminars, etc. and facilitates the dissemination of new ideas or developments in the law to those in Chambers who are interested. Members of chambers are able to develop specialist interests and are encouraged and supported to do as much writing, speaking and networking as they wish to, as a vital part of practice development.
Chambers is fortunate to have a well-respected and highly responsive clerking team, a key part of whose role is to help and facilitate our members to develop their practice, and ensure that work levels are tailored to the individual member’s personal requirements and aims.
Structure of Pupillage
We welcome applications for pupillage from bright and enthusiastic candidates who have an ambition to specialise exclusively at the Civil Bar. Our Civil pupillage is offered on a combination of a strong application, which will include evidence of academic merit, and success at interview. Pupillage is for twelve months commencing in October 2026, although adjustments may be made if necessary. Pupils will be based mainly in London, although there may be consideration of some time being spent in Winchester or Canterbury.
We encourage you to travel with your supervisors although not necessarily to every hearing, nor those at a great distance. We also encourage you to see other members of Chambers at work, particularly the junior tenants, to familiarise yourself with the type of work you will be doing in the practising period of your pupillage. We aim to ensure that our pupillages are as varied and interesting as possible, and that the first six months equip you to enter practice with confidence and enthusiasm.
See more at: https://www.pumpcourtchambers.com/join-us/pupillage/
Financial and Other Support Available
Chambers provides an EAP Wellbeing Service via Health Assured which is accessible to all members, staff and pupils. All pupils will be allocated a mentor and a buddy to help them through pupillage, and chambers also has a number of appointed Wellbeing Representatives who offer support and assistance to all.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We are a multiracial and multicultural set. Our diversity is one of our key strengths and is central to our success. Our members, clerks and staff come from diverse ethnic, racial, religious and social backgrounds and nationalities. Our latest equality and diversity survey results show that 42% of our barristers are female, that our barristers have different religious, political and philosophical views and that we have a strong LGBTQ presence in chambers.
Our head of chambers, Oba Nsugbe KC, is one of only three BME silks to lead a set of chambers in the UK, and before her appointment to the bench, HHJ Jane Miller KC shared this role with him, then making Pump Court Chambers the only set of chambers in the UK to be led by a female silk and a BME silk.
The age range in chambers spans from 19 to 75. We strive to comply with the Bar Council’s Equality & Diversity Code and also have our own policy, which is available to view on request. We make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, pupils and members and we regularly review our parental leave, flexible working, harassment and equal opportunities policies.
Any Other Relevant Information
Our Civil pupillage is offered on a combination of a strong application, which will include evidence of academic merit, and success at interview. If you are successful at the first interview you will be invited to a second interview. Offers will be made in accordance with the Pupillage Gateway timetable after the completion of the second interviews.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 2nd January and 6th February 2025 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 wish to become a barrister? (max 200 words)
2. Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experience or skills that you believe may help you in your career (max 200 words)
3. Please identify any additional experience / skills gained that you believe may help you in your career. (max 200 words)
4. Why do you have the interest and ambition to practice at the Civil Bar? (max 200 words)
5. Give reasons for your choice of chambers. (max 200 words)
