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Pupillage
Secure your future at the Bar with Spire Barristers
Applications open January 2025
Pupillage at Spire Barristers
Spire Barristers is a unique set of chambers, where all members, pupils and staff are encouraged and guided to be the best they can. We celebrate diversity and embrace our differences. Pupillage within #TeamSpire was developed and refined to ensure our principle of excellence is upheld, whilst providing an enjoyable, challenging and, we believe, inspiring twelve months. Ordinary People. Extraordinary Barristers. Exceptional Team, being the ultimate aim.
“Something that was really important to me was to be in a Chambers [where] I felt I could make a positive contribution to Chambers but also that I would be supported in my development. [And] I think I really found that here at Spire.”
Niamh Brennan – Pupil 2024 – 2025
“My one piece of advice to someone starting out in the search for Pupillage now would be to keep going.
It’s a really competitive and difficult process, and you need to develop some resilience and determination that can involve sometimes being a little bit stubborn about the choices that you want to make, but having huge faith in yourself that, if this is the area of law and the type of work as an advocate that you want to do, to really show that determination to the sets that you are applying to.
If you persevere in this process at the end of it, is a hugely rewarding career.”
Jacqueline Thomas KC – Joint Head of Chambers
What we look for in prospective Pupils
When recruiting pupils, we are looking for our future tenants. We recruit pupils on the merit of their application, including relevant life experiences rather than simply focussing on academic achievement. We believe there is more to a good pupil than simply their undergraduate grades. On completion of the BTC, it is a requirement that at least a Very Competent is achieved. In addition, we are looking for pupils who share our passion for our areas of practice and our chambers ethos.
The questions on our pupillage application form are carefully designed to enable candidates to demonstrate to us those characteristics that will make them an exceptional Family and/or Public Law barrister as well as identifying those who we can be confident will become the next generation within our unique chambers.
Whilst undertaking mini-pupillages during the academic stage of training is important, we are keen to see evidence, not of sheer numbers of mini-pupillages a candidate has enjoyed, but that a more considered, targeted approach, in the areas of law that the candidate seeks to practice in has been taken. This together with examples of how a particular mini-pupillage has impacted upon a candidate’s choice of chambers to apply to for pupillage as well as examples of how the experience has shaped their desire to practice in the area(s) of law they wish to, gives much greater insight and information to us when considering a candidate’s application.
In addition, successful candidates have demonstrably good communication skills, a commitment to their development as an outstanding advocate as well as a commitment to the independent Bar and in particular the Family and Public Law Bar throughout Leeds, Yorkshire & the North Eastern Circuit. They also have an ability to engage well with clients, members of chambers and the clerking team.
Apply for Pupillage at Spire Barristers
Chambers will be inviting applications for two different Pupillages when the Pupillage Gateway opens in January 2025.
The first is a 12 month Pupillage which will start in September 2025 and the second is a 12 month Pupillage starting in September 2026. The requirements for each are different.
Bar School Pupillage
The Pupillage starting in 2025, requires that the applicant has completed, or will complete before the start date, the Bar Professional course and achieve a mark of at least 70% at first sitting (e.g. 70 D 1).
Undergraduate Pupillage
This Pupillage, starting in 2026, requires that the applicant will start the Bar Professional course in 2025, complete it and achieve a mark of at least 70% at first sitting (e.g. 70 D 1). before the start date in 2026.
It is primarily designed for those students who want to have a career at the Family Bar but want the security of an offer of pupillage before finally committing to enrolling in Bar School.
Details on how to apply for each Pupillage can be found in the Handbook as well as a more in depth guide to our Pupillage Handbook.
The application window for Pupillage applications in 2025 is closed until January 2nd 2025.
How to Apply
Applications for our Bar School Pupillage starting September 2025 should be submitted through the pupillage gateway. Any applications made directly to chambers will be disregarded.
To apply for our Undergrad Pupillage starting September 2026, please:
- Complete the application form and save it as a PDF document. If you want to password protect your application form, please do so.
- Email your application to applications@spirebarristers.co.uk. Remember to send a second email with your name and document password if you have chosen this protection.
- Please note the application window is currently closed.
Training Programme
During the BTC training course year, the successful candidate will receive mentoring and support from chambers, will be invited to chambers events and will be encouraged to make major contributions to chambers online Family and Court of Protection Newsletters.
Our specialist and bespoke pupillage training programme is designed to ensure that by the end of their training, chambers’ pupils are able to securely satisfy all the competencies set out in the Bar Professional Statement, such that on commencement of pupillage itself our pupils work with a wide range of practitioners, so that they can be assessed widely across chambers, whilst being allocated one overall pupil supervisor.
The training and opportunities provided are of the highest quality, which ensures that pupils may move seamlessly into tenancy with busy and successful practices; having been nurtured in a warm and welcoming chambers’ environment. All pupils have access to the best specialist clerking services to ensure the right exposure to instructing solicitors, as well as full administrative support.
Download Pupillage Handbook 2025-2026
We recruit pupils on the merit of their application, including relevant life experiences rather than simply focusing on academic achievement. We believe there is more to a good pupil than simply their undergraduate grades.
However, it is a requirement that on completion of the BTC you will have achieved a mark at least 70% at first sitting (e.g. 70 D 1). In addition we are looking for pupils who share our passion for our areas of practice and our chambers ethos. Our application questions are carefully designed to enable candidates to demonstrate those characteristics that will make them exceptional Family and/ or Public Law barristers, as well as identifying those who we can be confident will become the next generation within our unique chambers.
Application Questions
What attributes do you possess that are required of the Family and/or Public Law barrister?
Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? In your answer, please identify any relevant experiences or skills that you believe may help you in your career.
Why do you want to join our chambers? In your answer, please give reasons for your choice of chambers and explain why you are interested in our areas of practice.
Mini-Pupillage
Chambers offers 3 mini-pupillages per year, each of between 3 – 5 days duration, which take place in May, June and the first two weeks of July.
Applications for mini-pupillage are accepted between the 1st of September and the 30th of November each year for placements the following spring/early summer.
Candidates are invited, (during the application window) to send their CV and covering letter by e-mail to Helal Ahmed and James Goodwin, Joint Heads of Pupil Training: pupillages@spirebarristers.co.uk
Selection takes place in January and candidates will be notified shortly thereafter as to the outcome of their application.
In addition, chambers is a Partner Chambers with the Pegasus Access Scheme, and is proud to offer an additional mini-pupillage to a candidate selected through this scheme.
Pupillage Committee
Directors of Pupillage, Helal Ahmed and James Goodwin
