Life as a pupil

“I applied for pupillage at 11KBW because the breadth of work offered the opportunity to build the kind of practice I wanted. I knew 11KBW to be a leading set in public law and employment law, but I hadn’t fully appreciated the diversity of its work — spanning data protection and information law, procurement, commercial disputes, public international law, education law, and even sports law. The range of work during pupillage was challenging but never dull.

Across pupillage, you develop a strong grounding in 11KBW’s core areas of practice. I am particularly interested in public international law and environmental law, and my supervisors actively sought out opportunities for me in these fields. I assisted in advising an intergovernmental organisation on the enforceability of agreements with its Member States under international law. I also drafted a skeleton argument in a judicial review challenge brought under the Climate Change Act 2008 against a government policy that relied on biomass as a “low carbon energy” to reach net zero.

Each piece of work is formally assessed by two members of Chambers, who provide feedback in face-to-face discussions. This structured approach means you have clarity on the standard of every piece of work and ensures a transparent process. There is no competitiveness between pupils, and whether tenancy is offered is decided on an individual basis for each pupil. 11KBW only offers pupillage to those it hopes to offer tenancy to, and everyone wants you to succeed.

Pupillage is a chance to work on high-profile cases and learn from leading barristers in their field. The majority of work during pupillage is live, making it especially motivating to contribute to cases with tangible outcomes. I worked on a different case almost every week, and each piece of work I produced was substantive – mostly legal opinions, pleadings, or skeleton arguments. The entire pupillage is non-practising, allowing you to develop your drafting, research, and analytical skills before taking on cases in your own name. The rigorous training ensures you complete pupillage with the confidence to build your own practice in the direction you choose.

Everyone is highly intelligent, but people are also incredibly kind, funny and supportive. I was also grateful to have a junior tenant as a mentor I could turn to for advice over a coffee or a walk. The environment surrounding 11KBW, overlooking the River Thames and Inner Temple Garden, is particularly special.

Beginning your career as a barrister at 11KBW means developing the skills to become an effective advocate and produce high-quality work. It empowers you to become a barrister who can have a real impact on cases that matter. The open and friendly atmosphere – both as a pupil and as a tenant – makes it a genuinely enjoyable place to work and learn.”