Joining chambers
Pupillage
Temple Court Chambers places considerable importance and value on the recruitment and training of future barristers. The Bar is dependant on Chambers and its Pupil Supervisors providing quality training and education to pupils and on ensuring that recruitment and selection procedures ensure that individuals are not only selected on a fair basis taking account of equal opportunities policies, but that training too is fair and adheres to equal opportunities policies. Temple Court Chambers shall endeavour to uphold the ethos of the bar council in the recruitment, selection and training of pupils.
The sections below are quoted from the Chambers Pupillage Policy Document 2023 (updated on 1st September 2022), which is reproduced in full in the download at the foot of this page. Paragraph numbers refer to that document.
Chambers
2.1
Temple Court Chambers, as of the date of this document, consists of 7 members. Two of our members are pupil supervisors.
2.2
Members of chambers are involved in civil matters primarily, ranging from contract, employment, landlord and tenant, personal injury, family, housing and immigration and asylum law.
Equality and diversity
3.1
Temple Court Chambers operates an equal opportunities policy in its selection of pupils. All applicants shall be judged on merit alone. No applicant shall be judged on the basis of race, religion, colour, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or political persuasion.
3.2
In compliance with the Equality Code for the Bar, all applicants will only be accepted if they have gone through Chambers' normal selection procedure.
Pupillages offered and the award
5.1
There will be one award of twelve months pupillage, for 2024/25, which shall be for the minimum as deemed by the Bar Council. There shall be no more than two pupillages per year for the first five years, commencing in the year 2024/25.
5.2
Chambers shall offer third six pupillages.
5.3
Chambers shall pay the pupil monthly in arrears for the duration of the twelve-month pupillage. Such payment shall be made by way of bank transfer.
5.4
In addition to the standard award, Chambers shall pay for all compulsory courses during the twelve-month period.
5.5
All Pupils shall pay Chambers commission at the rate of 10% of the fees received during the second six months, promptly, within one month of the invoice billed to them by chambers. No rent shall be payable during this period.
5.6
In addition to the Chambers award, the Pupil shall be entitled to travel expenses incurred during the course of pupillage, including travel to and from home.
5.7
Chambers shall operate a family friendly policy and in the case of Pupils, this shall include a contribution equal to 25% of any childcare costs involved and time-off for any emergencies and unforeseeable events involving any child or children of the pupil. Chambers shall ensure wherever possible, assistance to the Pupil where a child is involved. Any such time off, shall be deemed to be outside of the twelve month pupillage period.
5.8
All Pupils will be able to make use of Chambers policy in relation to flexible working and parental leave.
Applying
6.1
Chambers shall advertise on the relevant website
6.2
All applicants must complete a standard application form.
Selection procedure
7.1
The Full Pupillage Panel must meet formally, on the seventh working day following the close of receipt of pupillage applications to confirm the procedures to be followed and the number of applications received only. The Panel then shall select at least five from the total number of applicants to call for a first interview. Each panel member shall give a score between 1 and 5 (with 5 being the highest), in respect of each of the following criterion, for each application received:
- Academic ability
- Experience outside the Bar
- Advocacy skills
- Motivation
- Written skills
- Suitability to tenancy
Interviews and offers
7.2
Each of the 5 applicants shall be called to a First Interview by the Pupillage Panel and shall be asked standard questions as determined by the panel. Each answer shall be recorded and be given a score between 1 and 5, (with 5 being the highest). The panel then shall shortlist the three with the highest scores and shall invite them for a final interview.
7.3
At the Second and final interview, each applicant shall be given a written task (the papers for which shall be emailed 7 days before the interview so that the candidate has the papers to hand at least 3 days before the interview) and shall be asked questions on the task at the interview, to be determined by the Panel and given a score between 1 and 5 (with 5 being the highest).
7.4
The Full Panel shall then select the candidate with the highest score at the end of the second round. Where there is a tie, the Panel shall call all candidates involved, to a further interview at which a final determination shall be made.
7.5
All offers shall be in writing containing the details of the award. The offer shall remain open for a period of 14 days. Where an offer is accepted, the Panel shall determine the start date. In the event that an offer is not accepted, the Panel shall offer the pupillage to the person who came second. If the further offer is not accepted, the panel must re-advertise the vacancy.
7.6
All applicants including those shortlisted are provided with a short feedback.
8.1
In the event that an applicant, whether or not is invited for an interview, is dissatisfied with his or her treatment, he or she will be invited to set out the complaint in writing to the Head of Chambers, within 14 days of the notification to the Chambers of a complaint. The Head of Chambers shall consider the complaint with one other member of Chambers, and shall take any action deemed necessary for the resolution of the complaint. This avenue shall be in addition to any provided by the Bar Council.
Mini-pupillage
9.1
Chambers currently offers no mini-pupillages.
Tenancy
15.1
All Pupils shall be offered a tenancy automatically (without the need for a formal application), at the end of the pupillage period, subject to assessment by the Head of Chambers of the suitability of the Pupil. Comments shall be taken from the Pupil Supervisor and/or alternative pupil supervisor if one has been required, and other members of Chambers. The criteria that shall be applied shall be consideration of the fulfilment of the Professional Statement for Barristers including the matters set out at paragraph 10 above. The process shall be completed within final 2 weeks of the pupillage. The only exception shall be where the pupil has significantly underperformed and deemed to have so, by the Pupil Supervisor.
The application form
Chambers' application form is reproduced below in outline, so you can see what it asks before downloading it.
APPLICATION FOR PUPILLAGE 2024/25
- OPEN – 00-01 ON 27TH NOVEMBER 2023
- CLOSING – 23-59 ON 7TH FEBRUARY 2024
ALL 5 SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED
These are the dates printed on the form as supplied. Chambers advertises pupillage on the relevant website (policy 6.1); please contact the clerks to ask about the current round.
Section 1 – Personal details
- Name, address, telephone and email
- Date of birth, nationality and ethnic origin
- Any past contact or connection with Temple Court Chambers — through a mini-pupillage, as an employee, a member, a client or a friend of a client, or in any other way
- Whether you are able to start in October 2024, and if not, when
- Any reasonable adjustments required for an interview or pupillage
Section 2 – Educational qualifications
- All educational qualifications, in chronological order
Section 3 – Employment history
- Your full employment history, in chronological order
Section 4 – References
- Two referees, with names, addresses and email details, who may be contacted to provide a short reference. References may be work or academic related.
Section 5 – Written questions
Please answer each of the following questions, using no more than 1500 words for each answer (Please use ‘Arial’, size 12, with 1.5 spacing):
- Please explain, why you wish to become a Barrister?
- Employee rights are inadequately protected by employment legislation. Discuss.
- How do asylum seekers gain refugee status?
- What does the court have to satisfy itself of, in an application for contact?
Documents
Both documents are published exactly as supplied by Chambers. Completed application forms should be returned to clerks@templecourt.co.uk.
Pupillage Policy
Pupillage Application Form
Please return completed forms to clerks@templecourt.co.uk
Contact our clerks
If you would like to instruct any of our barristers, please contact our clerks in the first instance.
- Address
- 7 Bell Yard
- London
- WC2A 2JR
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 203 475 9952
- Regulator
- Bar Standards Board