Pupillage
About 3 DJB
We are a friendly and diverse family and civil chambers seeking to recruit two pupils to undertake a family pupillage. All Pupils are recruited via the Pupillage Gateway. Chambers covers all aspects of family law with members of chambers recognised in the leading legal directories and appearing in leading cases. Members of chambers are very approachable, supportive and willing to assist pupils.
Structure of Pupillage
Our pupils are trained in all areas of family law including public children, private children, domestic abuse injunctions, financial remedies and the law relating to cohabitees. A family pupil would be supported to explore the civil work available in chambers if they wished to do so but this is not a requirement.
We have a strong history of recruiting tenants from our pupils and we offer pupillage with a view to tenancy. We highly value pupils in chambers and are committed to ensuring that they are trained to be the best barristers that they can be. We assess pupils throughout their pupillage, including through advocacy and written exercises. We provide specific training in the form of seminars to pupils on particular areas of law, including financial remedy law.
Pupils are given 3 supervisors and will rotate to a new supervisor every 4 months. In addition to their supervisor pupils are allocated a junior member of chambers to mentor them and provide them with guidance and assistance.
We have an "open door" policy and were winners of the Legal 500 Future Lawyers award for pupils' relationships with senior members of chambers.
Financial and Other Support Available
The pupillage award is £25,000 payable as a tax-free award in the First Six of £15,000 and as guaranteed receipts of £10,000 during the Second Six. During their Second Six pupils can expect to be in court most days and to comfortably exceed their guaranteed earnings.
Criteria
We are looking for candidates whose applications demonstrate intellectual aptitude, the potential to become an excellent advocate, commitment to the bar and to the work that chambers undertakes. We expect candidates to show a commitment to family law and we value experiences outside of the law. We normally require at least a 2:1 at undergraduate level for a candidate to go through to interview however additional qualifications such as a good masters degree, a good result in the BPTC or significant mitigating circumstances can overcome this in the right circumstances.
We take care to ensure that our interview dates do not clash with BPTC exam dates and will inform candidates of the dates for second and first round interviews as soon as they are available. Applicants will be notified whether or not they have an interview through the Gateway.
Please direct any relevant enquiries to Emily Beer or Briony Palmer at pupillage@3djb.co.uk
Comments from recent pupils:
“I have been privileged to be mentored by barristers who are experts in Family Law. I have received constructive feedback throughout and have been guided to achieve my best in my written and oral advocacy. The 3DJB team are incredibly supportive. I have never felt that a question was too silly to ask; indeed, it is 3DJB’s embrace of a collegial and communication-focused approach to work which makes it so unique.
In my Second Six, I have spent much time on my feet, meaning I have been in the best possible position to develop my advocacy, learn to manage my practice and form essential relationships with solicitors. The 3DJB team ensured I developed the necessary skills enabling me to enjoy a rewarding and exciting career at the Family Bar.”
Georgia Fineberg, Pupil 2022-2023
“Pupillage at 3DJB involved the most effective kind of education: a comprehensive immersion in the kind of scenarios which I would face in practice, training exercises in which I honed relevant skills - all accompanied by wraparound support from members of Chambers. From the outset I was made to understand that everyone wanted me to succeed. I was given opportunities to receive detailed feedback on my written and oral advocacy. I was shown how I needed to improve and how to achieve that. Throughout, I benefited from the focused attention of three exceptional pupil supervisors, who trained me with precision and rigour and who were always available to offer advice and encouragement.
I was in court most days and gratifyingly busy from the start of my second six. I was pleased to accept an offer of tenancy from Chambers: my experience had confirmed 3DJB to be an excellent place to develop my practice. I am fortunate to have begun my professional life at the Bar among practitioners who accompany great expertise with approachability and considerable warmth.”
Laurence Cooper, Pupil 2021-2022
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Chambers has a comprehensive Equality & Diversity Policy, which was most recently updated by the modification of the parental leave and flexible working policies, and firmly supports the Family Law Bar Association's Anti-Racist Statement 2022.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting 'Apply for this pupillage'
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
1) Why do you believe you will make a good barrister? (250 word limit)
2) Why do you want to join our chambers? (250 word limit)
3) Tell us about a family law case decided in the last 12 months that you most disagree with and why? (250 word limit)