Good enough for mini pupillage?
Hi there, just finished year 1 at a very good RG with a mid 2:1, and some good public speaking experience. I am looking at a variety of public, commercial and civil chambers in London for a mini pupillage at the moment, a lot of which with a very high calibre of pupils/tenants, so was wondering if my chances are okay?
Academics-wise, I feel okay. I got A*A*A in A levels, which is obviously great. My 2:1 is mid 60's however there is some spread. I achieved two firsts in criminal and public modules, and a high 2:1 in a practical law module, however tort was a 2:2 disappointingly and contract was a low 2:1. I am unsure if this will hinder me in applying for both mini's and potentially real pupillage!
'Scholarships and Awards' is where I am really struggling. I went to a state school and never have had a scholarship, nor have I applied to an Inns of Court scholarship either. Secondly, my university does not do named prizes, nor have (as of yet) received a subject specific commendation. I wonder if putting my general highest marks (which includes a 78 essay) would be okay?
My public speaking experience is also where I feel I could fill in some gaps, making runner-up, finalist and 3rd place in many advocacy and debating competitions, alongside a mooting victory during sixth form! I also do have some but limited work experience, namely a week placement at a regional law firm and shadowing a barrister (for school work experience weeks). I am just keen to know if I stand a good chance at securing mini pupillages, or if my profile needs a bit of work. I am 100% ambitious to bring my grade up to a first also for next year! Thanks
Academics-wise, I feel okay. I got A*A*A in A levels, which is obviously great. My 2:1 is mid 60's however there is some spread. I achieved two firsts in criminal and public modules, and a high 2:1 in a practical law module, however tort was a 2:2 disappointingly and contract was a low 2:1. I am unsure if this will hinder me in applying for both mini's and potentially real pupillage!
'Scholarships and Awards' is where I am really struggling. I went to a state school and never have had a scholarship, nor have I applied to an Inns of Court scholarship either. Secondly, my university does not do named prizes, nor have (as of yet) received a subject specific commendation. I wonder if putting my general highest marks (which includes a 78 essay) would be okay?
My public speaking experience is also where I feel I could fill in some gaps, making runner-up, finalist and 3rd place in many advocacy and debating competitions, alongside a mooting victory during sixth form! I also do have some but limited work experience, namely a week placement at a regional law firm and shadowing a barrister (for school work experience weeks). I am just keen to know if I stand a good chance at securing mini pupillages, or if my profile needs a bit of work. I am 100% ambitious to bring my grade up to a first also for next year! Thanks
I think that your profile looks fine. My only caveat is that competition for entry to the Bar has gone from intense to hyper-crazy in the last few years. Your profile ought to get you into a decent mini-pupillage or three followed by a decent pupillage, but the excess supply of well-qualified candidates has made even not so fancy chambers mega picky.
Don't be troubled if you don't bag a mini pupillage this year, or next year, as you might get one while at Bar School. Mini-pupillages are so sought after that you may not get one while still at university. Chambers may say "too soon, come back next year".
Bang on and get a first or high 2.1 if you can. Maybe have a pop at an Inn essay prize or scholarship. Do the FRU training in due course. Good luck!
Don't be troubled if you don't bag a mini pupillage this year, or next year, as you might get one while at Bar School. Mini-pupillages are so sought after that you may not get one while still at university. Chambers may say "too soon, come back next year".
Bang on and get a first or high 2.1 if you can. Maybe have a pop at an Inn essay prize or scholarship. Do the FRU training in due course. Good luck!
(edited 2 months ago)
Agree with the comments above regarding the level of competition. I completed the BPC & LLM in 2023 so have some recent experience with applying for minis.
Have a look for local / regional Chambers. If you live outside London and apply to a regional / circuit set for experience you may have a better chance at securing your first mini.
Look for opportunities with your Inn (if you are a member already). There are some, for eg. Middle Temple, who provide awards which comprise of work experience and a financial award (very often this will cover travel expenses).
Training with the FRU or Advocate would be useful too (as mentioned above). Many current pupils trained at those places.
Again, if you are outside London, consider volunteering at your local CAB.
Good luck with your studies! Feel free to drop me a message if you want to chat further 😊
Have a look for local / regional Chambers. If you live outside London and apply to a regional / circuit set for experience you may have a better chance at securing your first mini.
Look for opportunities with your Inn (if you are a member already). There are some, for eg. Middle Temple, who provide awards which comprise of work experience and a financial award (very often this will cover travel expenses).
Training with the FRU or Advocate would be useful too (as mentioned above). Many current pupils trained at those places.
Again, if you are outside London, consider volunteering at your local CAB.
Good luck with your studies! Feel free to drop me a message if you want to chat further 😊
Nothing to add substantively to the posts above, but to answer the Scholarships and Awards question, no, do not put a high mark in that section. Inns vary in the quality and quantity of scholarships that they offer. If you join one that offers a lot of smaller scholarships (Middle Temple certainly used to be one that did), you have a much higher chance of having something to put in that box. But you have plenty of time to find something else too. Your academics are fine so far and your public speaking experience is very good, so you're on the right track.
Original post by Crazy Jamie
Nothing to add substantively to the posts above, but to answer the Scholarships and Awards question, no, do not put a high mark in that section. Inns vary in the quality and quantity of scholarships that they offer. If you join one that offers a lot of smaller scholarships (Middle Temple certainly used to be one that did), you have a much higher chance of having something to put in that box. But you have plenty of time to find something else too. Your academics are fine so far and your public speaking experience is very good, so you're on the right track.
Hi Crazy Jamie, thank you for your response! Would you recommend I apply to an Inns of Court in my current stage (second year) so I can get my hands on the earliest opportunities of prizes and scholarships?
Original post by Stiffy Byng
I think that your profile looks fine. My only caveat is that competition for entry to the Bar has gone from intense to hyper-crazy in the last few years. Your profile ought to get you into a decent mini-pupillage or three followed by a decent pupillage, but the excess supply of well-qualified candidates has made even not so fancy chambers mega picky.
Don't be troubled if you don't bag a mini pupillage this year, or next year, as you might get one while at Bar School. Mini-pupillages are so sought after that you may not get one while still at university. Chambers may say "too soon, come back next year".
Bang on and get a first or high 2.1 if you can. Maybe have a pop at an Inn essay prize or scholarship. Do the FRU training in due course. Good luck!
Don't be troubled if you don't bag a mini pupillage this year, or next year, as you might get one while at Bar School. Mini-pupillages are so sought after that you may not get one while still at university. Chambers may say "too soon, come back next year".
Bang on and get a first or high 2.1 if you can. Maybe have a pop at an Inn essay prize or scholarship. Do the FRU training in due course. Good luck!
Yeah definitely, I can see that even civil chambers are getting quite high in standards. That is why I am primarily aiming for a first and win at least a mooting and a debating competition coupled with an Inns' scholarship. That way I feel minis will come a bit easier and maybe even I stand an okay chance of getting pupillage/interviews at London sets?
Join an Inn soon. It hardly matters which one. I was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple but joined Lincoln's Inn (ad eundem) some years later (cheap parking).
I am so old that we had to eat thirty six dinners in Hall before qualifying. I did a chunk of those by scooting to London at weekends during my final year at University.
Now you need eat few dinners and can do advocacy courses and whatnot instead of some of those.
I am so old that we had to eat thirty six dinners in Hall before qualifying. I did a chunk of those by scooting to London at weekends during my final year at University.
Now you need eat few dinners and can do advocacy courses and whatnot instead of some of those.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Join an Inn soon. It hardly matters which one. I was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple but joined Lincoln's Inn (ad eundem) some years later (cheap parking).
I am so old that we had to eat thirty six dinners in Hall before qualifying. I did a chunk of those by scooting to London at weekends during my final year at University.
Now you need eat few dinners and can do advocacy courses and whatnot instead of some of those.
I am so old that we had to eat thirty six dinners in Hall before qualifying. I did a chunk of those by scooting to London at weekends during my final year at University.
Now you need eat few dinners and can do advocacy courses and whatnot instead of some of those.
Oh I see, I can join in Inn in second year? I'm not sure which scholarships to go for, would I be able to apply to multiple?
Apologies, it's this part of the Bar journey that I'm not the most well versed on!
Back on the topic of awards/prizes section of an application, does this include strong performances in competitions? For example, not just winning a mock trial, but reaching a finals round, reaching a podium position (so runner up or 3rd place) etc of a mooting or debating competition- would these be worth mentioning there, as I have a few of these accomplishments?
Very grateful for your replies 🙂
You're welcome!
I think that you can join an Inn whenever. I joined MT at the beginning of my final year reading history. Weekends sofa surfing in London were fun.
Proxime accessit (close but no cigar) is definitely worth mentioning. OK, not for the egg and spoon race, but yes for essay prizes, moots and so on.
Expect a long haul. Many brilliant candidates go through two rounds to obtain pupillage. In many chambers, pupillage selection is now the decision point. If a pupil does not egregiously screw up during pupillage, he or she will often be taken on in chambers.
My place has just taken on two pupils. One has an Oxford first in history and a GDL. The other has an Open University LLB obtained while working for a housing charity. Three new pupils start in October: one a junior solicitor switching to the Bar, one a housing worker with a Durham law degree, one an Oxford PPEist.
Good luck.
I think that you can join an Inn whenever. I joined MT at the beginning of my final year reading history. Weekends sofa surfing in London were fun.
Proxime accessit (close but no cigar) is definitely worth mentioning. OK, not for the egg and spoon race, but yes for essay prizes, moots and so on.
Expect a long haul. Many brilliant candidates go through two rounds to obtain pupillage. In many chambers, pupillage selection is now the decision point. If a pupil does not egregiously screw up during pupillage, he or she will often be taken on in chambers.
My place has just taken on two pupils. One has an Oxford first in history and a GDL. The other has an Open University LLB obtained while working for a housing charity. Three new pupils start in October: one a junior solicitor switching to the Bar, one a housing worker with a Durham law degree, one an Oxford PPEist.
Good luck.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
You're welcome!
I think that you can join an Inn whenever. I joined MT at the beginning of my final year reading history. Weekends sofa surfing in London were fun.
Proxime accessit (close but no cigar) is definitely worth mentioning. OK, not for the egg and spoon race, but yes for essay prizes, moots and so on.
Expect a long haul. Many brilliant candidates go through two rounds to obtain pupillage. In many chambers, pupillage selection is now the decision point. If a pupil does not egregiously screw up during pupillage, he or she will often be taken on in chambers.
My place has just taken on two pupils. One has an Oxford first in history and a GDL. The other has an Open University LLB obtained while working for a housing charity. Three new pupils start in October: one a junior solicitor switching to the Bar, one a housing worker with a Durham law degree, one an Oxford PPEist.
Good luck.
I think that you can join an Inn whenever. I joined MT at the beginning of my final year reading history. Weekends sofa surfing in London were fun.
Proxime accessit (close but no cigar) is definitely worth mentioning. OK, not for the egg and spoon race, but yes for essay prizes, moots and so on.
Expect a long haul. Many brilliant candidates go through two rounds to obtain pupillage. In many chambers, pupillage selection is now the decision point. If a pupil does not egregiously screw up during pupillage, he or she will often be taken on in chambers.
My place has just taken on two pupils. One has an Oxford first in history and a GDL. The other has an Open University LLB obtained while working for a housing charity. Three new pupils start in October: one a junior solicitor switching to the Bar, one a housing worker with a Durham law degree, one an Oxford PPEist.
Good luck.
I definitely expect a good even three cycles of pupillage applications before success! My university is on par with Durham so I am hoping a first from there will be good! And then next year, my aim is to definitely win a moot or two and look for an Inns scholarship (I still don't know which are best, or which scholarships stand out most).
I think even if I don't make pupillage within a few application cycles, I could always paralegal for a year or two or become a solicitor and transfer over?
I'm not sure if it's worth doing a round in third year to get a feel for the application process? I know that for my university, exams don't line up with the pupillage gateway deadline so I feel I won't be hindered from my degree work if I do apply!
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by RetroSPECT3.0
I definitely expect a good even three cycles of pupillage applications before success! My university is on par with Durham so I am hoping a first from there will be good! And then next year, my aim is to definitely win a moot or two and look for an Inns scholarship (I still don't know which are best, or which scholarships stand out most).
I think even if I don't make pupillage within a few application cycles, I could always paralegal for a year or two or become a solicitor and transfer over?
I'm not sure if it's worth doing a round in third year to get a feel for the application process? I know that for my university, exams don't line up with the pupillage gateway deadline so I feel I won't be hindered from my degree work if I do apply!
I think even if I don't make pupillage within a few application cycles, I could always paralegal for a year or two or become a solicitor and transfer over?
I'm not sure if it's worth doing a round in third year to get a feel for the application process? I know that for my university, exams don't line up with the pupillage gateway deadline so I feel I won't be hindered from my degree work if I do apply!
In respect of your uncertainty as to whether or not to undertake a round of pupillage applications in your final year at university I thought I would share this story with you. It relates to someone who like you wasn't sure whether to apply or not but decided to make one application to a local set and was successful. One round of applying, one application, one pupillage. There is always an outlier somewhere who knows, it could be you.
I agree with the above comment. I did not make applications in my final year but I know two people who did make a small number of applications (3-4 apps) and they were both successful. If you have the time in your final year I would say absolutely apply because you never know what will happen! Best of luck 😊
Original post by RetroSPECT3.0
I definitely expect a good even three cycles of pupillage applications before success! My university is on par with Durham so I am hoping a first from there will be good! And then next year, my aim is to definitely win a moot or two and look for an Inns scholarship (I still don't know which are best, or which scholarships stand out most).
I think even if I don't make pupillage within a few application cycles, I could always paralegal for a year or two or become a solicitor and transfer over?
I'm not sure if it's worth doing a round in third year to get a feel for the application process? I know that for my university, exams don't line up with the pupillage gateway deadline so I feel I won't be hindered from my degree work if I do apply!
I think even if I don't make pupillage within a few application cycles, I could always paralegal for a year or two or become a solicitor and transfer over?
I'm not sure if it's worth doing a round in third year to get a feel for the application process? I know that for my university, exams don't line up with the pupillage gateway deadline so I feel I won't be hindered from my degree work if I do apply!
Hello!!
Just a quick one re applying in third year: if you can find the time, absolutely do it! I have just graduated, but this cycle I managed to put in 8 applications (doing so for the same reasons that you mentioned) and was lucky enough to receive multiple offers, which will make my Bar course this coming year much less stressful.
That said, writing worthwhile applications is tough and takes a lot of time. If you do decide to apply, you should start drafting answers as soon as the Gateway opens in November. I think that I really toed the line between focussing on pupillage applications and maintaining my university work. In fact, I neglected my university work over our 6 week Christmas break. Luckily, it all paid off for me, but in hindsight it was a potentially risky move. Perhaps make sure that your focus rests with Uni and your grades, applying for pupillage as secondary to that.
Original post by CJStevens
Hello!!
Just a quick one re applying in third year: if you can find the time, absolutely do it! I have just graduated, but this cycle I managed to put in 8 applications (doing so for the same reasons that you mentioned) and was lucky enough to receive multiple offers, which will make my Bar course this coming year much less stressful.
That said, writing worthwhile applications is tough and takes a lot of time. If you do decide to apply, you should start drafting answers as soon as the Gateway opens in November. I think that I really toed the line between focussing on pupillage applications and maintaining my university work. In fact, I neglected my university work over our 6 week Christmas break. Luckily, it all paid off for me, but in hindsight it was a potentially risky move. Perhaps make sure that your focus rests with Uni and your grades, applying for pupillage as secondary to that.
Just a quick one re applying in third year: if you can find the time, absolutely do it! I have just graduated, but this cycle I managed to put in 8 applications (doing so for the same reasons that you mentioned) and was lucky enough to receive multiple offers, which will make my Bar course this coming year much less stressful.
That said, writing worthwhile applications is tough and takes a lot of time. If you do decide to apply, you should start drafting answers as soon as the Gateway opens in November. I think that I really toed the line between focussing on pupillage applications and maintaining my university work. In fact, I neglected my university work over our 6 week Christmas break. Luckily, it all paid off for me, but in hindsight it was a potentially risky move. Perhaps make sure that your focus rests with Uni and your grades, applying for pupillage as secondary to that.
This is good advice. The process of obtaining pupillage is stressful, and pupillage itself is an anxious time (imagine a job interview which lasts six to nine months, the prize for success being a job for life). If you can make applications early whilst still attending to your studies, give it a go.
Luck plays a part. Three examples: Recently, a young friend with a First in Modern History from Oxford and an LLM took three goes to obtain a Commercial Chancery pupillage. He starts in October 2025. One of my nephews, with an Oxford 2.1 in Classics and GDL, took two goes, then had to wait an extra year because of Covid, and was taken on by his mixed crime and common law chambers. Another nephew (Oxford First in Law, BCL with Distinction) spent a year teaching law at the LSE, a year doing Employment Tribunal advocacy for a Trade Union, and then did pupillage at and was taken on by a public law and human rights set.
Re joining and Inn and scholarships. You should check the up to date positions on this with the Inns themselves, but a few years ago the situation was that you did not need to be a member of an Inn to apply for scholarships there, but you could only apply to one Inn for scholarships per year and had to be a member of an Inn in order to receive the money that you secure from scholarships. If you join an Inn, apply for scholarships and get rejected, you have to apply to the same Inn again in subsequent years. So the better option at least used to be to apply for scholarships at one Inn, and move onto another one if you were rejected. If you're successful, join that Inn. As I say, double check that that's still the case, but if it is you should be applying for scholarships before joining an Inn.
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