Pupillage

Pupillages Commencing October 2024

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:

“Parklane Plowden Chambers is regarded amongst lawyers and legal commentators as the pre-eminent set on the North Eastern Circuit”

“They are a very forward thinking set…evidenced by its unique structure that embraces modern business practices”

“…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.”

“…the clerking is excellent”

“Outstanding and by the far best in the North of England”

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.

Within Chambers, we have the following core teams:

  • Civil: Personal Injury, Clinical and Professional Negligence, Inquests, Industrial Disease, Civil Fraud, Insurance, Costs
  • Employment
  • Family
  • Commercial and Chancery

Pupillages Opportunities for 2024-5

During the current Pupillage Gateway process, we are pleased to confirm we intend to recruit 4 pupils for the following specialist pupillages:

  • Civil & Employment Pupillage based in Leeds;
  • Civil & Employment Pupillage based in Newcastle;
  • Family Pupillage based in Leeds;
  • Family Pupillage based in Newcastle;

A Civil & Employment Pupillage will involve exposure primarily to personal injury, clinical negligence and employment work, with opportunities to experience some of our other civil practice areas too. We will seek to adapt the pupillages according to the interests of the pupil and having regard to Chambers’ work at the time.

A Family Pupillage will involve exposure to all aspects of family law including public and private child work, applications under Part IV Family Law Act 1996, matrimonial finance, financial provision for children under Schedule 1, 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, the Official Solicitor, as well as private clients.

Equality and Diversity

Chambers is committed to equal opportunities for all, no matter what their background, and to promoting and improving diversity at the Bar. We particularly encourage applications from those in underrepresented groups and those with disabilities.

Further details can be found, in relation to:

  • Equality and Diversity generally: here
  • CSR and Outreach: here
  • The PLP Foundation: here

Candidates are requested not to put their names on their application forms so that they can be sifted anonymously to reduce the possibility of any unconscious bias.

We monitor diversity by way of our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Forms which candidates are invited to also complete with their applications. These forms are used only for monitoring purposes, they are kept separate from the application forms and are not used as part of the selection process.

We are proud of our Mini Pupillage Equality Scheme which provides additional opportunities for candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds and aims to promote and enhance diversity at the Bar, as well as within Chambers. Further details can be found on the mini pupillage page.

Chambers is a supporter and partner of Bridging the Bar: https://bridgingthebar.org/

How to Apply

It is mandatory for all chambers to follow the Pupillage Gateway timetable.

Applications need to be made on the relevant Application Form which will be available here prior to the applications window opening:

The applications window runs from 10am on Wednesday 4th January 2023 to 11:59 pm on Wednesday 8th February 2023. All applications must be received during this period.

The relevant Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form should be sent as separate attachments to the appropriate address below:

Interviews

For Civil & Employment Pupillages, first round interviews are likely to be held in person in March 2023. Second round interviews are likely to be held in Leeds or Newcastle in April 2023.

For Family Pupillages, first round interviews are likely to be held in person in March 2023. Second round interviews are likely to be held in Leeds or Newcastle in April 2023.

Pupillage Awards

All of our pupillages are funded by an overall package worth at least £30,000 over the 12 months made up as follows:

  • An award of £12,500 for the first six months to be paid pro rata at the end of each month;
  • Guaranteed receipts of at least £17,500 for the second six months.  

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

Chambers will pay for each pupil’s reasonable travel and accommodation expenses incurred during the course of pupillage when accompanying members of Chambers, the cost of all compulsory training courses and travel expenses to attend such courses and the costs of attending Mess on Circuit. At the start of the first six months, Chambers will provide each pupil with an advance to cover anticipated expenses in the month ahead.

Selection Criteria

We will be looking to recruit exceptional candidates who are able to demonstrate high level competencies and attributes in a number of different areas.

Our Pupillage Selection Criteria, which we encourage candidates to have regard to when completing their forms, can be found here along with details of how we propose to assess those competencies during the selection process.