Pupillage
St John’s Chambers is a leading multi disciplinary set with a national reputation for providing first-class advocacy and advice.
We have more than 70 respected barristers, including six QCs and many nationally renowned specialists. We organise ourselves into practice groups: commercial and chancery, family, personal injury, clinical negligence, employment, public and administrative law, and crime and regulatory.
Our client base includes major regional and national law firms, representing and advising prominent businesses and private individuals.
Areas of work
Banking, building, construction and engineering, childcare, civil fraud, clinical negligence, company, commercial and chancery, employment, environmental, family finance, health & safety, insolvency, international arbitration, intellectual property, licensing, mediation, partnership, pensions, personal injury, planning, property, professional negligence, public and administrative regulatory and disciplinary, tax, travel and holiday litigation, town and village greens, wills, trusts, probate and inheritance.
Who should apply
We look for intelligent and bright pupils with the ability to analyse information quickly and to present argument succinctly and persuasively. Pupillage is flexible; pupils can have a broad range of experience within our practice groups or the chance to specialise in a particular area.
The usual minimum degree requirement is a 2:1 and applications are invited for those with non-law degrees in addition to those with qualifying law degrees.
We welcome interest from suitably qualified professionals with a proven track
record in industry, commerce and banking.
What will you be expected to do?
- Carry out research for your pupil supervisor and other members of Chambers
- Prepare pleadings, advices and opinions in line with Bar Council requirements
- Accompany your pupil supervisor and other members of Chambers to court in order to gain experience and a working knowledge of the court system
What will St John’s Chambers do?
- Provide a broad range of experience for you as a pupil
- Set up court appearances and conferences
- Adapt the pupillage programme if you express an interest to specialise in an area of law that coincides with an identified recruitment need
A pupil supervisor is assigned to every pupil. Irrespective of any intended specialisation in pupillage, every pupil will be required to develop and practise common law drafting skills, in our view it is a fundamental skill to be able quickly and skilfully to reduce a case to a well-drafted pleading. This will be a primary focus of the first 3 months of the non-practising 6 months.
Pupillage programme
Each year, the Pupillage Committee, with the Head of Department in Chambers, defines their pupil recruitment needs for the coming year.
When and how to apply
Whilst we are a part of OLPAS, Chambers has made a decision not to recruit for 2012.
We do not accept applications outside of OLPAS unless there is a particular recruitment need in which case we will advertise. Information as to how to use the OLPAS scheme can be obtained on the OLPAS website and from the Inns of Court.
Pupillage commencement date: 1 October 2013.
Sponsorship/funding
We offer two funded pupillages with awards of up to £30,000 in the first 12 months.
In general terms, funded pupillage means that Chambers will guarantee an income of £2,500 per month for the 12-month period of pupillage. This is subject to a clawback to the extent of any fees actually received during the second six months of pupillage.
The Pupillage Committee is chaired by Dianne Martin with Sarah Knapton as her deputy. Should you have any general enquiries about pupillage then please do not hesitate to contact either Sarah Knapton or the Office Manager, Isabelle Mills who will endeavour to deal with your enquiry.
St John’s Chambers provides services on an equal opportunity basis.
