Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Walnut House Chambers is a progressive set which has been based in Exeter, Devon, since 1971. We are offering up to two 12 month pupillages, in Crime and Family, to commence in October 2026 or October 2027. All pupillages are offered with a view to tenancy and pupils and junior tenants are expected to undertake work across both practice areas of Crime and Family. There will also be the opportunity for successful candidates to spend time with the Civil Team.
Structure of Pupillage
The first six months of pupillage will involve the successful applicant spending three months with each of the Crime and Family Teams, shadowing members of chambers at different levels of seniority. The second six will involve the successful applicant undertaking their own court work in courts throughout the Western Circuit and across chambers’ practice areas.
Financial and Other Support Available
We offer a pupillage award of £25,000 made up of a £12,500 grant for the first six and £12,500 guaranteed earnings for the second six, payable in monthly instalments. Pupils are not expected to pay any chambers contributions on their second six earnings.
Chambers will also pay for all compulsory training courses, to include travel and accommodation. We will also pay all travel expenses during the first six months.
We are delighted to say that the usual experience of pupils has been that they earn in excess of the guaranteed minimum earnings in the practicing period of pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Our goal is to encourage diversity and accessibility whilst providing the opportunity to excel in different areas of law.
Walnut House is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. We aim to select candidates for pupillage solely on merit irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
As part of chambers’ commitment to equality & diversity, it collects and analyses statistical information on all pupil applicants to monitor the effectiveness of its policies.
All applicants are encouraged to fill in the equal opportunities monitoring form provided on the gateway and submit it with their application. All information gathered will be used for monitoring purposes only and will not form part of the selection process.
Please contact our Equalities and Diversity Officer, Mary McCarthy (Mary.Mccarthy@walnuthouse.co.uk) if you have any queries.
AI policy
We ask that candidates do not use AI when writing their applications.
How to Apply
Applications for pupillage should be made between 5 January 2026 to 22 January 2026 using the Pupillage Gateway. To apply for this vacancy applications should be made under job reference number barcouncil/TP/8224/1368 where you will be asked the following questions to answer:
- Tell us about a time when you have persuaded someone to your point of view. (Max 250 words)
- What piece of legislation would you change and why? (Max 250 words)
- What is the greatest challenge you have faced so far? (Max 250 words)
- Why would you like to come to Walnut House for your pupillage? (Max 250 words)
- Who has been the biggest influence on your career choices so far? (Max 250 words)
- Are you applying for Pupillage in October 2026, October 2027 or both? (Max 250 words)
There will be two rounds of interviews with at least one of those involving an advocacy exercise, such as a plea in mitigation, which will be given to candidates on the day.
Chambers will then review the performance of all candidates at interview and, if appropriate, make an offer of pupillage.
Our selection process aims to identify pupils who have the potential to be members of chambers in due course by reference to the following criteria:
- Academic Achievements. A good record of achievement in formally assessed qualifications with a weight towards legal academic achievements at tertiary level and above. We expect candidates to have achieved or be predicted to achieve a Very Competent on the Bar course, although we will take into account exceptional circumstances. Offers of pupillage made before completion of the BPTC will be conditional upon achieving an overall final grade of Very Competent, although again we will take into account exceptional circumstances.
- Influencing/Advocacy Skills. We will take into account all evidence which demonstrates the candidates’ capacity to persuade including, but not limited to, their experience of mooting, any legal work experience, public speaking and other any evidence demonstrating ability in this area.
- Effective written communication skills. This should be evidenced by a well-structured application which demonstrates evidence of analytical thinking.
- Motivation and determination. In assessing this criterion we will look at the candidates’ extra-curricular activities, work experience, the reasons they have for seeking to become a barrister, and why they have a particular interest in pupillage at Walnut House.
