Pupillage

Why should I consider applying to Crown Office Chambers?

You're expected to work hard and the standards are high, but the emphasis is on training you properly for the Bar...

We appreciate that the process of applying for pupillage can often be daunting, and that it can be difficult to find out what any given set of Chambers is really like. However, we hope that this section of the website will give you an accurate impression of pupillage at Crown Office Chambers, and will allow you to decide whether you would like to apply to us. We have tried to include the sort of information that past and recent pupils have told us that they wanted to know, when they came to make their own applications. You can also take a look, by clicking here, at "The Crown Office Chambers Pupillage Experience" as recounted by a recent pupil. If having read what follows, you still have any further questions please feel free to contact the pupillage secretary Matthew Boyle at boyle@crownofficechambers.com who will do his best to answer them.

What do you offer?

We understand that when considering where to apply for pupillage, candidates are naturally already thinking ahead to their prospects of securing a tenancy. We do not think it is appropriate to pitch pupils against one another in a year long competition. For that reason we only offer as many pupillages as we have space for new tenants. In both the pupillage years commencing October 2010 and 2011 that means that we will offer up to three pupillages. If, as we hope and expect, you attain the professional standards that we expect from a members of these chambers, you will be offered a tenancy here on completion of your pupillage. No candidate will be turned away on the basis of an absence of space within Chambers.

We believe that pupils should not need to worry about money during their pupillage or BVC year. Living in London is expensive. Chambers therefore offers a generous financial package to its pupils. The pupillage awards in 2010 and 2011 will be £42,500 per annum paid in twelve monthly instalments. Up to £15,000 of the award is available in the year prior to starting pupillage. In addition you will earn receipts from your own cases, undertaken when going to Court during the second six months. It can take several weeks or months before payment is received for any one case; but, to give you some idea, in the pupillage year ending in October 2008 our pupils on average received in their second six months in the region of £10,000 each in respect of work done.

What type of work will I see during pupillage?

We are a large set with practitioners specialising in a number of core practice areas. The majority of members undertake at least some personal injury work, and some practise solely in that area. However we also have an established reputation in other areas including construction, professional negligence, commercial/contracts, insurance and product liability. We are not therefore a 'pure commercial' set, and you will see a range of work during pupillage. We rotate pupils through three pupil supervisors during the course of the year in order that you receive as broad a grounding as possible.

Hard work, but thoroughly enjoyable. A steep learning curve with a huge amount of experience gained...

In your second six you will find yourself being briefed to attend County Court hearings on your own, probably at least two or three times per week. Generally these will be small personal injury cases, where you will be making or resisting applications or conducting a small claim or fast track trial. Alongside these cases you will continue to do work for your pupil supervisor, but we will ensure that your overall workload does not become excessive at any stage.

How will I be assessed for tenancy?

During your pupillage you will receive regular feedback on your work from your pupil supervisors. It is likely that you will undertake work for a few other members of chambers, who will also try and give you constructive criticism. However, with over eighty members it is unrealistic to expect you to do work for more than a handful of other members. Your priority should be to impress your pupil supervisors.

In February and March you will be asked to undertake a series of advocacy exercises in front of a panel of four members of chambers. The exercises are taken from real cases, and are designed to reflect the type of work that you will probably be undertaking in your second six. The exercises are intended to be an opportunity for you to practise and improve upon your advocacy skills, as well giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities. You will receive extensive feedback after each exercise.

You will also be asked to undertake two assessed written exercises during the course of your pupillage, one in the first six and one in the second six. These exercises will be double marked by two members of chambers, and we will discuss your performance with you.

A very fair system of assessment throughout with lots of feedback...

Tenancy decisions are made in early July. In contrast to many other sets of Chambers, decisions about tenancy are taken by a specialist committee which consists of your pupil supervisors and those involved in the advocacy and written exercises. In other words, the decision will be taken by those members of chambers who are in the best position objectively to assess your performance. Although all members of chambers are invited to submit written comments on any work that you may have undertaken for them, there is no Chambers-wide meeting at which you have to reach some pre-determined level of support in order to be taken on.

What is Chambers' working environment like?

When not in Court, many members of chambers do much of their work in chambers, so there is a clear buzz about the place during working hours; but we have excellent IT facilities (including a full-time "IT member of staff"), which allow members to work from home if they prefer. Pupil supervisors come into chambers regularly, so that at no time should you feel as if you have been abandoned by your pupil supervisor.

We appreciate that there may be questions you have about how Chambers operates, with which you may not want to trouble your pupil supervisor, or that you may want to discuss informally with people who are more your age. Whilst pupil supervisors can always be approached on any matter, however insignificant, we also run a Chambers "aunt/uncle system", whereby pupils can raise matters with two nominated members of Chambers. They are usually the two most junior members of chambers. As the ones who have most recently undergone pupillage, they will have a very good understanding of what you are going through.

We have over eighty members and, as you would expect, that includes a wide range of different personalities. However, we like to think that we are an unstuffy, informal and friendly group. We don't hold a daily 'Chambers' tea', at which our pupils are expected to serve refreshments whilst absorbing pearls of wisdom by a process of osmosis. Instead there are regular Friday evening drinks in chambers, which are relaxed occasions, and to which pupils are always invited. There is also a Chambers Christmas party, to which again pupils are invited. In addition we socialise with one another as the mood takes us, particularly at the junior end. Whilst we work hard, we all also believe in living life outside work to the full. We will do our best to ensure that you are an integral part of Chambers life from the moment you arrive.

Members of Chambers treat you with respect and make you feel part of the team. Pupillage can sometimes be tough going, and this makes all the difference...

How do I apply for pupillage?

We are not a member of OLPAS. We have our own pupillage application form. On the basis of your form and references, four members of chambers will score your application and shortlist approximately 24 candidates for first round interviews. We are looking for candidates with the potential to become excellent barristers. We would therefore expect a minimum of a 2:1 degree or equivalent (not necessarily in law), together with some experience of public speaking and a commitment to the Bar.

The first round interview is directed to us finding out as much as we can about you and your potential, which we do by testing your verbal reasoning, argument and problem solving skills. At the same time we appreciate that it is an opportunity for you to "view" us, and accordingly we are anxious to ensure that you do not see us as just another set of barristers trying to intimidate prospective pupils.

We then invite approximately 12 candidates back for a second round interview, in advance of which candidates are given a further problem to consider, and with which they are asked to deal during the interview. We do not set any questions that require a written answer. After full discussions between the members of the interviewing panel, Chambers will then make up to three offers of pupillage on 1 August.

The deadline for October 2010 pupillage applications is 30 April 2009. We will consider year early applications (for October 2011) by the same closing date.

If you wish to submit an application please download the application form from the link below and save it on your PC. Complete the application and the equal opportunities questionnaire, which forms part of the document, by typing responses in each of the boxes, expanding boxes as required by pressing the enter key. When completed please email the form to the pupillage administrator at pupillage@crownofficechambers.com with the subject hearing 'pupillage application.'

By submitting an on-line application for pupillage you are declaring to Chambers that the contents of the form are true to the best of your knowledge and belief.

Pupillage Application Form