Mini-Pupillage policy

1 Overview

Alongside the firm’s other work experience opportunities, we offer a number of funded mini-pupillages to give you the experience of working as an employed barrister in a national law firm.

We offer mini-pupillages in the firm’s regional UK offices – Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester and Nottingham.

Barristers at Browne Jacobson specialise in regulatory and public law, in the fields of health, education and social work, as well as on behalf of major insurers. We are instructed to prosecute on behalf of national regulators and briefed to conduct high profile inquests for health organisations and government bodies. 

The mini-pupillage programme is designed to give you a taste of the life of the employed barrister. It does not form part of the assessment process for either pupillage or trainee solicitor pathway and whilst you will undertake some assessed advocacy tasks and receive some informal feedback it is not an assessed mini-pupillage. 

For 2023 we aim to offer mini-pupillages in the weeks commencing 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th and 23^rd July 2023.

2 Eligibility

Due to the sensitive nature of the work which we do, we cannot accept applications for mini-pupillage from anybody under the age of 18. The firm offers work experience to those below this age, however, the requirements of courts and tribunals in some cases limit who can observe hearings and we do not wish to have mini-pupils unable to fully engage in the scheme for this reason.

3 Applications

The closing date for the 2023 mini-pupillage scheme is 9 June 2023.

To apply send your CV and covering letter indicating your preferred office to recruitment@brownejacobson.com. 

Your application will be considered in accordance with the below criteria. Each application is marked ‘blind’ (with references to name, age, gender and university (if applicable) removed).

You will be notified in writing whether or not your application has been successful. If you have not been successful, you are welcome to apply again for another date. We will not automatically roll your application onto the next period but may contact you if further work experience opportunities arise.

The mini-pupillage is open to external candidates only. Expressions of interest from internal candidates can be made by approaching the clerking team.

4 What we look for

When we consider your application we will be looking for a range of attributes which typically include:

• commitment, ambition and enthusiasm for the law and a career at the employed Bar 
• knowledge of our team and an interest in our key areas of work
• initiative and the ability to work in a team
• drive and resilience, particularly the ability to adapt to setbacks

5 What we offer

As outlined above, if you are successful in your application, you will be allocated to the next work experience period as a mini-pupil. We will link you with one of our barristers who will be able to provide a more detailed idea of what your week will look like.

Mini-pupils will be allocated to one, or a small number, of our junior barristers with the aim of giving you a clear cross section of the work which we undertake. This is likely to include time in court (either in person or virtually); working side-by-side in one of our offices and an opportunity to review and discuss papers.

You will attend your allocated office (Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester or Nottingham) and work alongside your mini-pupillage supervisor. You may also visit other offices or attend remote hearings from within one of our offices as business need dictates. This will be discussed with you and any additional travel costs over and above attending your allocated office will be met by the firm.

In addition, as part of the firm’s commitment to social mobility, you will be provided with financial assistance (£250 per week) to help with travel and/or accommodation costs.

6 Review & Contact

This policy will be reviewed annually. Any queries should be directed to our recruitment team.