Pupillage

At St Pauls Chambers we have always been a forward-thinking and progressive set. We believe that if everyone reaches their full potential it benefits chambers.

Our juniors have a clear career progression and are mentored and supported throughout the entirety of their career. Regular practice review meetings are carried out to ensure our barristers have clear short- and long-term career goals, which can be furthered and developed by our clerking team. Consequently, our juniors benefit from quality work and better earnings than their contemporaries. At St Pauls Chambers opportunities to be led in large, high-profile, and complex cases are second to none.

We pride ourselves on the career progression available at St Pauls Chambers. In 2024, we had a record three ‘home-grown’ silks appointed in one year, boosting the number of silks in chambers to fourteen. We focus on growing and nurturing talent at all levels of chambers.

For those who wish to pursue a career in the Judiciary, St Pauls Chambers is committed to career development and equal opportunities. Many of our senior barristers sit part time as Recorders or in other tribunals.

There is an emphasis in Chambers on teamwork between the members and the impressive clerking team. In 2024, our Senior Clerk was nominated for Senior Clerk of the year in the Legal 500 awards. She was the only clerk outside of London to receive such a nomination.

Chambers is friendly, supportive, and encouraging. We ensure junior members have an assigned mentor they can go to for advice and support. We also have a dedicated wellbeing committee who are available to listen and help when necessary.

We believe we can make a positive difference to current working practices and career development. A shared vision for the future is important but equally important is the need to meet the individual needs of each member, whether it is developing better quality work, specialising in a particular area of law, increasing earnings, applying for judicial appointments, or taking Silk.

Pupillage Competition

St Pauls Chambers will be offering one common law pupillage in 2025 and two common law pupillages in 2026.

The pupillage award for those recruited in 2025 will be £24,000. We understand there are many costs associated with starting pupillage. Therefore, at St Pauls Chambers we will pay £3,000 in the month before commencing pupillage, and £1,500 per month thereafter for the first six months. For the second six there will be guaranteed earnings of £2,000 per month. Recent pupils have demonstrated earnings in the second six far exceed the £2,000 guaranteed monthly payment.

Travel expenses incurred in the first six months and access to relevant legal research tools and texts will be provided by Chambers. We will also pay for the compulsory Professional Ethics Exam and accompanying study materials.

How to Apply

St Pauls Chambers follow the mandatory timetable as prescribed by the Pupillage Gateway:

25th November 2024 – Pupillage Adverts published on the Pupillage Gateway

2nd January 2025 – Applications open, the application details will be set out on the Pupillage Gateway and on our website.

6th February 2025 – Applications close.

February – May 2025 – Interviews will take place. At St Pauls Chambers we will cover reasonable travel expenses for those attending interviews. We will also make reasonable adjustments where necessary to assist applicants.

9th May 2025 – Offers made.

16th May 2024 – Deadline for accepting offers.

Pupillage Fair

St Pauls Chambers will be attending the inaugural Northern Pupillage Fair on the 30th of November 2024 at Leeds Beckett University. At the Fair you will have the opportunity to speak with current tenants and pupils at St Pauls Chambers about life as a barrister and the pupillage application process. We will also have barristers providing practical advice at the CV Clinic.

Opening Evening

Anyone wishing to apply for pupillage at St Pauls Chambers is encouraged to attend our Open Evening on the 10th of December 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Leeds between 5:30pm to 8pm. The evening with provide those wishing to apply for pupillage an insight into our Chambers’ culture and an opportunity to speak to barristers at all levels on making the best of your pupillage application.