Mini-Pupillage at Outer Temple Chambers
We at Outer Temple Chambers are keen to offer aspiring barristers the opportunity of a valuable insight into life at the Bar. We offer mini-pupillages twice a year, in the summer (in partnership with Bridging the Bar) and in the winter, and usually take up to 12 candidates at a time.
During the course of a three-day programme, mini-pupils attend a series of talks given by members of Chambers, participate in an advocacy exercise, and are taken on a walking tour of the Royal Courts of Justice and/or the Temple. The talks are designed to give mini-pupils an insight into Chambers’ core practice areas and into life at the Bar in general. There are also Q&A sessions with our current pupils and most junior members of Chambers who are well placed to explain their recent experience of applying for pupillage through the Pupillage Gateway and to provide an insight into life in Chambers at the junior end.
Quite apart from the information we hope to provide over the course of the three days, we have consistently been told by former mini-pupils that the chance to attend a mini-pupillage as part of a group rather than as an individual is not only valuable but is far more enjoyable than the standard and potentially rather isolating experience provided by a more conventional mini-pupillage.
Applications
The application window for our winter 2023 mini-pupillage is now closed. The next mini-pupillage will run in summer 2024.
Mini-pupils share their experience at Outer Temple Chambers
“Each day was packed with insights as we delved into various areas of law and received invaluable pupillage tips from distinguished members of the chambers. A big thank you to the entire Outer Temple team for making these three days truly insightful.” – Hassan Bukhari (Winter 2023)
“Outer Temple is unique in that it uniquely combines commercial capability with an expertise in the health sector. It is also an early market leader in sanctions-related litigation and advisory work. During most mini-pupillages, students are simply assigned to shadow a Barrister as they conducted a court case. This was far from my experience. What made my time with Outer Temple great was that the team had planned a schedule of talks to help us understand both the legal side of being a Barrister, and the business development side of doing so. What’s more, we had a fantastic social experience undertaking the London Legal Walk.
I’d like to thank the team for giving me such a warm welcome, and I am confident in saying that this has been my most valuable mini-pupillage experience yet. ” – Harry Sun (Summer 2023)
“Thank you to all of the lovely barristers including Carin Hunt, Jeremy Scott-Joynt, Sophie O’Sullivan, Naomi Ling, and Alex Philippe Haines for providing invaluable advice on applications, life as a barrister and for the insight to life in Chambers and its areas of practice. Also a big thank you to Paul Carver for the great tour of the Royal Courts of Justice, Rebecca Priestley for looking after us and James Aldridge for the feedback and tips following the very enjoyable advocacy exercise. Definitely feeling inspired and motivated!” – Sharon Shumbambiri (Summer 2023)
Mini-Pupillage Grant Scheme
Lincoln’s Inn run a scheme to assist students fund mini pupillages. The Mini Pupillage Grant Scheme offers financial assistance to students who have secured a mini pupillage but need additional funds to complete it. The fund is intended to help with the cost of long distance travel, commuting, accommodation and purchasing appropriate professional clothing. The value of each grant is calculated based on the applicant’s anticipated expenses up to a maximum of £500.
Applicants do not need to members of Lincoln’s Inn and must meet certain social mobility based criteria to be eligible for a grant. More details including all of the application criteria and application form can be found on the funding page of their website. Applications are open all year round.
Candidates must have completed at least one year of university education. In selecting candidates for mini pupillage we will take into account the following.
The criteria for mini pupillage are not the same as for pupillage and none of our mini pupillages are assessed or will count towards any pupillage application.
The Lawyer Portal (TLP) is a ‘one stop shop’ for anyone considering a career in law, whatever their stage or background. Whether your interest lies in qualifying as a barrister, chartered legal executive, solicitor or paralegal, you will find this a valuable resource.
Outer Temple Chambers participates in various pupillage fairs throughout the year. Please contact your university’s careers service to find out if we are attending your fair or you can meet us at the Bar Council Pupillage Fair and the Legal Cheek Pupillage Fair.
Chambers is a Disability Confident employer. As users of the disability confident scheme, we encourage applicants with a disability to apply to us for advertised vacancies and we aim to interview all disabled applicants who meet the criteria for the vacancy.
The Disability Confident scheme is operated by the Department of Work and Pensions of the UK government.
If you would like to find out more about our mini-pupillage programmes please contact pupillage@outertemple.com.