Pupillage

Overview

2 New Street Chambers is an award-winning set that has been at the heart of Leicester’s legal community for over 100 years. A friendly and welcoming set with a reputation for excellence in both family and civil law, New Street Chambers is committed to ensuring that pupils receive training of the highest standard.

Pupillage is a twelve-month programme during which time Pupils will gain experience in both family and civil law proceedings.

During the first six months, pupils will be assigned a Pupil Supervisor who they will accompany to court and assist in Chambers with paperwork, but furthermore, will also spend time with other members to gain exposure to the different types of work that Chambers undertakes and the varying styles of each Counsel.

During the second six, pupils will start to take on their own cases as well as continuing to undertake work with, or on behalf of, tenants.

New Street Chambers is committed to providing pupils with high-quality and constructive training designed to ensure that the competences in the Professional Statement to the threshold standard are met, if not exceeded, by the end of pupillage.

Pupils’ progress will be monitored closely by the supervisor and the Head of Pupillage, and feedback will be given regularly, with a formal review undertaken at the end of every two months. Pupils will also be assessed in line with the threshold standard and competences specified in the Professional Statement, following the guidance contained in Part 4 of the Bar Qualification manual.

Supervisors will ensure that pupils complete any compulsory training and/or advocacy courses as may be required by the BSB satisfactorily and that the pupil’s checklist is retained and completed conscientiously and accurately.

Application Process

All vacancies for pupillage will be advertised on the Pupillage Gateway and on our website.

To apply for pupillage, please visit the Pupillage Gateway website (https://recruitment.pupillagegateway.com/members/index.php).

Consideration of applications received will not commence until the closing date has passed. Please see the Pupillage Gateway for the timetable of applications (https://www.pupillagegateway.com/for-applicants.html#timetable)

Selection Criteria

For Interview

A successful candidate must demonstrate the following:

  • A strong academic record. Chambers will consider you’re a-level results (or equivalent), your degree(s) and any professional or other major qualifications/scholarships and/or awards;
  • Commitment to a career at the Bar, and a commitment to practising at 2 New Street Chambers;
  • Demonstration of advocacy experience;
  • Demonstration of motivation, initiative and application. A successful candidate will demonstrate a well-rounded personality; and
  • Demonstration of commitment and loyalty to a particular role or organisation, this could be, for example, a holiday job or volunteering for a particular charity.

At Interview

A successful candidate must demonstrate the following:

  • Intellectual ability (to include an analytical mind),
  • The ability to express ideas clearly, calmly and persuasively, both orally and in writing (the successful candidate will be engaging);
  • The ability to think under pressure;
  • An absolute commitment to hard work;
  • An organised approach to work; and
  • Good interpersonal skills.

Funding

The pupillage award is £27,000 over 12 months, consisting of:

  • A monthly award of £2,000 in the ‘first six’ plus reasonable travel expenses.
  • Guaranteed minimum earnings in the ‘second six’ of £2,500 per month.

Interview Dates

March-April 2025

When does Pupillage Commence

Pupillage will commence in September/October 2025

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Reasonable Adjustments

New Street Chambers is committed to making reasonable adjustments to remove or reduce substantial disadvantage for disabled people working with chambers.

In keeping with Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Policy, any applicant for pupillage or Pupil likely to require reasonable adjustments should inform Chambers in advance and reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure applicants or Pupils with disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions are not substantially disadvantaged during their time with Chambers.

All pupil supervisors receive Equality & Diversity Training delivered by the Bar Council. The Head of Pupillage is responsible for ensuring that all members of the pupillage committee are up to date with their Equality and Diversity Training.