The Application Process

In a sense, the application process begins with mini-pupillage, as interested potential applicants are encouraged to apply for mini-pupillage prior to making a pupillage application. This is certainly not a pre-requisite, however, and we often invite candidates who progress to the second round of interviews to come in for a mini-pupillage then.

Pupillage applications are made through the centralised Pupillage Portal scheme in the March/April 18 months before the pupillage is due to start (i.e. applications in April 2012 will be for pupillage commencing October 2013), although we occasionally make offers of deferred pupillage to exceptional candidates.

Usually there are 150 applicants for three pupillage places. Around 40 are invited to the first round interview, which consists of a 15-minute chat with a panel of three interviewers about general matters and a law-related current affairs topic (although no prior knowledge is required). Between 15 and 20 are then invited to the second round, in which candidates are provided with a legal (usually contractual) problem some days in advance, asked to submit a short skeleton argument, and then present their argument orally to a panel in a 25-minute interview.

Chambers usually makes three offers through the Pupillage Portal, and occasionally takes an additional pupil who is a transferring solicitor or who has completed pupillage at a rival set.