Pupillage Vacancy Information
We welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, transgender candidates and candidates with a disability, who are under-represented in our membership.
We are offering the following pupillages:
Five criminal pupillages two in Sheffield, two in Chester and one in Manchester
Four family pupillages one in Sheffield, one in Liverpool, one in Manchester and one in Chester
One Personal Injury pupillage in Manchester
One Employment pupillage in Manchester
Description
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 245 barristers including 19 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 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.
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;
- barristers who are acknowledged experts in their field and have a commitment to the highest ethical standards;
- a collegiate environment where mentorship, friendship and support is a priority.
- 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 with counselling support services.
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 including any extenuating circumstances, the demonstration of other, non-academic, or non-legal exceptional qualities, knowledge or skills provided that the qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the Academic Component of Bar training.
This year we are offering up to 11 pupillages across our four sites with a focus on the practice areas set out above. We only offer pupillages with a view to tenancy. You will be asked to identify which of the pupillages wish to be considered for and, if applicable, any additional practice areas that you are interested in developing during your pupillage.
Pupils will have the opportunity to focus on each of our areas of expertise if there is a preference for a multi-disciplinary pupillage.
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.
We are recruiting pupils in line with the Pupillage Gateway timetable for 2024/25 to commence pupillage in October 2025.
To apply, please click on the Apply Online link and complete the online application form. The online application will be available from 11:00 am on the 2nd January 2025. Chambers intends to hold first round interviews on 28th March 2025 and second round interviews on 24th and 25th April 2025.
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
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 2 January 2025 and 6 February 2025 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. Which of the advertised pupillages do you wish to be considered for and why? (max 125 words)
2. What inspires you about the legal profession, and how do you maintain that inspiration? (max 125 words)
3. How do you predict barristers will be working in 20 years’ time and will they be replaced by Artificial Intelligence? (max 125 words)
4. Persuade us to have confidence in your ability to thrive in this changing environment. (max 125 words)
