Our mini-pupillage programme continues during the pandemic, albeit virtually, without any reduction in the number of mini-pupillages offered. We are very conscious of the difficulties currently facing applicants and consider it essential to offer you the best opportunity we can to get to know chambers via video calls. The application deadlines are at the end of November, February and June each year.
The virtual mini-pupillages take place over one day. First, you will meet your supervisor, who will give you an insight into the atmosphere and work of chambers as well as providing an (optional) applications clinic to review your draft Gateway form and help you prepare for interviews.
Later that day, you will speak to a member of our practice management team and one of our current pupils. Virtual mini-pupillages are entirely unassessed, save in respect of any concern in relation to criterion 5 (personal and professional standards and values).
Ordinarily, applications for pupillage are only considered if the candidate has completed, or has been offered, a mini-pupillage in chambers. In light of the disruption caused by COVID-19 this requirement is suspended for those applying for pupillages starting in 2022.
Any queries in respect of pupillage or mini-pupillage should be sent to pupillage@twentyessex.com.
How to apply
Applications are made using our online form which you will find at the bottom of this page. Your application will be assessed on the basis of your answers against our selection criteria. Please bear those criteria in mind, particularly when answering the questions in Section 6.
After you have submitted your form, you have the option of completing Rare’s Contextual Recruitment’s form. If you do so, this information will be taken into account when assessing your application. Every year, the contextual recruitment data has a real impact on the list of those offered mini-pupillages.
We receive a large number of applications for a limited number of places, particularly for the June and November deadlines. We try to review the applications as quickly as possible, but it can take up to six weeks after the closing date to complete this process. We will contact you as soon as we can to let you know whether we are able to offer you a place.
We are also a partner set of Bridging the Bar’s mini-pupillage programme. Bridging the Bar run their own applications process. Prospective applicants can sign up here.
When to apply
Law undergraduates should aim to do a mini-pupillage after the start of your second year at university. If you are a non-law graduate you should aim to do a mini-pupillage after you have studied contract law (usually taught in the first term of the conversion course).
We rarely offer mini-pupillages in August, but for other opportunities throughout the year the following deadlines apply:
| Mini-pupillage between: |
Apply by 23:59 on: |
| 1 June – 30 September |
28 February |
| 1 October -31 January |
30 June |
| 1 February – 31 May |
30 November |
|
|
We receive more applications in June than at any other time. By contrast, the February deadline is less popular. In each of the three periods we offer around 22 mini-pupillages.
What to expect from mini-pupillage
The details of our virtual mini-pupillage programme are set out above. When we are able to offer our usual two day mini-pupillage in Chambers, you can expect to:
- Accompany members of chambers to court or arbitration.
- Attend a conference with clients.
- Look at a set of papers.
- Talk to a silk, junior members, a member of the Practice Management team and current pupils about life as a pupil and the early days of tenancy.
- Demonstrate your ability by doing a piece of written work.
We make a contribution of £75 towards travel expenses for these mini-pupillages on the production of expenses receipts.
