Mini-Pupillages
We offer a limited number of mini-pupillages each year to high calibre applicants likely to be strong candidates for pupillage in Chambers.
Mini-pupillage is one of the first practical steps on your journey to becoming a practising barrister. We recognise the importance that a mini-pupillage will play in the decisions you take about the direction of your career. We believe that a mini-pupillage is a very good way to familiarise yourself with us and our work. Many of our mini-pupils subsequently apply for pupillage with us through the OLPAS scheme. Whilst it is beneficial to have undertaken a mini-pupillage in a set of Chambers with construction and engineering work, mini-pupillage in Keating Chambers is not a pre-requisite to an application for a pupillage. Applications for mini-pupillage are very competitive and you should not be dissuaded from applying for pupillage with us if your application for a mini-pupillage is unsuccessful.
Mini-pupils generally spend three days in Chambers. On arrival at Chambers you will be allocated a mini-pupil supervisor who will look after you during your placement. Your mini-pupil supervisor will organise as varied and stimulating an introduction to the work in Chambers as such a snapshot allows. Mini-pupils will be asked to perform tasks for their supervisors including reviewing papers and researching points. Your mini-pupil supervisor will also introduce you to other members of Chambers whom you will observe either at court hearings, in arbitrations or in conference with clients. These members will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Mini-pupillages will be informally assessed. For this purpose, mini-pupils will usually be asked to complete a standard written mini-pupillage exercise and, if practicable, an advocacy exercise during their time in Chambers. This exercise is to provide you with an opportunity to discuss your own work with a member of Chambers and us with an opportunity to identify you as a strong/ promising candidate for pupillage.
Timing of Mini-Pupillages
Our advice is that you are likely to get the most benefit from a mini-pupillage after you have commenced your study of law (undergraduate law or law conversion course). Save in special circumstances we would not expect applications to be made prior to commencement of the second year of a law degree or commencement of the law conversion course.
August is traditionally the quietest time of the year, particularly as regards court work. There are fewer opportunities for a mini-pupil to observe members of Chambers in court or conference. We would therefore advise you to avoid mini-pupillage in August if possible. The application form gives approximate term dates and we advise that you are most likely to benefit from a mini-pupillage in term-time.
Funding of Mini-Pupillages
We will reimburse reasonable expenses supported by receipts. Wherever possible reimbursement will be made before you complete your mini-pupillage.
Application for a Mini-Pupillage
Applications for mini-pupillage should be made on our Application Form for Mini-Pupillage. Applications can be sent to us at any time but will be considered together on the next application assessment date. There are four assessment dates per year, falling on 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December. We respond to every application we receive, but please note that you will not hear back from us until after the next assessment date. This application form must be filled in and returned by email (ebrowne@keatingchambers.com), post or by hand to Elaine Browne, Keating Chambers, 15 Essex Street, London, WC2R 3AA.
Applications will be judged by reference to our Selection Criteria for Pupillage.
Equal Opportunities
Keating Chambers considers applications for mini-pupillage on merit alone. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and all sectors of the community with the ability and determination to succeed as a barrister. We are fully committed to equality and diversity in both recruitment and the provision of services. The mini pupillage selection procedure is operated without discrimination, that is to say without regard to irrelevant considerations such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, religion or belief, or age.
If you are disabled and require any adjustments at any stage of the mini-pupillage process, please inform us and we will try to accommodate your needs.
Chambers participates in the Pegasus Access Scheme.