Pupillage

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As a general principle, we at Nine Chambers believe our strength is maintained and improved by regularly taking on new tenants, who have successfully completed twelve months pupillage in Chambers.

We are committed to selecting pupils of outstanding ability and potential, who will make a positive contribution to the future development of Chambers.

Accordingly, whilst no guarantee can be given that a tenancy will follow pupillage, our policy is to select carefully, from the many applications we receive each year, those who we believe can become successful practitioners in Chambers in due course. The history of pupillage within Nine Chambers shows that most pupils have been offered tenancy on completion of their pupillage.

Pupillage Prospectus

Nine Chambers is committed to active pupillage recruitment. We understand the importance of investing in our pupils to ensure the long term success of Chambers. We also know it is important to be transparent and clear about the pupillage process and life in Chambers. To that end, we have created a Pupillage Prospectus and encourage prospective pupils to read the document ahead of their pupillage applications.

Pupillage Prospectus

The Bar Council’s Essential Guide 2023

Selection criteria

Nine Chambers recruits pupils through the Pupillage Gateway. Candidates are strongly advised to use the information here and within our prospectus, for guidance in completing their application forms.

Nine Chambers follows and promotes equal opportunities in all its recruitment including pupillage. We therefore encourage candidates to apply from backgrounds that have not traditionally been well represented at the bar.

Stage 1

The criteria set out below is used to identify a shortlist of candidates following consideration of all application forms received. The number of candidates to be shortlisted, depends on the number of pupillages being advertised each year. Those that have been successful in reaching the interview stage will be informed via the Pupillage Gateway.

Marks Available
Academic Achievement	Up to 6 marks
Intellectual Aptitude	Up to 4 marks
Law Related Experience	Up to 4 marks
Other Relative Life Experience	Up to 4 marks
Other Exceptional factors	2 marks

Scores will be reduced by 1 mark if presentation on the application form is not satisfactory.

When completing your application form, try to be succinct and focus upon the main points which will help your application. Should you feel that your academic ability is not accurately reflected in your results or projected results or if there are other personal circumstances of importance, you should explain this on your form.

Other attributes such as ability to relate to clients and colleagues, empathy and intellectual and advocacy ability will be judged at the interview stage.

Academic achievement

Only candidates achieving a 2.1, save in wholly exceptional circumstances, will be interviewed. Any such circumstances should be detailed in your application. Top marks will be awarded for a 1st or a projected 1st, or a 2:1 with high marks in a relevant subject or further study in a relevant subject e.g. criminal law for a criminal pupillage). Middle range marks will be awarded for a 2.1 or a projected 2.1 with no high marks or direct relevance to the subject area. Suitable equivalent qualifications from institutions overseas will be considered.

Intellectual aptitude

Up to 4 marks will be awarded for intellectual aptitude including the potential for oral and written advocacy. Scholarships, publications or prizes, campaigning and mooting are all examples of ways in which such aptitude can be demonstrated.

Law related experience

Up to 4 marks are available for any legal experience other than legal education. Mini pupillages, work for NGO or at a law centre may all count as legal experience.

Life experience

Chambers is keen to attract candidates from beyond the traditional pool of legal recruits and up to 4 marks may be awarded therefore for anyone demonstrating life experiences from which they have acquired skills or insights relevant to the work of a Barrister.

Exceptional factors

Up to 2 marks will be awarded for any additional relevant factors. Details of hardship or illness should be detailed on the application form. The mark may be awarded where a candidate has shown exceptional commitment or endeavour which could not properly be recognised in the scores elsewhere available on the application.

Stage 2
A panel of up to 3 members of Chambers will carry out the first stage interviews. You could expect interviews to last approximately 20 minutes. All candidates will be asked a set of core questions, there may be some additional follow up questions depending on the answers given by the candidate. Once all interviews are completed, a moderation process takes place to identify the top scoring candidates. The number of candidates progressing to second stage interviews will depend on the number of pupillages available. Successful candidates will be informed via the Pupillage Gateway.
Stage 3

Equal opportunities

Nine Chambers is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to diversity. Our policies apply to all members of chambers, staff, pupils and those visiting chambers.

Chambers is committed to the elimination and prevention of discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, ethnic and national origin, class, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or marital status.

Our commitment to equal opportunities and the individual and collective obligation for staff is set out in our employee contracts.

We also comply with the requirements of the Equality Code for the Bar.

Hints & tips

Jaime Hamilton KC has authored a guide for pupils. We have collated his hints and tips together in a PDF which can be accessed via the button below.

Pupillage Tips

“Hopefully this guide is one that will make the pupillage process less bewildering for you. This is all about you being the best barrister you can be, never forget that.”

Jaime Hamilton KC

Jaime Hamilton KC

Pupillage: What are we looking for?

“The main thing that I want all applicants to know, is that Chambers is looking for applicants to demonstrate that they have the required skills to be a successful pupil.”

Amy Smith

Access Award

A commitment to promoting equality and diversity at the Bar as well as taking pro-active steps to support and encourage social mobility are incredibly important to us. We want to encourage as many people as possible, from a variety of different backgrounds, to consider the Bar as a viable career choice. To that end, we are delighted to be able to offer the Nine Chambers Access Award and Nine Chambers Young Person Access Award.

Applications for our Access Awards are now closed.

Pupillage Prospectus

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