Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.
Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
St John’s Buildings is one of the largest and most successful barristers’ Chambers. Based at our four sites across the North (Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Chester), we presently have 240 barristers including 18 silks with many of our members ranked as leaders in their fields.
Our principal practice areas are; Crime, Regulatory, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence, Family, Public & Administrative, Employment, Business & Property, Inquests & Coronial, Court of Protection & Education. Our full specialism breakdown is available on our website at www.stjohnsbuildings.co.uk.
We are a commercially astute chambers and we therefore also provide exceptional levels of managerial and administrative services including specialist clerking, cutting-edge IT services, and a comprehensive wellbeing support programme. The strong management of chambers has been recognised through the accreditation of ISO9001 & ISO27001.
An agile and commercially run set, St John’s Buildings has:
- Bespoke pupillage arrangements with structured support;
- innovative IT and tech enabled working to facilitate better and more cost-effective service delivery;
- access to the best work - providing opportunities for our pupils to appear in court most days;
- excellent barristers working within a collegiate environment, excellence of advocacy and a commitment to the highest ethical standards;
- excellent clerking, administration and support services;
- values of Service Excellence, Approachability, Community and Agility which define how we behave collectively and individually, with clients and colleagues;
- a comprehensive wellbeing support provision from our management team, our clerks and assistance programme.
We view Pupillage as the prime way of developing a range of high calibre tenants who will ensure the continued success of Chambers into the future. Chambers makes a considerable investment in its pupils and most pupils become valued tenants.
Application details:
We interview both law and non-law graduates and look for:
- intellectual and analytical ability;
- written communication and advocacy;
- oral communication and advocacy;
- understanding of the law and legal practice;
- demonstration of attributes required to support a successful career at the Bar.
We are looking to recruit pupils who demonstrate the skills, determination and resilience necessary to build a successful career at the Bar. Whilst we generally look for a minimum of a 2:1 degree this is not an absolute requirement and we consider all applications on their own merits. We consider extenuating circumstances and/or where exceptional qualities are present and where comparable knowledge and potential is demonstrated in the application and at interview. This is provided that the qualifications and experience will meet the requirements of the Academic Component of Bar training.
This year we are offering up to 10 pupillages across our four sites, and available in all of our principal practice areas. You will be asked to state a preference in your application for any particular practice area, or, if you prefer, a multi-disciplinary pupillage. We are particularly keen to recruit in Sheffield, Chester and Liverpool. We only offer pupillages with a view to tenancy.
The pupils will have the opportunity to focus on each of our areas of expertise.
Structure of Pupillage
We believe that our pupils and junior tenants represent the future of the Bar. We are therefore committed to providing the best possible training and support. As a pupil you will receive high quality training in a friendly and collegiate environment. You can expect to be encouraged and supported not just throughout your pupillage but also as you develop through your early years of practice and beyond.
Financial and Other Support Available
During the first six months of pupillage a grant of £15,000 is made to all pupils and during the second six months there is an earnings guarantee of £30,000.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, transgender candidates and candidates with a disability, who are under-represented in our membership.
Chambers is strongly committed to equality of opportunity and will apply objective criteria in all shortlisting and selection processes. We aim to ensure there is no discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, class or age in recruitment and working life at Chambers. We are committed to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate candidates with a disability.
Chambers is committed to human rights work and social justice initiatives.
How to Apply
We are recruiting pupils in line with the Pupillage Gateway timetable for 2023/24 to commence pupillage in October 2024.
Applicants are invited to apply using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting 'Apply for this pupillage'. The online application will be available from 11:00 am on the 3rd January 2024. Chambers intends to hold first round interviews on 22nd March 2024 and second round interviews on 25th and 26th April 2024. In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. What is it about being a barrister that most appeals to you and what reservations do you have about the profession? (Max 125 words)
2. Persuade us to have confidence in your ability to thrive in this changing environment? (Max 125 words)
3. What inspires you about the legal profession, and how do you maintain that inspiration? (Max 125 words)
4. How do you predict barristers will be working in 20 years’ time and will they be replaced by Artificial Intelligence? (Max 125 words)
