Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training
We aim to offer all our pupils tenancy at the end of their pupillage. The pupillage year is therefore designed to teach our pupils how to develop the skills, knowledge and sound judgment they will need to become successful commercial barristers.
Structure of Pupillage
At the start of pupillage, each pupil is assigned a pupil supervisor or pair of supervisors who will be responsible for training and supervising his/her work for the first three months. During the first few weeks, we offer pupils a series of introductory lectures on important areas of law and practice. Pupils change supervisors after three, six and nine months. We endeavour to assign pupils to pupil supervisors with differing practices, so that they can experience the widest possible range of work.
Pupils spend much of their time drafting opinions, pleadings, skeleton arguments and other documents for their pupil supervisors. In addition, they accompany their pupil supervisors to hearings and conferences, and assist them with legal research or other tasks. As part of their training, pupils are required to perform a series of assessed advocacy exercises and several assessed written exercises. Pupils receive formal feedback at the end of their time with each pupil supervisor. Pupil supervisors also offer regular, ongoing feedback on individual pieces of work and on the pupil’s general progress, thereby allowing pupils to understand quickly what they are doing well and where they need to improve. Pupils are encouraged to comment on the feedback that they receive and on all other aspects of their training. Where a pupil needs to improve in a particular area, his/ her pupil supervisor will give them additional practice and organise specific training exercises in that area.
- Pupils are assigned supervisors for the first three months.
- Initial weeks include introductory lectures on law and practice.
- Supervisors change every three, six, and nine months to give pupils a diverse experience.
- Pupils undertake tasks such as drafting legal documents, attending hearings, and legal research.
- Formal feedback is provided at the end of each supervisor rotation, with ongoing feedback throughout.
- Pupils complete assessed advocacy and written exercises.
- Supervisors support areas where improvement is needed with extra training and practice.
https://www.quadrantchambers.com/pupillage
A pupillage at Quadrant Chambers will help you develop the skills, knowledge and sound judgement you need to succeed as a commercial barrister. We offer up to three fully-funded, 12 month pupillages every year. Each pupillage carries an award of £90,000.
Financial and Other Support Available
- Award of £90,000, with up to £25,000 advanceable during the BPTC year at the discretion of the pupillage committee.
- Compulsory course fees covered by Chambers.
- Opportunity to earn fees during the final six months of pupillage, with recent averages of £10,000 to £22,450.
- Scholarships available from the Inns of Court for GDL and BPTC funding.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Quadrant Chambers is committed to non-discrimination and merit-based selection.
Natalie Wallis provides the role of Accessibility Officer.
The recruitment process is monitored to prevent discrimination.
Each year we run a Virtual Speed Moot and a Women in Chambers event and our barristers mentor students and aspiring barrister through various organisations, including IntoUniversity, Social Mobility Foundation, Young Citizens, the Inns of Court, the COMBAR Mentoring Scheme (which was devised by one of our members), PRIME, and specific university mentorship schemes.
Equality and Diversity Policy available on the website;
https://www.quadrantchambers.com/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/equality-and-diversity-our-pupillage-recruitment
AI Use Policy for Pupillage Applications to Quadrant Chambers
Your Pupillage Gateway answers must be your own work. You may use AI tools to improve what you have written, but not to write it for you. Answers that appear generic, impersonal, or formulaic may score poorly—not due to AI use itself, but because they do not demonstrate the originality, insight, or reflection we expect of applicants. We encourage applicants to ensure their answers reflect their own thinking and experience.
What is allowed
- Writing your own answers and using AI to check grammar, clarity, or structure.
- Using tools like spellcheck, Grammarly, or Word’s Editor.
- Conducting normal online research, even if search results include AI-generated summaries.
What is not allowed
- Asking generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to draft or compose answers.
- Submitting answers that are based on AI-generated text rather than your own writing.
Key distinction
- Generative AI (creates content) → must not be used to write answers.
- AI-assisted features (help you refine your own writing) → may be used.
Declaration
When you submit your application, you will be asked to confirm that your answers are your own work and that any use of AI complies with this policy.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between Monday, 5th January 11am and Thursday 22nd January 11.59 pm 2026, using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. Why do you have the necessary qualities to practise as a barrister in Quadrant’s areas of specialism? 250 words.
2. In what ways will you most need to improve and develop in order to succeed at the commercial bar? 250 words.
3. Give an example of a time when you changed someone’s mind, and how you did so. 300 words.
4. What most differentiates you from other candidates? 150 words
5. What is the single most useful thing you have ever learned, and why? 100 words.
Attached documents
