Pupillage Policy
1. RECRUITMENT
Chambers will seek to adopt a set of selection criteria which are reasonably reliable and valid. Chambers is committed to the Equality Code for Bar and will attempt to implement Chapter 4 of the Code concerning the "Fair Selection of Pupils and Tenants".
2. Selection of pupils will be through the OLPAS Scheme but Chambers reserves the right to leave the Scheme at any time. Chambers will abide by the OLPAS rules whilst it is a member of the Scheme.
3. Selection will be on merit and particular attention will be paid to:
3.1 Academic achievement.
3.2 Evidence of motivation and initiative in the light of the applicant’s age and experience.
3.3 Non academic achievement
These criteria will be considered in the light of the type of work Chambers undertakes. Pupils will be selected by perusal of the OLPAS forms and thereafter candidates will be selected for interview.
4. Chambers will normally seek to short list applicants for interview following members of Chambers separately analysing the application forms and thereafter meeting to draw up a short list. This task will be co-ordinated by the Pupillage Secretary. The short list will normally be in the region of 20 - 30 applications. Interviewing will usually be by a panel of three who will if possible be different members of chambers from those who have short listed the candidates. Chambers is currently awarding approximately three pupillages for the duration of one year.
5. The funding of pupils is to be £20,000 for a twelve month pupillage. This is in the form of £10,000 award for the first six months and thereafter a guaranteed income of £10,000 for the second six months when it is anticipated that most pupils will be in court reasonably regularly. Chambers will comply with the Bar Council’s proposals for compulsory funding of pupillage.
5.1 During the first six months pupils will receive a non refundable scholarship of £10,000 payable at £1,666.66 per calendar month in advance.
5.2 During the second six months pupils will receive £10,000 guaranteed income payable at £1,666.66 per calendar month in advance refundable from fees received at any time for work billed during this period.
5.3 In the event that a pupil bills work to a value greater than £10,000 in the second six months, Chambers will deduct clerks fees (currently 11%) from the surplus above £10,000 when the fees are received.
5.4 During the second six months, and for however long afterwards it takes to collect such sums billed during this period, all settlements against bills for work undertaken by a pupil will be paid directly to chambers. Chambers will operate a separate Pupils Ledger to monitor levels of invoicing and ensure that income in excess of £10,000, less clerks fees, is paid to the pupil concerned.
5.5 For the avoidance of doubt if a pupil remains in chambers for a third sixth months, or any additional period, any fees billed or paid for work done in this period will be subject to a deduction for clerks fees (currently 11%) but will not be deductible against the guaranteed income received in the second six month period.
6. THE ROLES AND DUTIES OF PUPILS
Pupils will be assigned to a pupil supervisor but will be encouraged to attend court with other members of Chambers and to undertake research for persons other than their pupil supervisors. Pupils will normally be given a separate pupil supervisor after three months. This policy is designed to ensure that a pupil has exposure to as many tenants as possible and accordingly has an opportunity to become acquainted with a mixture of tenants. Pupils will be expected to undertake drafting and the writing of opinions and also to engage in research. Pupils will be required to complete the common law check list in their pupillage file and also to undertake the continuing education programs which the Bar Council requires.
7. THE ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE PUPIL SUPERVISORS
Each pupil is required to work through the common law check list in the Pupillage File. The pupil supervisor should also ensure that the pupil undertakes the compulsory further education required by the Bar Council. Pupils should be encouraged to mix with other tenants apart from the pupil supervisor. Towards the end of the first six months the pupil should be encouraged to go to court with junior members of Chambers so direct experience of the type of work the pupil supervisor should read and be familiar with the contents of the Bar Council’s “ PUPILLAGE FILE ” Pupil supervisors should keep under constant review the progress of their pupils and should encourage improvement in any areas of perceived weakness. The pupil supervisor should keep a written record of the pupil’s progress which should be shown to and discussed with the pupil at least once during the period of supervision. Pupil supervisors will be required to contribute to the selection process if a pupil applies for a tenancy and should therefore ensure that they have properly monitored the pupil's progress and that they are in a position to assist the selection committee as to the qualities of the pupil.
8. DISTRIBUTION OF WORK
The senior clerk will monitor the distribution of work to pupils during the second six months period of pupillage. The senior clerk will oversee the distribution of work and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that each pupil is allocated work on an equal basis. The senior clerk will monitor the distribution of work by looking at the diary for each week and ensuring that each pupil has a fair distribution of work. In addition, the senior clerk will look at the income that each pupil has booked each month and will thereby ensure that all pupils are being allocated their fair share of work. Any pupil who feels that he or she is not getting a fair proportion of work attributed to pupils should discuss the matter with their pupil master/mistress and/or with the secretary of the Pupillage Committee. In addition, the senior clerk is willing to discuss the distribution of work with a pupil should the pupil wish to discuss that matter with him.
9. THE END OF PUPILLAGE
Chambers recruits pupils with the intention of considering them for such tenancies as are available but reserves the right to advertise for tenants and to decline to offer any tenancy. Selection for tenancies will be based entirely on merit. If, however, a pupil is not offered a tenancy the pupil may stay for a while in chambers at the invitation of the head of Chambers on the condition that he/she pays the percentage contribution at the time in question due on any fees received. Any decision concerning the taking on of a pupil as a tenant will be communicated to the pupil as soon as is reasonably possible. At the request of the pupil the pupil supervisor will consider providing a reference and otherwise assisting in helping pupils to obtain a third six pupillage in other Chambers or a tenancy elsewhere in respect of any pupils that are not offered either a third six or a tenancy in these Chambers. Pupils who remain in Chambers will receive guidance and assistance from Chambers with a view to promoting their continued progress.
10. GRIEVANCES
If a pupil has any grievance concerning the conduct of his pupillage within Chambers he or she shall have the right to discuss any problems with the pupillage secretary and/or the Head of Chambers if the matter has not been adequately resolved through discussions with the pupil supervisor
11. MONITORING OF THE PUPILLAGE SYSTEM IN CHAMBERS
The secretary of the Pupillage Committee will be responsible for collating and preserving completed Pupillage Files from pupil supervisors. The secretary of the Pupillage Committee will also be responsible for filing proper returns to the Bar Council. The secretary of the Pupillage Committee will organise a meeting each year to discuss recruitment review and to monitor the progress of pupil selection in Chambers to determine in what ways the process of selection might be improved. Each year any pupils that Chambers has offered pupillage to shall be invited to comment on the quality of the pupillage they have received with a view to enhancing improvements. Further any new tenant taken on in Chambers who has undertaken a pupillage within Chambers shall be specifically asked to comment on the quality of the pupillage system with a view to improving the quality of pupillage given within Chambers. The secretary of the Pupillage Committee will also discuss with members of Chambers engaged in the selection process and interviewing in what ways they think the system could be improved. The secretary of the Pupillage Committee will furnish an annual report to Chambers detailing the numbers of pupillage applications received, the numbers interviewed, the names of those persons selected for pupillage together with any policy reforms thought desirable arising out of the pupillage recruitment review.