We view mini pupillage as an important opportunity for students to gain invaluable work experience within a busy established set of Chambers. Mini pupillage can provide an excellent insight into whether the Bar as a career or our specialist practice areas are those to which applicants could aspire.
Chambers recruits a maximum of one mini pupil per week. Mini pupils will spend up to five days with members of Chambers and ordinarily will go to Hull Magistrates Court or Hull Crown Court with criminal practitioners. The hours are around 9.30am – 4pm although we are happy to accommodate mini pupils on a flexible basis – e.g half days or shorter working hours as we understand that many people have family or academic commitments. Mini pupils observe hearings and trials, sit in on conferences, listen to negotiations and read case papers.
Mini pupils must not, under any circumstances, offer any advice to any person. In addition, mini pupils must not express any opinion either in court, during conferences, or during negotiations, unless asked by Counsel.
Mini pupils are not expected to travel outside Hull to different Court centres. Mini pupils are not offered financial support to cover subsistence or travel expenses.
We ask mini pupils to sign a confidentiality statement upon arrival at Chambers on their first day. We ask mini pupils to wear a dark business suit appropriate for Court.
We ask mini pupils to attend reception in Chambers at 9.30am on the first day where they will be allocated to a barrister.
We are a prominent and progressive set on the North Eastern Circuit.
Chambers is located in very close proximity to the courts and law firms in Hull City Centre. We have strong links with the legal community on the south bank of the Humber in Grimsby and Scunthorpe and receive instructions from clients outside of the Humberside area.
Chambers has an experienced and knowledgeable clerking team managing a varied caseload in all disciplines that continues to increase in both volume and complexity. The opportunity for practice development throughout your career to judicial appointment is well established over a period approaching 60 years of advocacy for the Humber legal community. The strength of chambers and exceptional abilities of its members continues as recently endorsed by the Legal 500.
PUPILLAGE
We are again seeking to recruit pupils to join our exceptionally busy team.
During pupillage you will be allocated one pupil supervisor with the opportunity to spend time with other members of chambers in various different practice areas. We make every effort to tailor pupillage to the specific interests of the pupil, however with a focus on ensuring that you have experience of all areas of law. We recruit pupils with a view to tenancy. If you are taken on at the end of your pupillage, you can expect a dynamic and busy practice alongside continued support from your supervisor and all members of chambers and staff.
The fixed minimum pupillage award set by the Bar Council applies. Applications will be considered in line with the Bar Council Pupillage Gateway Platform timetable where details of vacancies will be published.
Applicants are considered on merit and are assessed on a first come first served basis throughout the year. Due to the limited number of places we expect that applicants will have completed at least their second year of a law degree or they are undertaking the graduate diploma in law.
We invite applicants to send a covering letter and an up to date CV marked ‘Mini pupillage’ to Wilberforce Barristers, 7-9 Bishop Lane, Kingston upon Hull HU1 1PA or by email directly to the mini pupillage officer Michael Forrest mforrest@hullbar.co.uk. We endeavour to respond to all applications within 14 days but during busy periods it may be longer. The mini pupillage officer will contact you by email suggesting convenient dates. It may not always be possible to re arrange the date of a mini pupillage once agreed.
Chambers does not discriminate directly or indirectly on grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, religion or political persuasion.
All successful applicants will be able to demonstrate a high level of academic ability, excellent communication skills, an aptitude for a potential career at the Bar, experience in advocacy through mooting or debating, an interest in the law and our areas of specialism.
We do not assess mini pupils for future recruitment. Records of applications will be kept for no more than six months and will be securely destroyed thereafter.
If you would like more information about our pupilage program or have questions you’d like answered please contact us. We are happy to help.
Applications from established practitioners to join our prominent, highly respected and friendly set are always welcome.
As the leading set in Hull the benefits of joining us are:
All such applications will be considered on merit alone and treated in the strictest confidence.
If you would like an informal chat before applying, please contact Gavin Button, Head of Chambers, who will be more than happy to discuss the matter with you.
Formal applications, comprising a covering letter and CV, should be made in writing to the Senior Clerk, Wayne Stevens and marked ‘Private and Confidential’.
Contact
Wilberforce Chambers
7-9 Bishop Lane
Kingston Upon Hull
HU1 1PA
