News
Pupillage Applications Now Open for 2019
4 January 2018

Pupillage Applications Now Open for 2019

Chambers’ reputation as the leading set in the North East across its core practice areas is consistently recognised by the legal press including Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, the latter commenting:

“Parklane Plowden is a regional heavyweight set which has a growing national reputation. It has ‘exceptional litigators' and ‘genuine strength in depth'. As one of the largest civil law sets in the region, it is strong across a range of practice areas…”.

"All of the barristers have been nothing but professional, warm and friendly," comments one satisfied client.”

One of the reasons for our exceptional reputation and strength in depth is investment in our pupils and junior tenants. We firmly believe that by recruiting high quality pupils and providing high quality pupillages, Chambers will continue to thrive. We have a very strong tradition of offering tenancies to pupils who demonstrate the requisite level of ability and dedication and many of our senior practitioners were themselves pupils in Chambers.

A civil pupillage is likely to mean exposure to our core areas of work, primarily personal injury, clinical negligence and employment. Pupils are also likely to experience some commercial, insurance, general civil and costs work.

A family pupillage is likely to mean exposure to all aspects of family law including public and private child work, matrimonial law & finance including divorce and ancillary relief, cohabitation disputes and Inheritance Act applications as well as to our expanding area of practice within the Court of Protection. Members of Chambers regularly represent local authorities, parents, children’s guardians, CAFCASS Legal, the Official Solicitor as well as private clients.

We are looking to recruit exceptional candidates who are able to demonstrate high level competencies and attributes in a number of different areas, including:

  • Academic Background: we generally expect candidates to have, or be predicted, at least a 2:1 university degree, although we will consider all applications on their merits, particularly if there are exceptional circumstances;
  • Oral advocacy/communication skills;
  • Written communication skills;
  • Interpersonal skills;
  • Analytical thinking;
  • Drive and determination;
  • Sound judgment;
  • Resilience and the ability to work under pressure;
  • Dedication to our core practice areas.

Pupillage Vacancies

For pupillage starting October 2019, we are likely to offer:

  • two 12-month Civil Pupillages, one based in Leeds, one based in Newcastle;
  • one 12-month Family Pupillage, based primarily in Leeds although some time will be spent in Newcastle.
Civil Pupillage Commencing October 19

Applications must be made by completing our application form:

Application for Civil Pupillage

It would be of great assistance if you could also complete the separate Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This is used for monitoring purposes only and is not used as part of the selection process.

PDF Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Please send both your Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form as separate attachments to pupillagecivil@parklaneplowden.co.uk with “Civil Pupillage Application” in the subject line.

The application must be received by noon on Sunday 11th February 2018.

First round interviews are likely to be held in Leeds or Newcastle on 10th or 24th March 2018.

Second round interviews are likely to be held in Leeds or Newcastle on 24th March or 7th April 2018.

Family Pupillage Commencing October 19

Applications must be made by completing our application form:

Application for Family Pupillage 

It would be of great assistance if you could also complete the separate Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This is used for monitoring purposes only and is not used as part of the selection process.

PDF Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Please send both your Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form as separate attachments to pupillagefamily@parklaneplowden.co.uk with “Family Pupillage Application” in the subject line.

The application must be received by noon on Sunday 11th February 2018.

First round interviews are likely to be held in Leeds on a Saturday in March (date to be confirmed).

Second round interviews are likely to be held in Leeds on a Saturday in late March or April (dates will be confirmed in 2018)

Pupillage Awards

All of our pupillages are funded by an overall package worth at least £20,000 over the 12 months made up as follows:

  • An award of £8,000 for the first six months to be paid pro rata at the end of each month;
  • Guaranteed receipts of at least £12,000 for the second six months.

In fact, we expect our pupils to generate income significantly in excess of this in their 2nd six. Based on experience, we anticipate billing in the first full year of fee generating practice to exceed £50,000.