Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Chambers operates from four centres, London, Winchester, Canterbury and Swindon. There are three practice teams: Family, Criminal and Civil. Family specialisms include public children law, private children law, Hague Convention/child abduction, and family finance. We also have a growing specialism in Court of Protection matters. Criminal specialisms include general crime, regulatory crime, disciplinary work and courts martial work (in this country and abroad), both prosecution and defence. Civil specialisms include personal injury, employment, inheritance and probate, inquiries, property and planning, business/commercial and judicial review. Individual specialisms include ecclesiastical law, Nigerian law and countryside law.
Historically a Western Circuit set, a significant amount of Family and Civil work is now undertaken on the South Eastern (including London) and other circuits. Members of Chambers regularly appear in the High Court, Court of Protection, and the Court of Appeal.
There are over 120 members of Chambers at present (including 7 silks), about half of whom are based in London, and half in Winchester, Canterbury or Swindon. About 60% of our work is on the Western Circuit, including most of the crime. Most of our Circuit work is in Hampshire (about an hour on the train from London) but we also travel to Dorset, Wiltshire and further afield. The London practitioners travel out on Circuit when their practice requires it. The spread of work in Chambers is approximately 50% family, 25% crime and 25% civil. The teams focus attention upon the main practice areas, arrange marketing, seminars etc. and facilitate the dissemination of new ideas or developments in the law to those in Chambers who are interested. Some members of Chambers practise almost exclusively in one or another area, whilst others have a more general practice. For the first three years of practice junior tenants belong to all three teams.
Both chambers and it’s members are consistently ranked in the legal directories across several practice areas and is one of only 15 sets commended by Chambers & Partners for client service.
Structure of Pupillage
Pupillages are for 12 months, commencing in October 2026, although adjustments may be made if necessary. We divide our pupillages into three seats, with a Family, Criminal and Civil pupil supervisor respectively. You will spend two months with each of your three pupil supervisors both in your non-practising and practising periods of pupillage. You may elect to be based in London or Winchester, though if you choose London you will spend one seat based in Winchester, and vice versa.
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 in order 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.
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 with a mentor and a buddy to help them through pupillage and chambers also has a number of appointed Wellbeing Representatives for support and assistance to all.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We are a multiracial and multicultural set with barristers, clerks and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds. Our diversity is one of our key strengths and is central to our success. Our members 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 on the UK, and before her appointment to the bench, HHJ Jane Miller KC shared this role with him, then making Pump Court 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
Pupillages are offered on a combination 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. What areas of practice are you interested in and why? (max 200 words)
5. Give reasons for your choice of chambers. (max 200 words)
