Recruitment
Chartlands Chambers is offering a 12-month general common law pupillage to commence in September 2025, with an award of £22,019 per annum. The financial award for Pupillage is based on the Bar Standards Board’s minimum requirements of £1,834.91 per month plus travel expenses (from 2025).
Chambers only offers pupillage with a view to tenancy and is proud to have an excellent recruitment record in this regard.
Chambers is located in Northampton and our members are instructed in cases with a particular focus on the Midlands Circuit.
Equal Opportunities
Chartlands Chambers operate a full Equal Opportunities Policy. Our policies include Flexible Working, Parental Leave Assistance, Reasonable Adjustment (for disability issues), and Anti-Harassment rules and guidance. Our Equality and Diversity policy ensures that staff are treated equally regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Chartlands welcomes people from all backgrounds to make Pupillage applications.
The Chartlands designated Equal Opportunities Officer is Mr Rashid. Please contact him, or his clerk, for further details.
Funding
The £22,019 per annum funding is broken down as follows:
i) first-six funding is £11,009.50, payable monthly, with travel expenses reimbursed.
ii) second six earning are guaranteed at £11,009.50, topped up monthly pro rata based on receipts. Recent pupils’ receipts have consistently exceeded this sum.
Chambers does not charge rent on second six earnings, nor operate any “claw back” provisions should receipts exceed guaranteed earnings.
The cost of all compulsory training during pupillage is met by chambers.
PUPILLAGE REQUIREMENTS
a) Academic achievement- at least a 2.1 degree in law.
b) Suitability for Chambers in particular;
i. Apparent interest in, and an appreciation of, the nature of work undertaken by Chambers, especially Family Law.
ii. A willingness to practice in Northampton.
c) Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing
How to Apply
All applications must be made by letter accompanied by a CV direct to Chambers. Email to businessmanager@chartlands-chambers.co.uk. Candidates are asked to remove any reference to their name on their CV’s so that applications can be anonymised.
- Applications for 2025 Pupillage open on 2 nd January 2025 and close on 6th February 2025.
- All applications will be considered on paper by at least 2 members of the Recruitment Committee, who will select the applicants to be invited to a first-round interview.
- Unsuccessful applicants shall be notified in writing at that stage.
- Communication with candidates shall ordinarily be by email, unless a different method of communication is requested on their application form.
- Candidates who are invited to attend interview will be expected to set out any special arrangements that can be made to help them attend the interview. Chambers will do all they can to make such arrangements.
- It is for candidates to make suitable arrangements to attend or partake in any interview, including any technological requirements such as use of video conferencing software.
- First round interviews may be held during office hours, in the evening or at the weekend, to accommodate any reasonable adjustments requested.
- First round interviews may be held in person or remotely, using video conferencing software.
- A decision is then made based on a set standard set of interview questions, along with the standardised interview marking sheets, as to whether to offer each interviewee a second interview or whether they will be invited to undertake a mini pupillage.
- Chambers shall notify all unsuccessful first-round interview candidates.
- Successful first-round interview candidates will be invited to a second-round interview or an assessed mini pupillage of 1-2 days.
- Second-round interviews may take place during office hours, in the early evening or at the weekend where feasible to allow flexibility to candidates to attend.
- Second-round interviews may be held in person or remotely, using video conferencing software.
- Unsuccessful candidates at second round interview shall be notified.
- Successful candidates at second round interview will be advised whether they have been offered pupillage or, as necessary, the next stage of the recruitment process, such as the offer of an assessed mini-pupillage.
- Offers for pupillage shall be made in accordance with the pupillage gateway timetable.
FAMILY LAW TEAM RECRUITMENT
Chartlands is currently seeking new members for its very busy Family Law team.
We are seeking tenants from Junior through to Senior call.
Our practice has a busy workload of Public Law proceedings, as well as Private Law children, domestic violence, and financial provision cases.
We undertake work for local authorities, guardians, parents and other family members.
If you would be interested in joining the team, please email in confidence to: clerks@chartlands-chambers.co.uk, or at enquiries@chartlands-chambers.co.uk
For any further information, please also contact the Senior Clerk by telephone or email.
