Structure of Pupillage
A person who intends to practise as a barrister is required to train as a pupil for a period of not less than twelve months, and complete such further training as may be required by the Bar Standards Board.
The Non Practising Six Months
This must be undertaken in a continuous period of six months in England and Wales, in an Authorised Training Organisation. During the first six months pupils may not accept any instructions, except for noting briefs, where they have the permission of their pupil supervisor or head of chambers.
At the end of the first six months, pupils must submit to the Bar Standards Board a certificate from their pupil supervisor certifying that the first six has been satisfactorily completed. They will then be granted a Practising Certificate by the Bar Standards Board.
Unless exempted from the requirements, chambers must pay each pupil a minimum of £833.33 per month during the 1st six (ie £5000 total).
The Practising Six Months
The practising six must commence no later than 12 months after the completion of the non practising six months and be undertaken in a continuous period of six months or with only such intervals (each not exceeding one month) as to ensure that the practising six months is completed within an overall period of nine months. All of the practising six must be undertaken after call: this means that pupils must be called to the Bar before they can undertake their second six.
A pupil is entitled to supply legal services and exercise Rights of Audience as a barrister during the practising six months provided that he or she has the permission of his or her pupil supervisor or head of chambers.
Unless exempted from the requirements, chambers must pay each pupil a minimum of £833.33 per month (ie £5000 during the 2nd six months), either by way of an award or guaranteed receipts. If chambers pay the pupil by way of guaranteed receipts, then the pupil must receive no less than £833.33 each month. This means that chambers may have to make up any difference between what the pupil has billed and what chambers actually received.
At the end of the second six months, pupils must submit to the Bar Standards Board a certificate from their pupil supervisor certifying that the second six has been satisfactorily completed. Provided that the compulsory further training has also been completed, the pupil will be granted a Full Qualification Certificate
External Training
All or part of the practising six months of pupillage may be satisfied by any, or any combination of, the following forms of external training, provided that the prior approval of the Qualifications Committee is obtained:
up to six months’ pupillage may be satisfied by an equivalent period of training spent with a solicitor who is practising in the United Kingdom or in another Member State
up to six months’ pupillage may be satisfied by an equivalent period of training spent with a lawyer qualified and practising in another Member State
six months’ pupillage may be satisfied by undertaking a "stage" of five months’ duration or more, in the legal departments of the European Commission in Brussels or Luxembourg or a "placement" at the European Commission in London
up to six weeks’ pupillage may be satisfied by serving as a marshal with a Judge of the High Court of Justice or with a Circuit Judge
up to four weeks pupillage may be satisfied by a pupil, with the permission of his/her pupil supervisor, working with a solicitor or other professional person whose work is relevant to his/her Pupil supervisor's practice
up to four weeks’ pupillage may be satisfied by a pupil, with the permission of his Pupil supervisor, working under supervision for a body, such as a law centre or pro bono or free representation unit which supplies legal services to the public without a fee or for a nominal fee
the Qualifications Committee may, in an individual case, recognise such other forms of training as satisfying part of pupillage as it considers appropriate having regard to the particular circumstances of the person concerned.
