How do I apply?
Applications for pupillage should be made through the Pupillage Gateway.
You can find more information on our application process here.
What standards are you looking for?
We normally require candidates to have a first class, or high upper-second class degree.
How many pupillage applications do you receive?
In 2023, we received c. 250 applications.
How many candidates are interviewed?
Generally between 10 and 12. As set out above under ‘How to apply’, Chambers has a multi-stage process, in which interviews form the final round.
What should I expect at interview?
In the past, candidates have been provided in advance with a recent case and asked questions about it; an hour before the interview, they have been given a short set of papers and then asked to present an application to the interview panel.
I haven’t been to Oxford or Cambridge, is it worth me applying?
Definitely. We are looking for the best future practitioners, irrespective of their place of study.
I have a disability, how will 11KBW arrange for any reasonable adjustments I need?
Reasonable adjustments will be made where appropriate for any disabled candidate for pupillage, and for any disabled pupil. Any candidate requiring reasonable adjustments should email Adminroom@11kbw.com, providing details of their needs and the adjustment they seek.
What kind of work will I do as a new tenant?
All of our members of Chambers, including our most junior tenants, have complete autonomy to develop their practice as they wish.
Experience shows that most of our new tenants choose to gain some experience of all of our core practice areas (employment, public, commercial and media/data privacy law), both as sole counsel and being led by more senior members. The Employment Tribunal and the Information Tribunal offer particularly good opportunities for junior advocacy experience, but there are opportunities to appear in the High Court and appellate courts from the outset as juniors in larger teams.
Some of our juniors then decide to focus on areas of particular interest within a year or two after taking tenancy, whereas others maintain a broad practice throughout their tenancy. We are proud of our exceptionally supportive clerks, who are committed to helping each member of Chambers to establish a practice which reflects their own interests.
Are pupils in competition with each other?
No. All pupils are assessed throughout pupillage against a transparent, objective standard and it is our policy to offer tenancy to every pupil who reaches that standard.
Do I need a law degree?
No. Many members of Chambers have a degree in a subject other than law. We welcome the diversity that this brings.
How many pupillages do you offer?
We offer up to 4 pupillages each year.
What pupillage awards do you offer?
Pupillage awards for October 2025 will be £75,000 for a full 12-month pupillage.
Is any part of the pupillage award payable earlier?
For October 2025, up to £20,000 of the pupillage award may be paid to prospective pupils as an advance in their BPTC year.
Can I receive financial help for my application?
Chambers’ pupillage application process is intended to reduce the financial burden on applications who are not based in London, and who may have to pay for their travel and/or accommodation, by providing for personal attendance only at the later stages of the process.
However, we recognise that attendance at Chambers for the mini-pupillage day and for interview may be expensive for applicants who are not based in London, and who may have to pay for their travel and/or accommodation. We will reimburse the reasonable travel or accommodation expenses of applicants who reach these stages and live outside the M25. For further information please contact Claire Halas (Claire.Halas@11kbw.com).
I am not resident in the UK: can I still apply?
Yes. Chambers’ pupillage application process facilitates remote applications by those living or studying abroad, by providing for personal attendance only at the later stages of the process.
Where candidates are living or studying abroad, Chambers is willing to conduct those stages which would normally involve personal attendance (ie. the oral assessment element of the mini-pupillage day, and interview) by remote means.
Does 11KBW offer mini-pupillages?
An assessed mini-pupillage day forms part of our multi-stage process for pupillage applications.
Please find more information regarding our pupillage process here.
We also offer a small number of unassessed mini-pupillages each year. An unassessed mini-pupillage gives an experience of 11KBW to those considering the Bar but who have no particular experience of, or easy access to, the world of law or the Bar. Applicants for unassessed mini-pupillages at 11KBW will normally be at an early stage in their education: it is not intended that those intending to apply for pupillage (in that year) should apply for unassessed mini-pupillages.
Normally we would expect applicants for unassessed mini-pupillages to have completed at least the first year of their degree course (whether that is in law or not).
Typically unassessed mini-pupils attend court or client meetings on most days of their time with us, so that they get a better idea of working life as a barrister. An application for an unassessed mini-pupillage plays no part in our consideration of a pupillage or assessed mini-pupillage application.
You should apply for an unassessed mini-pupillage using our standard form, which you can download here or which you can obtain by contacting our Admin Department (adminroom@11kbw.com or 020 7632 8500). CVs will not be accepted in addition to or instead of the application form.
We do not interview for unassessed mini-pupillages. We select on the basis of your application form only.
Unassessed mini-pupillages typically last for 3 days.
Unassessed mini-pupillages
We are not currently accepting applications as we will be implementing a new scheme for unassessed mini pupillage in Spring 2024. All information on the new scheme when it launches will be post here.
Equal opportunities
11KBW is committed to equality and diversity. Our aim is to get the very best practitioners. We welcome applications from talented people, whatever their backgrounds. We strongly encourage applications for pupillage from members of groups which are under-represented at the Bar.
Our approach to pupil recruitment and pupillage is underpinned by our commitment to equal opportunities and fair treatment. Candidates for pupillage, and work done during pupillage, are assessed strictly on merit against objective criteria. We use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System, which allows us to understand each applicant’s achievements in the context in which they have been gained.
We have an active Equality, Diversity and Social Responsibility Committee, chaired by Jane McCafferty KC, which meets regularly to oversee our diversity and inclusion initiatives. As part of our commitment to improving access to the Bar and to improve diversity within chambers, we recently established the 11KBW Scholarship for Black Students on the BPTC. We also participate in the Bridging the Bar mini-pupillage scheme, the Bar Council’s Bar Placement Scheme (run in conjunction with Pathways to Law and the Social Mobility Foundation), and COMBAR’s mentoring scheme to improve access for under-represented groups at the Commercial Bar.
Reasonable adjustments will be made where appropriate for any disabled candidate for pupillage and for any disabled pupil. If you wish to make a request for reasonable adjustments or have questions about the accessibility of chambers, please email Claire Halas (Claire.Halas@11kbw). Our access statement is available here. Please follow the links to read our equality and diversity and anti-harassment policy statements.
