11KBW uses the Bar Council Pupillage Gateway for pupillage application.
Dates and deadlines
Applications for pupillage commencing in October 2026 will open through the Pupillage Gateway on 2 January 2025 and close on 6 February 2025.
Our selection process
Chambers has a four-stage process for applications for pupillages commencing in October 2026:
Stage 1 – the Application Form
All applications for pupillage will be reviewed by a sub-group of our Pupillage and Tenancy Committee. Applicants will be expected to have a first or good upper-second class degree (in any academic field), subject to mitigating circumstances. There is a more detailed guide to the written application process on the pupillage section of our website https://www.11kbw.com/join-us/pupillage/.
Stage 2 – Assessed written work
Selected candidates will be invited to undertake a piece of assessed written work, intended to be completed in the second half of March 2025. This piece of work will be completed remotely, unless the circumstances of the applicant/application are such that completing the application in Chambers is preferable, and in a time period which you can select during that window. You will have 48 hours to complete the work once provided with the papers, although the work is not expected to take longer than 12 hours. It will be based on a self-contained set of papers, so you will not be expected to do wider research in order to complete the work. The work will then be assessed by a sub-group of the Pupillage and Tenancy Committee.
Stage 3 – Assessed mini-pupillage day
Following the assessed written work, selected candidates will be invited into Chambers for an oral assessment and mini-pupillage day. This will allow those candidates to spend more time with us and to learn more about what we do and how we work. The oral assessment will be based upon your assessed written work.
We expect this will be in mid-April 2025.
Stage 4 – Interview
Selected candidates will be invited for a final round interview in the last week of April or first week of May 2025.
At each stage, the assessment will be undertaken by the same group to ensure a consistent approach.
Offers of pupillage
Offers to successful candidates will be made through the Gateway in May 2025.
Expenses
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 our Admin Team; AdminRoom@11kbw.com.
Reasonable adjustments
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 can be read here.
