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Selection Process

Selection of candidates for first interview

In deciding whether to invite you to interview, we mark your Pupillage Portal application in accordance with the following scheme:

(a) School qualifications

Points will be awarded to reflect A level grades. Additional marks will be awarded for each Merit or Distinction gained in an Advanced Extension Award. For candidates whose qualifications are other than A Levels (e.g. Scottish Highers, BTEC, International Baccalaureate), marks will be based on the published UCAS tariff so that a fair, equivalent mark can be given.

(b) University qualifications

Save in exceptional circumstances, a minimum upper second class honours degree is required, irrespective of the discipline or educational establishment awarding the degree. Additional points are awarded for a first class honours degree or postgraduate qualifications (not including a law conversion course or the BPTC), university academic awards, scholarships or prizes.  Any exceptional circumstances  explaining why your degree fell short of our minimum standard must be set out on your Pupillage Portal application form and independently verifiable.

(c) Work experience

Most of our applicants apply while still in full time education and may only have experienced “student jobs.” We bear this in mind when considering work experience. We will also take into account any personal circumstances you mention which may have made it difficult for you to obtain work experience. Whatever your work experience, paid or voluntary, we want to know whether it has helped you to prepare for life at the Bar. In addition to non-legal work experience, we are looking for evidence that you have shown a real interest in a career at the Bar. We will expect you to have done some research and to have undertaken one or two mini-pupillages -we do not expect pupils to have collected a string of them. There are many other ways of gathering relevant experience, whether through working for the FRU, CAB, a student or community advisory service, or simply from observing what goes on in your local Crown or County Court.

(d) Life experience

We would like you to tell us about your non-work activities, achievements and those experiences which could identify you as a potentially outstanding advocate. We are interested in pursuits which demonstrate qualities such as self reliance, initiative, motivation, imagination, strength of character, organisation or leadership.

(e) Potential as an advocate

We are looking for evidence of an ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, whether developed at school, university, work or otherwise. We are interested not just in traditional activities such as debating and mooting, but in any experience which demonstrates the above skills, such as acting, broadcasting, journalism, heading a fund-raising or political campaign or acting as a student representative.

(f) Presentation

Up to five points will be awarded for the way in which you present yourself in your application form and for addressing the areas covered in the form in a focused, succinct and persuasive way.

(g) Other special features

We will take into account other exceptional features, not specifically covered in the marking scheme above, such as a unique personal achievement or success in overcoming a particular difficulty. We may award further marks under this category because the marking scheme above did not allow full recognition of outstanding academic or other distinction or contribution to the community.

(h) The Chambers' Set question.

There is a Chambers'-specific question for you to answer as part of your application. This is a legal question which will require some research and preparation. This is an important part of the application process. Applications where an answer to the question has not been attempted will not be considered further. Marks will be awarded for both the legal content and the clarity and conciseness of the answer given.

At least two members of Chambers independently mark each application. The results are then moderated to ensure consistency of marking. The 60 or so top candidates judged by these criteria will then be invited to interview.

FIRST ROUND INTERVIEWS.

These will take place on Saturday 30th June 2012. They are conducted by two members of Chambers, and last no more than 20 minutes.

PLEASE NOTE THAT, GIVEN THE COURT COMMITMENTS OF MEMBERS OF CHAMBERS WHO ARE INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS OTHER THAN ON 25TH JUNE 2011. A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF FIRST ROUND INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE SATURDAY, ALLOCATED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

Before the interview we will send you a legal problem. You will be asked to prepare a short written answer to the problem and send it into chambers a few days before the interviews. The question and your answer will be discussed. We are not looking for legal perfection but for people who can analyse a problem, marshal a cogent, reasoned argument and present a case attractively and persuasively, both orally and in writing. You will also be asked questions about the information you have provided on your Pupillage Portal application form.

You will be marked on the following:

  • - Ability to communicate clearly and fluently
  • - Ability to identify essential issues
  • - Ability to present an argument persuasively
  • - Evidence of initiative and independence of mind.

From the first round of interviews, the ten candidates scoring highest under the above criteria will be invited for a final interview. You will be informed of the outcome of the first interview within seven days.

FINAL INTERVIEWS.

The final interviews this year will take place on Saturday 9th July 2011. That is the only date upon which the interviewing panel can meet, so no other final interview date will be available. Your interviewing panel will comprise about six to eight members of Chambers drawn from different practice areas and levels of seniority. The final interview will last approximately twenty minutes. We ask candidates to arrive about 20 minutes before the interview. On arrival you will be given a topical issue, often raising an ethical or moral problem, and asked to present one side of the argument to the panel. This exercise will not require any legal knowledge; it is designed solely to test your ability as a persuasive advocate and to “think on your feet”. The same marking criteria will be used as in the first interview, with the marks adapted to reflect the lack of a written element at this stage. Marks from the first interview are not carried forward.

Formal offers of pupillage will be made in accordance with the Pupillage Portal timetable once the final interviews have been completed.