Pupillage

Investing in
your future

We are a multi-award winning, multi-disciplinary, modern set with offices in Birmingham and Leeds. We have six core practice groups: Business and Property, Crime, Employment, Family, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence and Regulatory. All of our practice groups are ranked in the legal directories and we feature in the top ten of Chambers & Partners’ league table of set rankings.

In 2019/20 we are
recruiting specialist pupils in:

  • Business and Property 1
  • Crime 1
  • Employment 1
  • Personal Injury 1
  • Family 2

We will meet the costs of the courses which are compulsory during Pupillage. Upon the satisfactory completion of the first six months, we provide you with your own copy of one substantial practice text for your specialist area such as: Archbold; Civil Procedure Rules (“The White Book”), or the Family Court Practice (“The Red Book”).

What our former
pupils say

“There is an emphasis on finding your own voice and making the most from what you’ve been taught to practical advice and professional and
lay clients.”

“Everyone wants you to do well and you will be given every opportunity to show that you’re up to it.”

“Criticism is constructive and praise is genuine”

What to
expect

Our 12-month pupillage offers a blend of education, encouragement and independence, designed to be both stimulating and enjoyable. During your first six months, your pupil supervisor will make sure that you experience different areas of law and the contrasting styles of our members. You will attend court and conferences with members, be involved in legal research, and collaborate on cases in a tailored program designed to build your knowledge and experience. During your second six you will be able to do your own advisory and advocacy work in order to gain invaluable experience in the courts and learn the skills that will allow you to build a successful practice as one of our tenants.

With all St Philips’ practice groups, we only offer a pupillage if tenancy is available at the end of it, and we will do everything we can to support you to get there. Despite our size, we are a friendly and approachable team, always making time to support more junior barristers, especially pupils and junior tenants. You will find help and advice freely available from members at all levels of seniority, as you find your feet and continuing through tenancy as you develop your own practice.

We take great care in the selection of our pupils and are looking not only for intellectual ability and advocacy potential but also mental stamina and good judgment. If you have these qualities, then we welcome your application whatever your background.

Key dates

15 Jan
2019 opening date for pupilage applications

Complete application form

15 Apr
2019 entry deadline for pulilage applications

Return application form to Juliette Print, Head of HR and Administration, St Philips Chambers, 55 Temple Row, Birmingham B2 5LS or by e-mail to: pupillage@st-philips.com

22 Apr
2019 entry: Acknowledgement of receipt of application form

We will acknowledge receipt of your application; usually within a week.

27 Apr
Selection for Interview

We will be running three Pre-interview selection evenings in Chambers which will take place on Tuesday 27th April, Wednesday 28th April and Thursday 29th April 2019.

01 May
2019 Interview Stage

Interviews will take place on Saturday 1st May 2019 at St Philips Chambers in Birmingham.

03 May
Offers of pupillage

Offers of Pupillage will be made in line with the Pupillage Gateway timetable for 2019 from the 3rd May.