Recruitment

Pupillage

Twelve Month Pupillages

General Information

  • 5RB will next be offering pupillages commencing in October 2012. We intend to recruit up to 2 pupils.
  • 5RB offers 12-month funded pupillages only. We do not offer any unfunded pupillages.
  • Currently each pupillage carries an award of £20,000. 
  • 5RB will meet the cost of your compulsory courses necessary for your qualification as a Barrister (Advice to Counsel course etc.)

Applications

  • 5RB is a member of the Pupillage Portal (www.pupillages.com) and all applications for pupillage must be made to chambers via the Portal.
  • Applications made otherwise than in accordance with the Pupillage Portal will not be considered.
  • Applicants should consult the Pupillage Portal website for full details of the scheme and the pupillages on offer.

Timetable

  • Applicants may apply to up to 12 pupillage providers in each season.
  • Applications may be made from 30 March 2011.
  • The closing date for Applications is 11am on 28 April 2011.
  • Interviews are likely to take place in June/July 2011.
  • No offers can be made before 2 August 2011.
  • Offers remain open for acceptance for 14 days.

The Recruitment Process

  • All applications received through the Pupillage Portal are personally reviewed by at least three members of the pupillage committee and a shortlist is drawn up of those applicants who are to be invited for interview.
  • The interview will usually be conducted by three members of the pupillage committee and will last for about 20-30 minutes. In addition to the interview, applicants are asked to complete a short written problem. The written test is not intended to test legal knowledge, rather we are interested to see how an applicant approaches the problem and identifies the issues.
  • 5RB requires two references to be provided. Usually these are not considered until the committee has made its decisions about applicants based on their interview and written problem. Very rarely, when it proves impossible to separate the leading candidates, references may be considered as a factor in the final decision whether to offer an applicant a place.
  • In the event that the committee still cannot decide between the leading applicants, then the relevant applicants will be invited back for a further interview with a new panel.  

Third-six Pupillages

5RB is not presently seeking to recruit any 3rd-six pupils and we strongly discourage speculative applications. Such vacancies arise very rarely. Those that do are advertised in Counsel magazine.

Pupilage PDF