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"Serle Court is a friendly, inclusive chambers which welcomes excellent advocates and thinkers from all backgrounds."
Elizabeth Jones KC, Head of Chambers

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.

For those who are intending to apply in the 2024 pupillage cycle for a pupillage starting in October 2025, please submit your application no later than 30 September 2023, i.e. in the autumn round. We will endeavour to offer mini-pupillages to applicants successful in the autumn round during late 2023 and early 2024, before the Pupillage Gateway closes for applications.

If you are intending to apply for pupillage starting later than October 2025, please submit your application in the spring round, no later than 31 March 2024. Mini-pupillages will then be offered to successful applicants in that round in the spring and summer of 2024.

In either case, please submit your application by completing the application form here.

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 have recently launched a 'Mini-Pupillage Grant Scheme' which also offers 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 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.

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.

Reserved mini-pupillages

Three of our mini-pupillages in the autumn round are reserved for applicants from groups that are underrepresented at the bar. 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. Otherwise the application process is the same as above, 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.

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.

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

SerleShareMinis

Serle Court’s newly-launched a pupillage and mini-pupillage SerleShare series called 'SerleShareMinis' - a useful guide for students looking to apply for pupillage. 

The first post in this series is our ‘Top 10 Pupillage Application Tips’. Click to read here.



Latest awards

Lexis Nexis Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Award for Business Development

Lexis Nexis Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Events Programme of the Year

Chambers and Partners Middle East Awards

Middle East-Wide Dispute Resolution: Leading UK Barristers’ Set

Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

The British Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

SHORTLISTED: Set of the Year

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Colleague Supportiveness

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Quality of Work

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Training

Legal 500 UK Bar Awards

Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Chambers UK Bar Awards

Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

Set of the Year

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

GOLD: Best Marketing/BD/PR Team

Lexis Nexis Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Events Programme of the Year

Chambers and Partners Middle East Awards

Middle East-Wide Dispute Resolution: Leading UK Barristers’ Set

Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

The British Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

SHORTLISTED: Set of the Year

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Colleague Supportiveness

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Quality of Work

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Training

Legal 500 UK Bar Awards

Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Chambers UK Bar Awards

Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

Set of the Year

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

GOLD: Best Marketing/BD/PR Team

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

SILVER: Best Social Media Marketing

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Events Programme of the Year

Chambers and Partners Middle East Awards

Middle East-Wide Dispute Resolution: Leading UK Barristers’ Set

Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

The British Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

SHORTLISTED: Set of the Year

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Colleague Supportiveness

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Quality of Work

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Training

Legal 500 UK Bar Awards

Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Chambers UK Bar Awards

Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

Set of the Year

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

GOLD: Best Marketing/BD/PR Team

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

SILVER: Best Social Media Marketing

Citywealth Magic Circle Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Chambers and Partners Middle East Awards

Middle East-Wide Dispute Resolution: Leading UK Barristers’ Set

Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

The British Legal Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Legal 500 Bar Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

SHORTLISTED: Set of the Year

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Colleague Supportiveness

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Quality of Work

Legal Cheek Awards

SHORTLISTED: Best Chambers for Training

Legal 500 UK Bar Awards

Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

Chambers UK Bar Awards

Chancery Set of the Year

Chambers High Net Worth Awards

Set of the Year

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

GOLD: Best Marketing/BD/PR Team

Citywealth Brand Management & Reputation Awards

SILVER: Best Social Media Marketing

Citywealth Magic Circle Awards

SHORTLISTED: Chambers of the Year

British Wills and Probate Awards

Highly Commended: Best Contentious Wills and Probate Team