What is Pupillage?

Information on what pupillage consists of, how to apply for pupillage, the common timetable, the OLPas system, Bar Council pupillage contacts.

What Is Pupillage?

Pupillage is the final stage of the route to qualification at the Bar, in which the pupil gains practical training under the supervision of an experienced barrister. Pupillage is divided into two parts: the non-practising six months during which pupils shadow, and work with, their approved pupil supervisor and the second practising six months when pupils, with their approved pupil supervisor’s permission, can undertake to supply legal services and exercise rights of audience.

Pupillage Advertising Requirements

All pupillage providers must advertise all pupillage vacancies on the designated website www.pupillages.com. The vacancies are divided into two types: OLPas and non-OLPas. For further information regarding pupillage applications, please visit www.pupillages.com.

The Pupillage Funding & Advertising Panel of the Qualifications Committee has the authority to allow exceptions, which must be applied for on the relevant application form and which are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Pupillage Funding Requirements

All pupils must be paid no less than £833.33 per month plus reasonable travel expenses where applicable.

Mini-pupillage is a short period of work experience (usually one or two weeks) in a set of chambers. Some chambers require applicants to undertake an assessed mini-pupillage as part of the recruitment process, and others use it as one of their selection criteria. All applicants to the Bar are advised to undertake at least one mini-pupillage as spending time in this way within chambers will provide an invaluable insight into life at the Bar and may provide some useful advice to assist in finding pupillage. The Pupillages and Awards Handbook provides details of which chambers offer mini-pupillages, as does the chambers entry on the OLPas website. You should apply direct to chambers enclosing a copy of your CV and specifying the dates you are available. The Inns' Student Officers can also provide advice on obtaining a mini-pupillage. The African Caribbean Asian (ACA) Lawyers Group runs a scheme to place ethnic minority students in mini-pupillages. Interested students should write to Elpha Lecointe, 1 Pump Court, Temple, London, EC4Y 7AB, enclosing a copy of their CV.

Where to find Pupillage information

Pupillage Training Organisations offered 550 pupillages in 2005/2006 (527 the previous year) and, although more places may be available in the forthcoming years, competition for places is still likely to be intense. With such a level of competition, applicants are advised to make sure that they are suited to a career at the Bar by visiting court, talking to people in the legal profession and undertaking work experience in solicitors' offices or barristers' chambers (see also Mini Pupillage paragraph on this page). Applicants should also ensure that they have thoroughly researched the chambers/pupillage training organisations to which they have applied.

The Pupillages Handbook is an indispensable guide containing details of all organisations offering pupillage in the forthcoming year and comprehensive information about pupillage awards. The handbook is available from the annual National Pupillage Fair at the start of each March. If you would like to receive a copy of the Pupillage Awards Handbook please refer to the Bar Council's website. The latest edition was released March 2007.

Pupillage File

The current Pupillage File 2006/2007 is available in the "File Downloads" page of this section.

Contacts:

Andrea Clerk - Pupillage Officer

Claire Pace and Donna-Marie Margh - Assistants to Pupillage Officer