Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
Chambers will be offering a 12-month family law pupillage starting in October 2026. The award on offer is a minimum of £23,504 made up of monthly fixed payments in the first six months, followed by guaranteed earnings.
Westgate Chambers is proud of its pupillage programme and is well known for being collegiate, supportive and nurturing towards members and pupils. An Education Programme is provided at the commencement of pupillage, which explains the exercises that pupils will undertake to develop and improve those skills needed to thrive at the Bar. Family pupils can expect to receive specialist training in all areas of children law, divorce, and financial remedies.
Once on their feet, pupils will be kept busy with Chambers’ diverse and growing practice and can expect to be in court regularly with a wide variety of work. The vast majority of our previous pupils have earned in excess of the minimum guaranteed earnings threshold. During their first six months, pupils will be reimbursed for travel outside of Brighton starting from Chambers in Brighton. Chambers also will cover the cost of any mandatory training undertaken during pupillage.
Chambers takes seriously its commitment to only offer pupillages with a genuine view to tenancy. Chambers offers a non-competitive pupillage process with an aim to building your practice from day one.
Applications are welcomed from dynamic individuals with a passion for advocacy and the law. We are looking for outstanding candidates who are not only able to combine legal acumen, good judgment and persuasive advocacy but to also engage in Chambers’ life.
Structure of Pupillage
The pupillage is divided into 3 periods of 4 months supervision. For each period, you will be allocated a supervisor but will also assist other members of chambers where necessary. This allows pupils an opportunity to meet numerous members of chambers and broaden their training on a case by case basis. This structure ensures that pupils have a rounded training and are exposed to the full breadth of Chambers’ practice and experiences of the Bar.
Throughout pupillage there will be opportunity for mock advocacy exercises, written legal research and drafting exercises where necessary. Pupils will also benefit from attending Chambers' regular seminars that provide topical lectures and regular case law updates.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Chambers follow and practice the Bar Council Equality Code. We are committed to creating an unprejudiced environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, religion or political persuasion. This is enforced across all aspects of Chambers business and a copy of the Equality and diversity policy can be found on our website.
Chambers is committed to making reasonable adjustments in order to remove or reduce substantial disadvantage as required for people working with Chambers or receiving legal services. Any person requiring reasonable adjustments should contact the Senior Clerk, Sean Gould.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers between 5 January 2026 and 22 January 2026 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:
- Why are you applying for a pupillage with Westgate Chambers?
- Give an example of something you have done outside of your main employment or studies which has benefitted an organisation or individual.
- What skills do you have that will assist you in being a family practitioner?
- How do you manage the pressures of work and the conflict of this with life in general?
- Give an example of a time you have had to deal with a person in a state of high emotion, this can be in a professional or personal setting.
- The recent Judgment of Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has significantly impacted CILEX professionals. Please identify 2 ways in which CILEX professionals and how to overcome these difficulties.
Maximum word count for each question is no more than 250.
