Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.
Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
St Pauls Chambers are seeking an outstanding candidate to undertake a common law pupillage.
What do we offer? St Pauls Chamber has a track record of offering tenancy. Our focus is not only to recruit the best talent but support and retain it. By design, St Pauls Chambers has a relatively low number of members. This allows us to chase the best possible work whilst also being able to concentrate on supporting pupils rather than risking them being lost in the crowd. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and recruiting our members from different backgrounds.
Finally, we offer a pathway to success. Our junior tenants earn significantly more than their peers and gain early exposure to important, interesting and lucrative work across a range of disciplines. Any pupil will have the opportunity to shadow and learn from some of the leading barristers in their respective fields.
Finally, we offer a pathway to success. Our junior tenants earn significantly more than their peers and gain early exposure to important, interesting and lucrative work across a range of disciplines. Any pupil will have the opportunity to shadow and learn from some of the leading barristers in their respective fields.
Structure of Pupillage
What to expect in the first six months? In the first six months, pupils will be supervised by a member of Chambers who specialises in criminal work. That member will ensure the pupil experiences the full breadth of work undertaken by Chambers and introduce them to those who instruct Chambers. They will offer a constant source of advice, support and encouragement whilst working towards clearly defined goals. Additionally, any pupil will spend time with other members of Chambers.
What to expect in the second six months? During this time, any pupil will accept their own instructions. Support will constantly be on hand and any work will be supervised to ensure the learning process continues. Feedback will be constructive and constant. Chambers will ensure the pupil has access to good quality work and a steady stream of income. At the conclusion of the pupillage, Chambers will vote on whether to accept the pupil for tenancy.
Financial and Other Support Available
Travel expenses incurred in the first six and access to relevant legal research tools and texts will be provided by Chambers.
Pupils at St Pauls Chambers are also supported by the Roger Scott Trust. The Roger Scott Trust is a charity with the object of relieving "financial hardship of pupil barristers at St Pauls Chambers by providing scholarships supplementing pupillage awards”.
Applications will be considered by the trustees and it is anticipated that grants will be made to pupils to assist with day to day living expenses where appropriate and also for one-off items of business related expenditure such as computers and court dress.The criteria applied by the trustees will be individual need and financial hardship of the pupil barrister.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
The acting Equality and Diversity Officer at St Pauls Chambers is Ayman Khokhar whose contact details are ak@stpaulschambers.com
- Chambers are committed to access to the bar programmes such as the 10,000 Black Interns programme.
- In July 2022, St Pauls Chambers accommodated one of the three interns on the North Eastern Circuit. We have also committed to hosting another intern in 2024.
- Chambers produced and published an anti-racism statement for members and the public. This is publicly available on the chambers website.
- Chambers have implemented regular bulletin/updates on Equality and Diversity issues to keep members of chambers and staff informed about diversity initiatives on the North Easters Circuit and around the country. These updates also aim to share the most recent reports issued by the Bar Council with members of Chambers for their consideration and information. Recent updates include an invitation for members to donate old wigs and gown which they no longer require, even if it needed repair. These will be donated to Circuit who will carry out any repairs, so that they can be offered to under-represented groups who are starting a career at the Bar.
- The Equality and Diversity Officer is a member of the North Eastern Circuit’s Diversity Committee. The Committee meets once a month to discuss ways of furthering diversity at the Bar.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 3 January 2024 and 7 February 2024 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 believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career (250 words)
2. Why do you want to join our chambers? In your answer, please give reasons for your choice of chambers and explain why you are interested in our areas of practice (250 words)
3. What are your goals for your practice five years post pupillage? (250 words)
4. Give an example of when you have had to persuade others to a point of view? (250 words)
