Mini Pupillage

Mini Pupillage

Thank you to everyone who submitted applications for this years Mini Pupillage.

We will aim to let applicants know if they have been successful by the 3rd March 2023.

If you have any further queries please contact- clerks@falcon-chambers.com 

 

Applicants

We give preference to candidates who have completed their first year of university. We invite applications from both law and non-law students, although non-law students may find that they get more out of the mini-pupillage scheme after they have begun the GDL course. 

Our usual mini-pupillage programme

Our mini-pupillages are not assessed, and there is no requirement that you come to Chambers on a mini-pupillage before you apply for a pupillage. We do, however, encourage interested students to visit us for a few days to experience life at Falcon Chambers. We find that those who do so invariably apply to us for pupillage.

The aim of our mini-pupillage programme is to enable you to learn as much as possible about both Falcon Chambers and life at the Bar generally. The programme lasts for three days (usually Tuesday to Thursday), during which time we try to ensure that you will spend some time in court, sit in on a conference with clients and also sample some paperwork.

In our experience, mini-pupils find it more congenial to attend chambers in small groups, and we, therefore, try to arrange a number of sessions each year for 4 or 5 candidates each.

On arrival, you will be given an introductory talk and assigned to your mini-pupil supervisor who will ensure that you see a variety of work. Each afternoon, there will be a talk from one or more members of chambers and clerks on different aspects of life at the bar and in chambers (e.g. applying for pupillage, life at the bar and the running of chambers). We aim to give you the opportunity to meet as many members of chambers as possible during the course of your visit, and there will usually be an informal gathering with some of our barristers and clerks on the last day. 

Mini-pupillages give future barristers a taste of the Bar and an idea of how chambers operate. In Falcon Chambers, we try to make things interesting without being demanding. A typical mini-pupillage will involve a visit to chambers, to experience the type of work done, and will usually aim to include a trip to court, participation in a conference, a chance to see how a set of papers is tackled, a talk every evening about a different aspect of chambers and life at the Bar, and a degree of social interaction with members of chambers.

We provide successful applicants with a small amount of money to contribute to expenses. There are also various grant schemes run by the inns which successful applicants may wish to consider, they are as follows:

Lincolns Inn

Inner Temple

Middle Temple

Grays Inn

Mini-pupillage in the time of Coronavirus

The pandemic made much of the usual mini-pupillage experience impractical. On Monday 11 May 2020 and Wednesday 21 April 2021 we hosted virtual mini-pupillage sessions, which explained our application process, life at the Bar at all barrister levels, and the working of a set of chambers. We are now planning on having all sessions in person going forward. 

Comments from previous mini-pupils

"A very enjoyable and rewarding week amongst brilliant people. Cheers!" 

"Chambers is extremely accommodating and I found all members to be both friendly and helpful. It was exactly what I hoped it would be." 

"I had anticipated a well organised, informative and welcoming pupillage and I was not disappointed."