Pupillage Vacancy Information
Tanfield is a leading Property and Business set. Members cover all sectors of the property market including residential and commercial property, agriculture and rural affairs and infrastructure. There is specialist expertise in service charges, enfranchisement, boundary, and party wall disputes and building safety. Tanfield also has expertise in commercial disputes, company and insolvency, professional negligence, tax, and private client work. In addition to appearing in significant, precedent setting cases, Tanfield’s members also write, edit, and contribute to leading academic texts including the first BSA 2022 book: ‘The Building Safety Act: a guide for property lawyers.’
Chambers adopts a pro-active and involved approach to pupillage, taking on up to three pupils every year with a view to eventual tenancy. Our policy is only to recruit those we consider to be potential future tenants. Pupillage at Tanfield is divided into three periods of four months each with a different pupil supervisor. The aim is to introduce pupils to the core practice areas in Chambers, giving them experience of court work and the opportunity to work with as many members of Chambers as possible. During their second six months, pupils can expect to be in court regularly.
First Six Months.
(non-practising period)
Pupils shadow members including attending court and client conferences both in person and remote.
Second Six Months.
(practising period)
Pupils begin practical experience of being on their feet in court. Pupils do paperwork including opinions and pleadings.
For successful applicants yet to undertake their Bar vocational training year, up to £20,000 of the award may be drawn down.
Tanfield Chambers is a firm believer in equal opportunities and we consider all applications for pupillage on merit- regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, sex, gender re-assignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, religion or belief, or pregnancy and maternity.
We use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System, which allows us to understand each applicant’s achievements in the context in which they have been gained.
Shortlisting and invitation to interviews normally take place between February and March.
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1. Why do you think you have the qualities to make a good barrister? (100-word limit)