Applications for Pupillage at 7BR are now open

The window to apply for Pupillage at 7BR is now open on the Pupillage Gateway, closing on 8 February 2023.

Rachel Langdale KC, Head of Chambers says: “7BR is a great fit for versatile lawyers who relish the challenge presented by practising in a multi-disciplinary set. We offer excellent opportunities to develop advocacy skills, and we suit those who are committed to equal access to justice for all and equity in the profession. I wish all aspiring barristers the very best of luck in the 2023 round and hope that whatever the outcome, participating in the process will be both rewarding and informative.”

For those who were unable to attend our virtual Pupillage Open Evening last year, 7BR are a multi-disciplinary set of Chambers offering varied and interesting training, with plenty of court advocacy, legal analysis, and opportunities for working with others. Pupils develop the core skills necessary for a career at the Bar and benefit from the wide range of work available in chambers.

Pupillage applications are anonymised, and university names are removed when selecting for an interview. Chambers looks for strong academic achievement, life experience, and empathy. Work experience, which may include mini-pupillages, pro bono, and/or paid work, is desirable. 7BR readily appreciates that unpaid legal work experience is not an option for everyone and believes that many different experiences can help prepare candidates for a career at the Bar.

When applying, we recommend you consider the following:

• Ensure your application is evidence-based: do not use lots of superlatives, but instead demonstrate that you have the skills needed to do the job of a barrister.

• Don’t try to be the ‘typical pupillage candidate’, whatever you think that looks like; think about what you have done, and the experiences you’ve had that will make you a good barrister. Focus on your qualifications and credentials, using a little life experience to give flavour (within reason).

• Any application should focus on quality over quantity, so try to keep your application succinct and punchy.

• Do your research on every set you apply to; tailor each application, as much as you can, to the specific chambers to which you are applying.

• Answer the question that is being asked (try to avoid copying and pasting your answers).

• Review 7BR’s pupillage application mark scheme available on the Pupillage Gateway website; use this to inform your answers.

Chambers selects 60 candidates for the first-round interview and 12 candidates for the final interview. There is a legal problem both within the initial paper application and for the first-round interview. Candidates should research this thoroughly. Your legal analysis and ability to argue will be tested in the interview.

7BR pupils sit with a civil barrister in their first four months and a criminal barrister in their next four months when they begin to appear in courts across the country. In the last four months, we endeavour to find a pupil supervisor in a practice area chosen by the pupil.

In selecting pupils for tenancy, Chambers decides solely on merit – the availability of work is not a factor.

Potential applicants might also be interested to know that Chambers has been shortlisted in five awards for having the best training, quality of work, colleague supportiveness, facilities, and legal technology, in the Legal Cheek 2023 Awards.

We are looking forward to receiving applications. If you have any questions about Pupillage at 7BR, please contact us at pupillage@7br.co.uk.

To gain an understanding of what pupillage is like at a leading multi-disciplinary set, have a read of Jasmine Leng’s interview with Legal Cheek, which provides an accurate and compelling view of life and practice in Chambers across the seniority spectrum, as well as information on Chambers’ Pupillage framework.

The Pupillage Gateway can be found here.

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