Mini-pupillage

Mini-pupillage at Serle Court is designed to be an enjoyable and useful experience. Our mini-pupils experience 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 offer mini-pupillages in two rounds (in autumn and spring) each year to individuals who have completed the first year of a law degree or at least one term of the GDL or equivalent. Please note that they are heavily oversubscribed.

Those who are intending to apply in the 2025 pupillage cycle for a pupillage starting in October 2026, should note that applications for mini-pupillages during late 2024 and early 2025, in advance of the opening of the Gateway, closed on 30 September 2024. Offers have now been made for visits to Chambers in December 2024 and January 2025.

If you intend to apply for pupillage starting later than October 2026, please submit your application by completing the application form here no later than 31st March 2025.

Successful applicants in the spring round will be invited to the first of our Open Days, to be held on 1 July 2025. The format of the Open Day will be as follows:

• Breakfast in Chambers, meeting some barristers, our Head of People and EDI, and a practice manager
• The morning will be spent shadowing a barrister in their regular working day
• Lunch with members of Chambers
• An advocacy demonstration from members of Chambers
• A closing talk from the Chair of our Pupillage Committee or other senior member

The next autumn round will open on 1 April 2025 and close on 30 September 2025, and successful candidates will receive invitations to Open Days in December 2025 and January 2026, in time for the 2026 Gateway.

We will reimburse the reasonable travel costs of mini-pupils. We will also consider covering accommodation costs for those who would need to travel more than 2 hours each way and could not otherwise afford to come to London. Please state in your application whether you are seeking accommodation costs.

Lincoln's Inn offer a 'Mini-Pupillage Grant Scheme' which gives financial assistance to students who have secured a mini-pupillage but need additional funds to complete it. More details including all of the application criteria and application form can be found here. 

We want you to feel comfortable during your time with us. Please wear a suit if that would be your preference, although many members of chambers do not do so unless they are meeting clients or in court.  Alternatively, smart casual clothes are also acceptable, though we will try to let you know if we can in the event that your supervisor has a conference with a solicitor or a court hearing, in case this affects your choice.

Reserved mini-pupillages

Three of our mini-pupillages in the autumn round are reserved for applicants from groups that are underrepresented 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.

Successful applicants will attend Chambers individually for a whole day at a convenient time between November and January. They will shadow one of our members for the whole day, and meet other members over lunch. Our Head of People and EDI will also spend time with you to discuss the application process ahead, and is happy to review your CV.

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 on the application form that your application is for a reserved mini-pupillage. The application process is in all other respects the same. 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 even if you have previously applied for an unreserved mini-pupillage.

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

Resources

Click here to read our 'Top 10 Pupillage Application Tips'.