Please note: all applications are rendered anonymous before the process of selection for interview. Chambers takes its duties under GDPR seriously and will safeguard your personal information at all times.
Pupillage is traditionally split into four three month segments to expose our Pupils to all areas and aspects of our core work. You will be exposed to a wide range of Criminal and Civil work and we also provide regular advocacy exercises throughout your twelve months.
We welcome applications from anyone who is keen to develop a practice on the South coast in any of the key areas in which we practise.
The application process is designed to assess the following: Intellectual Ability, Analytical Thinking, Effective Communication, Influencing/Advocacy Skills, Resilience, Interpersonal Skills, Drive and Determination, Motivation and the Ability to Work Independently. See this link for further information.
There are three stages to obtaining a pupillage at 12CP Barristers: the initial Paper Sift, First Round interview (usually online) and Second Round interview.
Every application received is considered by at least three members of Chambers. Each section in every application is marked by all three members of Chambers. We read and grade each application against four separate named criteria. The maximum for each category is 5 marks. Those invited for interview will usually have scored 16 or more out of 20. The criteria are:
1) Intellectual Ability/ Academic qualifications and qualities,
2) Other qualifications and experience,
3) Aptitude, effective communication and presentation, and
4) Drive, determination and suitability for practice at 12CP.
First Round Interviews
Those invited for interview (held over Teams™ so that applicants need not spend their money on travel unnecessarily) are assessed against four criteria. The interview will last between 10 and 15 minutes. Again, marking is out of 5 for each one. The criteria are:
1) Motivation and Resilience
2) Experience and knowledge
3) Reasoning and delivery, and
4) Ability to work independently and suitability for practice at 12CP.
Second Round Interviews
Those invited for Second Round interview (usually held in person, in Chambers) will have completed a written exercise set after the First Round interviews and against a hard deadline. The interview consists of a short advocacy exercise, discussion of their answer to the written exercise, and general questioning. Each interview lasts approximately one hour. Each of the four criteria is marked out of 5:
1) Influencing/ Advocacy skills,
2) Written skills and analytical thinking,
3) Interpersonal skills and response to questioning, and
4) Suitability for practice at 12CP.
Notes
Successful applicants will be made an offer pupillage as per the Pupillage Gateway timetable. Up to two “reserve” offers may also be made. If an offer of pupillage is not taken up, then the first reserve will be offered that pupillage. If that offer is not taken up, then the second reserve will be offered that pupillage.
Brief feedback is available for any interviewed applicant.
There are private companies offering supposed insight and coaching for interviews, but all applicants should be aware that their Inn will offer the same service without cost to the user. 12CP Barristers recommends that all potential applicants wishing to obtain advice and coaching contact their Inn:
Gray’s Inn: https://www.graysinn.org.uk/education/students/career-services
Inner Temple: https://www.innertemple.org.uk/education
Middle Temple: https://www.middletemple.org.uk/education-and-training
Lincoln’s Inn: https://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/student-members/pupillage-advice/
Please fill in the application form and the optional Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form and submit them by the Pupillage Gateway deadline to clerks@12cp.co.uk. Both forms can be downloaded below:
Download Application Form Download Equality & Diversity Form View Selection Criteria