Pupillage

Why Radcliffe Chambers?

Described by the Legal 500 as “a go-to set” for traditional chancery and commercial work. Radcliffe Chambers is a modern set of chambers based in Lincoln’s Inn. We have 55 barristers, including five QCs, with many recommendations in the current editions of Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 directories. We have won Chambers of the Year 2016 at the recent STEP Private Client Awards and Chambers of the Year 2016 at the British Legal Awards, and the Halsbury Legal Awards; and we have been shortlisted by Legal 500 UK for Private Client Set of the Year. The achievements of individual members have been recognised in recent years in the STEP Private Client Awards, The Lawyer Awards and The Lawyer’s Hot 100.

Our members undertake a wide range of traditional chancery and commercial work and we aim to give our pupils as much exposure to our different practice areas as possible. During your pupillage, you will sit with four different supervisors across different practice areas and you will also work with a number of other members, assisting them with their cases. From attending court with our QCs to writing opinions and drafting documents in a wide range of matters, you will experience the full spectrum of life at the Chancery Bar.

We also have a long-established reputation as a friendly and welcoming Chambers, and while we expect your work to be of the highest quality, members are always willing to share the benefit of their legal knowledge and experience.

Chambers tea is held every afternoon and pupils are encouraged to attend this to get to know Members of Chambers better. After a long day in court our junior members are often on hand for a chat or a drink to unwind.

Our pupillage

Unlike most other chambers, Radcliffe Chambers has for many years operated a “Super Pupil” policy. We have grown considerably in recent years and as a result of this growth we have decided to offer up to two funded pupillages for the pupillage year beginning October 2018, with a view to offering tenancies to both pupils at the end of the year if circumstances permit.

Our pupils are encouraged to gain as much advocacy experience as possible during their second six. In recent years, our second six pupils have been able to undertake a significant amount of their own court work.

Our selection criteria

We are looking for applicants who can demonstrate the following:

A strong academic record. You should possess at least a good 2:1 degree (although this does not need to be in law) and should highlight any awards or prizes you may have obtained.
Evidence of legal experience (such as mini-pupillages, marshalling and other legal work experience).
Experience and achievements in oral advocacy (particularly legal advocacy including mooting).
Strong and convincing reasons for applying for pupillage, and in particular for wishing to join Radcliffe Chambers.

Recruitment process and timescales

Please note that our pupillage application timetable has recently changed and the deadline for applications for the pupillage year commencing October 2018 is 6th January 2017.

Our recruitment process is in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct and the Equality and Diversity Code for the Bar.

Applications must be made by CV with a covering letter addressed to our Pupillage Committee by email at pupillage@radcliffechambers.com or by post to Pupillage Committee, Radcliffe Chambers, 11 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London, WC2A 3QB. The covering letter should briefly address the selection criteria set out above, and should be a maximum of two sides of A4 in length.

We will prepare a shortlist of candidates based on the above selection criteria. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a first round interview, which will take place in the week commencing 23rd January.

Second round interviews will then take place in the week commencing 6th February, and we aim to inform the successful applicant by close of business on 17th February.

The Pupillage Committee is, unfortunately, unable to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Awards and training

We pride ourselves on the training we give our pupils, under the supervision of experienced and successful practitioners.

For the pupillage year commencing October 2018, we will offer up to two 12-month pupillages, each of which carries a pupillage award of £60,000, plus any earnings generated during the second six months of pupillage, when you should expect to be undertaking your own caseload as well as completing your pupillage training. We are willing to consider any request for part of the pupillage award to be drawn down during the BPTC year.

Chambers also pays for all training courses required during pupillage including the advocacy courses, the Advice to Counsel course and the Forensic Accounting course.