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Mini Pupillage

Francis Taylor Building offers a number of mini-pupillages throughout the year and hosts an annual virtual mini-pupillage day, usually in April. An application is required to undertake a mini-pupillage and to participate in the virtual mini-pupillage day. Please see below for further details regarding mini-pupillage, the window for applications, and how to apply. The window for applications for the 2024 Virtual Mini Pupillage Day has now closed.

Mini-pupillages are short, funded periods of work experience with Chambers usually lasting for three days, from Tuesday to Thursday. They provide an opportunity for mini-pupils to meet members of Chambers, to be introduced to the type of work we do and to life in Chambers. 

Mini-pupillages involve attending court with members of Chambers, reading papers, carrying out research and drafting. 

Wherever possible mini-pupils will be provided with in-person opportunities to attend court and to meet members of Chambers. 

Chambers will look to offer 20 mini-pupillages per year, split into three periods: January to March, April to July and October to December. Mini-pupillages are not offered on Bank Holidays or during the Christmas, Easter or summer vacations.

We are pleased to announce that we will be offering interested students an opportunity to attend and participate in a Virtual Mini Pupillage Day on 4 April 2024

During the course of the day, participants will hear from members and staff about pupillage and tenancy in FTB, including the application and interview process and insights from all levels of seniority about practice in FTB’s areas of specialism. There will also be opportunities to take part in interactive advocacy exercises, discuss leading cases Chambers has been involved in and ask any burning questions about FTB, pupillage and the Bar in general.

Those who are at least in their second year of a qualifying law degree or who have commenced the GDL or other graduate-entry LLB courses are eligible to apply. The application window for 2024 closed on 29 February 2024.

We will let applicants know if they have secured a place by week commencing 14 March 2024.

Those who undertake an in-person mini-pupillage with FTB after submitting an application or winning an academic prize are entitled to reimbursement of their expenses in accordance with the paragraphs below.

A maximum of £20 will be offered for each day of the mini-pupillage to cover reasonable subsistence expenses and travel expenses within Greater London. A maximum of £100 will be offered to cover reasonable travel expenses commuting to Chambers to those who live outside the M25. A maximum of £350 will be offered to cover accommodation expenses for those who can justify the need to stay within a hotel in London during the course of their mini-pupillage. Entitlement to reimbursement of the above expenses is cumulative.

Mini-pupils should submit a request for reimbursement via email to Vicki Cousins within one week of completing their mini-pupillage with a breakdown of the costs they are seeking reimbursement of and their bank account details. vicki.cousins@ftbchambers.co.uk. Mini-pupils should retain copies of all receipts for qualifying expenses and attach photographs or scans to their email to Vicki Cousins requesting reimbursement. Receipts are required for reimbursement of all expenses except where a reasonable explanation is provided for the absence of a receipt.

Where a candidate proposes to stay within a hotel during their mini-pupillage, this should be explained and justified in the cover letter submitted with their application for a mini-pupillage. Where an offer of a mini-pupillage is made FTB will notify the successful candidate whether their accommodation expenses will be reimbursed.

The requirement to explain and justify reimbursement of expenses within the cover letter only applies to accommodation expenses. The intentions of candidates regarding reimbursement of their expenses are not considered when decisions are made to shortlist candidates for mini-pupillages.

There are additional sources of funding from other organisations that candidates may wish to explore, such as the Lincoln’s Inn Mini-Pupillage Grant.

The following timelines apply to applications for mini-pupillages. 

For the October to December period, applications must be received by 31 August. FTB aims to shortlist candidates for this period by the end of September. 

For the January to March period, applications must be received by 15 December. FTB aims to shortlist candidates for this period by early January.

For the April to July period, applications must be received by 1 February. FTB aims to shortlist candidates for this period by the end of March.

Applications are by cover letter (two pages or less) and CV, which should be submitted as a single PDF attachment to an email to andrew.briton@ftbchambers.co.uk. Please state in the subject-line the mini-pupillage period/s that you are applying for.

Candidates may submit a single application for consideration for multiple periods.

You are advised to use the cover letter to explain why you would like a mini-pupillage at Francis Taylor Building and why you are a suitable candidate, having regard to the marking criteria (see below). The cover letter should state any dates during the period applied for when you are not available.

The cover letter should set out (if appropriate) any request to attend experiences remotely at home, for Chambers to provide access to a laptop and for the funding of accommodation costs. Any request for the funding of accommodation costs should explain why hotel accommodation is reasonably required.

Prospective pupils are encouraged to undertake a mini-pupillage at Francis Taylor Building and / or to attend the virtual mini-pupillage day. Although we consider both to provide useful opportunities to meet prospective pupils, neither is a pre-requisite for their selection and our mini-pupillages are not assessed.

Chambers’ mini-pupillages and the virtual mini-pupillage are designed to be most useful to those who are eligible (or who will be shortly eligible) to apply for pupillage.

We therefore require that:

  • Law students must be in at least their second year of a qualifying law degree by the time they undertake a mini-pupillage with us. More information on qualifying law degrees is available here.
  • Non-law students must have at least started the GDL by the time they undertake a mini-pupillage with us.

We welcome applications from candidates who are now in work, having previously obtained a qualifying law degree or the GDL.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible or would like to request an exemption from the above requirements please contact us at the email address above before applying.

Applications, taken to be your CV and cover letter, are marked according to the following criteria:

  • Academic achievement (10 marks);
  • Intellectual ability (10 marks);
  • Advocacy (10 marks);
  • Interest in Francis Taylor Building (10 marks); and,
  • Extra-Curricular activity (10 marks).

“It’s beneficial to have that environment where people are always talking to each other, popping into each other’s rooms, having lunch together and such.”

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“It’s fascinating to be working in areas that are so topical, that raise so many interesting issues and are moving so quickly.”

Previous pupil

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"The clerks at Francis Taylor Building are absolutely superb and very quick to get back to you." "The team is very agile and very commercial in terms of their approach and you can discuss things based on client needs."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"Paul Coveney, senior clerk, is streets ahead of other clerks; he understands the work and is strategic in his thinking. The clerking is excellent."

Chambers and Partners, 2022
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Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot

This prestigious annual mooting competition covers public, environmental and European law topics, drawn from FTB’s distinctive practice, and is named in honour of Christopher, Lord Kingsland QC.

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“It’s beneficial to have that environment where people are always talking to each other, popping into each other’s rooms, having lunch together and such.”

Previous pupil

“It’s fascinating to be working in areas that are so topical, that raise so many interesting issues and are moving so quickly.”

Previous pupil

Don’t just take our word for it

See what the directories have to say about us.