Chambers looks to recruit pupils with ability, application and the potential to be first-rate advocates. Excellent communication skills and a talent for engaging and persuading are essential; so are good academic qualifications (a 2:1 honours degree or above), numeracy and a confident grasp of basic financial and taxation concepts and issues. Pupillage at 1 Hare Court is divided into three periods of four months, each spent with a different supervisor.
Our aim is that you will see a broad range of our work and in addition to working with your pupil supervisor, you will have the opportunity to accompany other members of chambers to court. The work you see will include high profile, high value matrimonial cases, often with an international element. You will also receive a comprehensive introduction to private law children work and a good insight into the varied work arising out of the breakdown of the relationships of cohabiting couples: in particular claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. We hope that you will be able to observe members of chambers representing their client at all levels of Court and Tribunal.
You will be expected to undertake written work for your pupil supervisor and, from time to time, for other members of chambers. Examples of such work include written opinions, skeleton arguments, draft orders, schedules of assets and detailed chronologies. You will always be given feedback on your work and there will be regular opportunities for you to discuss your progress with your pupil supervisor. We are constantly developing our in-house advocacy programme which we have designed to help build your confidence as well as providing invaluable training in the specific skills required for advocacy in family cases.
In your second six months, you will be able to undertake your own work, which will include appearances in court. We do not guarantee a fixed number of cases or level of earnings but our clerks always do their best to ensure that second six pupils are introduced to instructing solicitors and put forward for work wherever possible.
Applications
We offer two twelve month pupillages each year. Each pupil will receive funding of £35,000 from Chambers of which £10,000 may be drawn down in your BPTC year.
Chambers is not a member of the Pupillage Portal. Applications for pupillages in 2014/2015 (commencing October 2014) will open on the date of the National Pupillage Fair, 9 March 2013, and will close at 4pm on 3 May 2013.
Applications should be sent to the Chambers’ Administrator with a curriculum vitae and hand written covering letter marked ‘Pupillage Application’. Your application should include an email address and a mobile telephone number. Written references, which are not required but may be helpful, can be included with your application or forwarded separately.
All applications will be considered in the first instance by our Pupillage Committee, following which a number of candidates will be selected to attend an interview in Chambers on a Saturday in June or July 2013. Those who attend should be aware of current issues in family law and be prepared to discuss them in the interview. Following these first round interviews, a short-list of candidates will be invited to attend a further interview one evening in July 2013.
The successful two candidates will be notified on the earliest date on which offers may be made in line with the Pupillage Portal timetable.
Chambers operates an Equal Opportunities policy in respect of all aspects of recruitment.
Tenancy
Chambers aims to recruit at least one junior tenant each year and our strong preference is to recruit from our pupils. In the last five years we have offered tenancies to seven of our own pupils.
Any offers of tenancy will be subject to a six-month probationary period.
Mini-Pupillage
Mini-pupillages are available during term-time only. Applicants must be at least at undergraduate level and have some interest in family law. Applications are accepted twice a year and should be sent with a full CV and handwritten covering letter marked for the attention of Katherine Cook.
For mini-pupillages between October 2013 and January 2014, applications should be submitted between 1 and 31 July 2013. For mini-pupillages between February and July 2014, applications should be submitted between 1 and 31 January 2014. Please note that ordinarily applications will not be considered outside these application periods.