Avaia Williams – Denying Pupil Barrister Entry

Pupillage is the Bar’s essential ‘apprenticeship’, yet pupil barristers are increasingly being turned away from the very hearings they need to watch in order to qualify. Avaia has recently written about this problem for The Barrister Magazine and discussed how sudden objections, from solicitors, litigants-in-person, opposing counsel or even the court, can derail training, impact confidence and leave lasting knowledge gaps, especially in practice areas where hearings are scarce.

Drawing on survey responses from current pupils, it becomes clear that refusals occur across jurisdictions exposing a profession-wide problem.

The piece highlights a regulatory vacuum: neither the Bar Standards Board, the Bar Council nor the senior judiciary has issued clear guidance on pupil attendance at hearings – a simple rule that recognises pupils as part of a party’s legal team unless a compelling reason for exclusion is given would save court time, reassure clients and protect the integrity of pupillage.

Avaia’s article can be read in full here.