Pupillage

We offer common law pupillages and our pupils are able to gain experience in a wide range of disciplines

Our pupillage

We want to attract candidates who have a good academic record, strong interpersonal skills, an ability to work very hard and can demonstrate their commitment to a career at the bar and with Cornwall Street Barristers. A full person specification for pupils can be downloaded together with Cornwall Street Barristers’ Pupillage Policy which give full details of our recruitment process and selection criteria. The policy also sets out what you can expect during the pupillage year.

We advertise pupillages at www.pupillagegateway.com and under the “How To Apply” section of this page where details of pupillages currently available can be found.

Selected applicants will be invited to an interview/assessment on a date to be confirmed.

Cornwall Street Barristers operates an equal opportunities policy and adheres to the Equality and Diversity Code for the Bar to ensure the equal treatment of pupils and tenants, regardless of gender, physical disability, age, race or sexual orientation.

Probationary Tenancy / Third six pupillage

In addition to recruitment through 12 month pupillages, we occasionally look to recruit probationary tenants (or third six pupils) when there is a business need for more junior tenants in one or more of our practice areas but we welcome speculative applications. When considering applications for third six pupils we do so with a view of offering the right candidate tenancy at the end of their six months.

If we find there is a business need to recruit a third six then we will advertise the position on the Bar Council website, on our own website and may advertise in Counsel Magazine or other publications.

If you would like to apply for a probationary tenancy or third six, then we would welcome an initial, confidential discussion with you and would invite you to contact our Senior Practice Manager, Matt Fleming to discuss your position.

All applications should be made in writing by emailing you CV and covering letter to our Senior Practice Manager, Matt Fleming, at m.fleming@cornwallstreet.co.uk

 

Applications for pupillage starting in October 2025

We are delighted to announce that we will soon be accepting applications for pupillage starting in October 2025.

Cornwall Street Barristers is seeking to recruit four pupils: two in Birmingham, one in Oxford and one in Maidstone.

Applications are being accepted from 11:00am on 02 January 2025 and should be made by way of sending your completed application form and diversity monitoring questionnaire to the specific e-mail address for the location you are applying for. The application window closes 11:59pm on 06 February 2025.

Applications for more than one location are welcome but you must send your completed application form and diversity monitoring questionnaire to each location address you are applying for on a separate e-mail.

The successful candidates will undertake a common law pupillage and be exposed to the full range of work undertaken by chambers.

The level of award for pupils is £32,000 split equally between the non-practising period of pupillage and minimum guaranteed earnings during practising period of pupillage.

During the application process, we look for those who can demonstrate:

• A high level of academic ability, generally 2:1 or above but a 2:2 would be considered from candidates who candemonstrate extenuating circumstances.

• Impressive written and oral communication skills.

• A genuine desire and determination to work as a Barrister.

• An understanding of the challenges of developing a practice at the Bar.

• An ability to work both alone under pressure and to contribute to a team.

Applications should be made by application form and submitted no later than the deadline above along with the diversity monitoring questionnaire to:

Note: if sending an email to more than one of the below, please send a separate email to each. Sending one email to multiple addresses may cause the email to be rejected by security filters.

For Birmingham – birminghampupillage@cornwallstreet.co.uk

For Oxford – oxfordpupillage@cornwallstreet.co.uk

For Maidstone – maidstonepupillage@cornwallstreet.co.uk

How to Apply

Application form available soon