One of the leading sets of barristers’ chambers in England, we combine excellence in advocacy and advisory work with a modern, client-focussed service.
“Crown Office Chambers is distinguished by the quality of its members. From its outstanding silks down to its leading juniors, excellence runs through the set.”
One of the leading sets of barristers’ chambers in England, we combine excellence in advocacy and advisory work with a modern, client-focussed service.
“Crown Office Chambers is distinguished by the quality of its members. From its outstanding silks down to its leading juniors, excellence runs through the set.”
With over 100 barristers working in specialist areas, our multi-discipline chambers has strong expertise in commercial and general insurance.
The ‘outstanding’ clerks are ‘commercial and willing to consider cases on innovative fee structures – not something seen at some of the more traditional sets’.
As a strong commercial set, our dedicated staff provide extensive support to help maintain Crown Office as a leading chambers.
Pupillage
Summary
Crown Office Chambers is a leading set within numerous practice areas, principally with a civil or commercial focus. There are some 100 tenants in Chambers including 24 KCs. Members of Chambers feature regularly in leading cases across all our specialisms.
We are inviting applications for pupillage from outstanding law and non-law graduates. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups including women, those from black or other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Applications for pupillage are assessed and determined solely on merit.
Crown Office Chambers offers up to three pupillages, each with an award of £75,000 plus earnings retained from Second Six. A drawdown of up to £20,000 from the pupillage award is available in advance.
Crown Office Chambers is a member of the Pupillage Gateway. Please refer to the Pupillage Gateway website for further information including the recruitment timetable.
Our work
We are ranked consistently by the directories in practice areas including: commercial litigation; professional negligence; insurance and reinsurance; construction and energy; international arbitration; personal injury; clinical negligence; health & safety; inquests & public inquiries.
Our members appear regularly across the full spectrum of courts and tribunals, both in UK-based litigation and international arbitration.
Our pupillage
We offer up to three pupillages each year. All pupillages are offered with a view to tenancy and we emphasise that pupils are not in competition with one another. All pupils who meet the standards for tenancy will be offered it.
During First Six, pupils will sit with two different supervisors each for a three-month period. During Second Six, pupils will sit with a third supervisor for six months and will be receiving regular instructions in their own right throughout that period.
Advocacy is a key focus of Chambers’ expertise, and therefore all pupils will obtain substantial advocacy experience during Second Six by attending County Court and other hearings up to 3-4 times per week.
There will be an opportunity to experience work in all core areas of Chambers’ practice. This is intended to facilitate a varied and interesting pupillage whilst also to provide a firm foundation for tenancy.
The current pupillage award is £75,000, paid in equal monthly instalments. In addition, pupils will retain all earnings from Second Six which – given the frequency of instructions – can add significantly to the overall remuneration from pupillage.
A drawdown of up to £20,000 from the pupillage award is available in advance. There are also generous concessions on Chambers’ expenses in the early years of tenancy.
Assessment criteria
We assess applicants for pupillage by reference to the following objective criteria:
- Intellectual ability / analytical skills
- Advocacy potential (oral and written skills including clarity and persuasiveness)
- Potential to be a successful barrister (including: determination, organisational skills, interpersonal skills, sound judgement)
- Interest in Chambers
- Integrity
Equal opportunities
Crown Office Chambers is committed to equality of opportunity, and to diversity amongst its staff, members, pupils and mini-pupils. Chambers maintains and follows a written statement on Equality & Diversity and reasonable adjustments. For more information please see the Diversity Policy & Data page.
The members of Crown Office Chambers are committed to the furtherance of equality and diversity, and to the promotion of access to the legal profession including the Bar in particular. For further information on the initiatives supported by members of Chambers in this respect, please see the Chambers Social Responsibility page.
We hope that this page, along with other pages on our website, answers any questions you may have about pupillage with us. If you have any further questions please contact the Pupillage Secretary at pupillage@crownofficechambers.com.
Events
One of the areas of work undertaken by Chambers is Technology and Construction law, for which there is a specialist division of the High Court called the Technology and Construction Court (the TCC).
The TCC is 150 next year, and is running a series of events, one of which is an art competition / exhibition aimed at students. Details are on the link below but, in summary, students in years 12/13, and students in higher education, can enter a piece of 2D art in any medium on the theme of Construction or Technology. Winners will be chosen by a panel of Judges and there are cash prizes of £250-£1000.
If you’re interested, and you have any questions, please feel free to email Rob Stokell at stokell@crownofficechambers.com
