The Pupillage Secretary is in charge of all matters relating to pupils and pupillages. The Pupillage Secretary is a member of, and is assisted by, the Pupillage Committee; which consists of six members of Chambers of varying seniority.
Pupillages are advertised in the Bar Council Chambers Pupillages & Awards Handbook, the Gti Law Journal and on www.pupillages.com, and you should always consult them for up-to-date details of the number of pupillages available and the current level of awards. Chambers usually offers a maximum of two funded twelve month pupillages per annum. Occasionally six month pupillages are available to fit in with an applicant's particular requirements.
Equality and Diversity
Chambers implements the Equality Code for the Bar, and welcomes all applicants regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability or political persuasion. Pupils and tenants are selected purely on the basis of ability, their willingness to work hard, their approachability and their commitment to offering an efficient service.
If you live locally or have strong links with the area, the Pupillage Committee will take this into account; but all candidates are considered as long as they show a willingness to commit themselves to a practice based in Southampton and surrounding areas. If you do not intend to go into private practice you will only be offered a pupillage if there is space to do so.
How to Apply
Please complete Chambers' application form and return to the Head of Administration together with the equal opportunities monitoring form.
Applications are accepted from 1st January to 30th June in any year for pupillage commencing in October of the following year.
Interviews take place in the late summer/autumn, normally on a Saturday, and are conducted by the Pupillage Committee. There will also be a written exercise for you to complete before the interview and a short advocacy test during the interview.
If you are invited for interview, you will be reimbursed your reasonable travel expenses.
If you are successful and accept a place offered, you are then invited to pay a return visit to Chambers for one day later in the year or the following spring or summer, in order to be introduced to other members of Chambers and matched with a suitable Pupil Supervisor.
Funding
Chambers currently has available two funded twelve months pupillages per annum, and reserves the right to make no offer if there are no suitable applicants. Awards are payable by equal monthly instalments throught the successful applicants 1st six pupillage and are in lieu of any remuneration which the applicant concerned might otherwise expect to receive from his Pupil Supervisor or any other barrister in these Chambers under paragraph 701.2 of the Bar Council's Code of Conduct. Pupils are also entitled to retain any earnings in their 2nd six.
Pattern of Pupillage
In your first six months you will be assigned to a maximum of two pupillage supervisors who will have overall responsibility for you and your training during that time. However, your pupillage will be planned so that you will have the opportunity to spend time with other supervisors in the main practice areas of Chambers. this will be discussed with you when you visit Chambers after you have accepted an offer of pupillage.
There is usually work available in the second half of your pupillage. Pupillage, however, is still regarded primarily as a time for learning, and you will be expected to spend most of your time with your Pupil Supervisor. In your second six, if you have demonstrated an interest in, or aptitude for, a particular area of law you will usually be placed with a Supervisor from that team.
You will often have to make your own way to and from court and are warned that a car is a near-necessity.
Your progress will be formally reviewed with your Pupil Supervisor at regular intervals throughout your pupillage with input from the Clerks and any other members of Chambers who have been a position to observe your work.
After Pupillage
No pupillage is with a view to tenancy. From time to time pupils are offered a third six months pupillage. These pupillages are not, unless stated, with a view to tenancy.
Tenancy
New tenants are elected at a Chambers' meeting in which they must be supported by at least 75% of the members of Chambers present at the meeting and voting or voting proxy, subject to a minimum of two thirds of Chambers so voting.
Normally tenants are recruited from among Chambers own pupils, and if you wish to become a tenant you should apply to the Pupillage Secretary towards the end of your pupillage. The Pupillage Committee will re-interview you in the twelfth month and then meet to formulate a recommendation to Chambers, having made enquiries of your Pupil Supervisor, the Clerks and any other members of Chambers who have been in a position to observe your work. The Committee then prepare a report and call a Chambers meeting to vote. Members of Chambers who do not vote in accordance with the Pupillage Committees recommendations are required to state their reasons.
You will be considered on your merits on the basis of the criteria set out in the Pupillage Policy section above, and the ability and progress you have shown during your pupillage.
We have, of course, to take into account whether or not Chambers has a need for a new tenant or tenants at the time when you are applying.
Mini-Pupillage
There are a limited number of mini-pupillages available during the year, two at Easter and twelve during the summer. The deadline for applications is 31 December.
If you are considering a career at the Bar and have studied a subject other than law, or are considering a change of career, and have not yet studied law at all, but would like to find out about life at the Bar before committing yourself, please get in touch with our Head of Administration by email explaining your circumstances. You may then be invited to spend a day or two in Chambers as a 'taster' on a first come first served basis. The same conditions as to funding and expenses apply as for a mini-pupillage.
Notes:
- We only offer mini pupillages to persons who have studied or are currently studying law at degree level or above (including the BVC and CPE).
- We offer two mini pupillages over the Easter break and 12 in the Summer break. Mini pupillages are offered on a first come first served basis.
- Mini pupillages last for up to a week, depending on the availability of barristers to shadow. The usual hours for a mini pupillage are 9am to 5pm and we endeavour to place you with barristers in local courts.
- Mini pupillages are unfunded and travel expenses are not paid. Unfortunately there is no parking available for mini pupils although there are near-by car parks and on street parking, and Chambers is 15mins walk from Southampton Central Train Station.
- Mini pupils are required to sign the confidentiality declaration attached to the application form in respect of anything they may see or hear during their mini pupillage.
- We would also like you to return the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This gives us information we need for implementing our equal opportunities policy.
How to Apply
To apply for a mini-pupillage complete the application form and return to the Head of Administration.
Mini-pupillages last for up to one week and are not funded.