Pupillage

4 Pump Court prides itself on its reputation as an approachable and friendly place to work. Whilst our pupils can expect to work hard and be challenged intellectually during their time with us, we offer a supportive environment where constant feedback and early courtroom experience combine to offer pupils the best possible start to a career practising at the Bar.

4 Pump Court offers a generous pupillage award. In our last recruitment round, we will offered two pupillage awards of £80,000, of which up to £25,000 may be advanced during the Bar Professional Training Course, plus second six earnings guaranteed to be at least £10,000, for pupillages commencing in 2024. All fees earned by pupils in their second six months are in addition to the pupillage award.

Pupillage at 4 Pump Court involves working with three pupil supervisors: the first two for 3 month periods and the third for the final six months. All our pupil supervisors are friendly and approachable, and we aim to give our pupils a rounded experience of Chambers’ key practice areas. The first six months will involve training from your pupil supervisors in the work of a commercial barrister. You will accompany your supervisor to Court and conferences with clients and produce written work which your supervisor will review in order to offer you feedback.

In the second six months you will spend a significant proportion of your time in the County Courts. You will quickly gain valuable experience of arguing cases in front of District Judges and Circuit Judges in a variety of matters, such as sale of goods and insurance disputes. You continue to work with your pupil supervisors in the second six months, but at the same time you develop your own varied advocacy and advisory practice. Our pupils receive substantial second six earnings from carrying out their own court work. We believe that these second six earnings typically exceed those at other top commercial sets.

During pupillage there are four formal assessments- two pieces of written work and two advocacy exercises, each assessed by members of Chambers other than the pupil supervisors. You will receive detailed feedback at each stage to ensure that you are able to develop your talents and gain a real-life understanding of the skills required of a commercial barrister.

4 Pump Court has a strong record of recruitment from its pupils. There is no quota of any sort and we look to take on all pupils who meet the required standard. We have offered tenancy to all of our pupils for the last 3 years. Where pupils are not offered tenancy they have an excellent record of finding third six pupillages elsewhere.

Pupillage applications have now closed for this year. Please check the website for further updates.