Mini-pupillage

Mini-pupillage at Serle Court is designed to be enjoyable and useful. Our mini-pupils witness various aspects of life as a practising barrister and gain first-hand experience of our informal and friendly atmosphere. Mini-pupillages last for one day and are unfunded, but we will reimburse your expenses in attending. Mini-pupillages are not formally assessed, and are not a requirement for an application for pupillage, though prospective pupils are of course welcome to apply.

We reserve 3 mini-pupillages for applicants from groups that are under-represented at the Bar. Recipients of reserved mini-pupillages will be guaranteed a first-round interview should they apply for pupillage in the recruitment cycle immediately following their mini-pupillage offer. 

You are eligible to apply for a reserved mini-pupillage if the majority of your secondary (post 11) education was not at a fee-paying school and:

• You are black, or of mixed black heritage; or
• Neither of your parents went to university; or
• You are currently in receipt of state benefits other than child benefit, or the income in your household for at least 3 years of your secondary education came from or was materially supplemented by state benefits other than child benefit; or
• You are currently classified as having no recourse to public funds, or your household for at least 3 years of your secondary education was classified as having no recourse to public funds (with ‘no recourse to public funds’ bearing the meaning set out in s.115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999); or
• You were ever eligible for free school meals; or
• You have been in care; or
• You have caring responsibilities or had caring responsibilities at any time during your secondary education or while you were at university; or
• You have refugee status.

You must indicate in your covering letter or email that your application is for a reserved mini-pupillage and you must use the application form. You will be considered for an unreserved mini-pupillage even if you do not secure a reserved mini-pupillage. You may apply for a reserved mini-pupillage whether or not you have ever applied for an unreserved mini-pupillage.

If you need further assistance, do call us or email pupillage@serlecourt.co.uk.

We particularly encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+, people from ethnic minority communities, and disabled candidates as well as candidates from other underrepresented groups in the legal sector.