'At Serle Court we regard the recruitment and training of able pupils as vital to maintaining our position as a leading chancery commercial set.' Philip Jones QC, Pupillage Committee Chair
The following provides details of our funded pupillages, if you are interested in applying for an unfunded pupillage please click here.
We believe that a pupillage at Serle Court provides the best possible foundation for commercial and chancery practice: 12 months spent working with leaders in the field on cases across the spectrum of business law, in a warm and supportive environment, with a real prospect of tenancy.
Each pupil is assigned to 4 supervisors, each with a different area of practice, in the course of the year. Pupils spend the whole of the 12 month period of pupillage shadowing members of chambers, rather than taking on work in their own name, to ensure they are as well qualified for starting in practice as soon as possible. Although pupils do not get an opportunity to practice advocacy in court, we ensure that advocacy exercises, conducted in front of a senior member of chambers, and other assessments designed to improve practical skills, take place. Supervisors provide frequent feedback and monitor their pupils’ progress to ensure that the work they are given fulfils their training needs.
We strive to make pupils feel a part of chambers from the time that they accept their offers of pupillage. They are invited to chambers events, both formal and informal, and encouraged to get to know both members and staff.
We recruit two pupils a year with a view to offering both tenancy if they are good enough.8 of our last 13 pupils have stayed on as tenants; of the others, those that wished to practice at the Bar are successful tenants elsewhere.
Our recruitment process and the remuneration package we offer are intended to ensure that we attract the best pupils in each year. Our application closing date is early so that offers are made by the middle of March by the latest, to avoid any clash with examinations. We welcome applications from non-law graduates and our application form and interviews are intended to ensure that neither they, nor women, those from ethnic minorities, disabled persons or those under represented in the legal sector are disadvantaged. We are wholeheartedly committed to the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Code.
The pupillage award for those commencing pupillage in 2013 will be £60,000, £20,000 of which may be drawn down in the BPTC year. New tenants pay no rent in their first year of practice and no chambers expenses until their earnings exceed £50,000 per annum. They also have the benefit of an income guarantee of £120,000 over the first two years of practice to assist with cash flow.
We look for potential: We invite applications from those committed to a career in commercial or chancery practice with outstanding analytical ability, sound judgment, the potential to become excellent advocates and a capacity to establish and maintain good relationships with clients. We generally require a degree classification of a good 2:1 as a minimum.
We encourage those interested in applying for pupillage with us to spend a one day mini-pupillage so that they can see what chambers is like for themselves. Mini-pupillages are not assessed and so those unable to spend a mini-pupillage with us are at no disadvantage in applying for pupillage.
If you have any queries that are not answered in the newsletter or application form that you can download, please do not hesitate to call us or email us on pupillage@serlecourt.co.uk. To view our pupillage newsletter click here.
Serle Court is not a member of OLPAS.
The deadline for applications for pupillage commencing in October 2013 is 12 noon on 6th February 2012. Applications should be made on a chambers' application form and not through OLPAS. Completed forms should be sent either to the Pupillage Secretary in an envelope marked ‘Pupillage Application Form’, or by email to pupillage@serlecourt.co.uk’. References may also be sent by email to pupillage@serlecourt.co.uk or by post.
