The Crown Office Chambers Pupillage Experience
I had had an opportunity to meet my fellow pupils and some of the juniors from Chambers over an informal drink in the summer before I started, but I was still very apprehensive about my first day as a pupil. From the word go, however, I was made to feel welcome, and most of the first morning was spent settling in with pupil supervisor number one, who helpfully set out the grounds rules and then gave me a tour around Chambers, so that I could meet those members of Chambers who were around. Now that I knew where the library and the clerks' room were, and could start trying to put some names to the smiling faces, I was ready for the year ahead!
Pupils at Crown Office Chambers sit with four pupil supervisors and get to see a wide range of Chambers' work. My first seat was largely personal injury work, my second seat construction, my third seat had a large clinical negligence element, and my fourth was a mix of personal injury and commercial work. During the course of my year as a pupil I had an opportunity to see many of the different types of Chambers' work. In addition to my pupil supervisors' caseload, I saw amongst other things a consultation with a silk in the Northwick Park Hospital drug trial case, an inquest in relation to a death arising out of an industrial disease, several hearings in the Technology and Construction Court, part of a multi-party insurance dispute being tried in the Commercial Court, a case in the Privy Council concerning road traffic insurance in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as outings with juniors to watch small personal injury matters.
When I was not in court I sat in the same room as my supervisors and did the same work: drafting pleadings, skeleton arguments, advices and preparing research notes. Chambers also encourages you to do work for other members, both to broaden your experience and (hopefully) to give you an opportunity to impress. This is closely monitored by your pupil supervisors, so that you do not have more going on than you can handle - something that is a running theme, with your pupil supervisors not only being your teachers but also your guides.
As a pupil you are also assigned a pupillage Aunt and Uncle, normally successful juniors from the previous year, who are always on call to answer those 'stupid questions' you would prefer not to ask your pupil supervisors. I certainly found this system very useful!
Pupils complete 2 written assessments during the year, one at the end of your first seat and one just before the tenancy decision. Feedback from the first assessment focuses on areas to improve upon, with the aim being to assess in particular how your all-round skills had developed during the course of pupillage between the time of the two assessments. Before your second six begins, all pupils undertake a series of four advocacy training sessions. Each involves preparing for a 'real-life' court situation, such as applying for summary judgement, and usually involves drafting a short skeleton argument beforehand. I found these sessions extremely beneficial, not only because they gave you a chance to build on the constructive feedback from the previous session, but also because they were great preparation for the quick-thinking on your feet needed during the second six.
In my second six I was in court on average 3 days a week doing my own work, as well as drafting small pleadings and preparing advices on quantum. I was instructed mainly in personal injury matters, mostly road traffic matters, but also in small contractual disputes and the occasional inquest. Standing on your own two feet in court for the first time is a day I will never forget. Inevitably the work I did for my pupil supervisors eased off, but we were still given time to do sufficient paperwork for them to be able to take a view on our abilities.
Of course there were times when pupillage all became a bit hectic, but that was when the support system in Chambers kicked in. Pupil supervisors were invariably sympathetic if you had to put a piece of their paperwork on hold, whilst you finished a research note for a silk. In the moments of madness it is nice to know that even the senior members of chambers are supportive, and you never had to look too far to find someone willing to lend a hand.
The strong relationships you form, particularly at the junior end, also mean that no excuse is needed to go out for lunch together, to enjoy a curry in the evening, or to indulge in a gin and tonic! Friday night drinks in Chambers are always well attended, demonstrating that the people at Crown Office Chambers are not only excellent people from whom to learn, but also a really good bunch! As a pupil, I was always made to feel welcome at Chambers events, especially the Christmas Party when it was entertaining, if somewhat surprising, to see everyone unwinding from a hard day's work with a sip from the vodka luge!
Pupillage is a steep-learning curve and at times can be very stressful, but Chambers appears to do everything in its power both to make it as pain free as possible and to give you an opportunity to showcase your talents. At Crown Office Chambers there is no quota for tenancy, but rather a benchmark, reflected by the fact that in my year 3 pupils were taken on. When it comes to the decision about tenancy, one got the distinct impression that Chambers attempts to employ as fair a system of assessment as possible, with all pupils having had the same pupil supervisors and all having undertaken the same advocacy and written exercises. Even before I knew the outcome of my tenancy application, I felt very fortunate to have been a pupil at Crown Office Chambers: the security of having a large pupillage award, together with the incentive to earn extra money in your second six, effectively means you are getting paid very well to learn from the best and to help you take those first all-important steps towards becoming a fully-fledged barrister.
