What we are looking for
“I never would have thought
about it like that.”“I thought it was complicated,
but you made it seem simple.”
Does this feedback sound familiar to you? If so, you might who we’re looking for.
Our barristers are innovative, precise and strategic. They are problem solvers. Our barristers are exceptional, independent thinkers. So we are not looking for just one type of person. Instead, we apply clear recruitment criteria that help us find the brightest candidates with the most potential. Equality and diversity are core to our recruitment process.
How to Apply
Stage 1 - Apply through Pupillage Gateway
Applicants should apply through the Bar Council’s Pupillage Gateway. This is likely to open in January 2027.
A sub-group of our Pupillage and Tenancy Committee will review all applications. Applicants will be expected to have a first or good upper-second class degree (in any academic field), subject to mitigating circumstances.
The criteria that are applied are as follows:
• Intellectual ability (weighting x 3)
• Written advocacy (weighting x 2)
• Oral advocacy (weighting x 1)
Oral advocacy has a lower weighting not because we place less weight upon it overall, but because we are less able to assess this at this stage.
Each criterion is marked 1-4, where 1 is low and 4 is high. If an application does not score at least 3 for ‘intellectual ability’, then we will not further assess the application and it will be rejected.
The onus is on applicants to show by evidence that they satisfy each criterion.
Intellectual ability.
Applicants who have completed their first degree are expected to have obtained a high 2:1 degree in any subject, unless they can demonstrate exceptional mitigating circumstances, or unless they can demonstrate that they have evidence of later high academic achievement (for example, a merit or above at Masters level, or a distinction on the CPE).
In order to determine whether a 2:1 is “high” or not, we will need to know individual finals scores. It is up to applicants to supply them (or to explain why they cannot).
Generally speaking, we cannot place weight on “predicted” results. However, where applicants have not completed their first degree, we will look at individual results so far achieved, as well as A-level (or equivalent) results and predicted results.
If an applicant relies upon extenuating circumstances, they should be explained clearly.
If the results are from a non-UK institution, applicants should explain where the results place them.
Written advocacy
We have added a specific question to the application form to address this criterion. Our assessment will be based upon the answers to that question.
We will consider in particular clarity, concision, and persuasiveness.
Oral advocacy
We have added a specific question to the application form to address this issue and our assessment will be based primarily upon the answer to this question, but we will look at all relevant evidence within the application.
Stage 2 – Assessed written work
We will invite selected candidates to undertake a piece of assessed written work.
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 we have given you 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.
The criteria that are applied are as follows (each marked on a scale of 1-5):
- Analytical thinking (weighting x4)
- Judgment (weighting x2)
- Clarity of writing (weighting x3)
Stage 3 – Assessed mini-pupillage day
Following the assessed written work, we will invite selected candidates 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.
The criteria that are applied are as follows (each marked on a scale of 1-5):
- Analytical thinking (weighting x2)
- Judgment (weighting x1)
- Clarity of writing (weighting x2)
Stage 4 – Interview
Selected candidates will be invited for a final round interview, on consideration of the combined Stage 2 and Stage 3 scoring.
The interview will usually include an advocacy exercise, and discussion of a recent case.
Offers of pupillage
Offers to successful candidates will be made through the Pupillage Gateway in accordance with the Bar Council’s mandatory timings.