Tenancy
Chambers welcomes enquiries from established practitioners who would complement the strength and development of our core areas of practice.
Enquiries should be made in the first instance to our Chambers Director and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
As part of the application procedure, you are likely to be asked to provide copies of your professional diary and details of your earnings.
Where transferring to the Bar with an exemption from pupillage, Chambers offers mentoring and, if desired, supervision for the first 6 months of practice to ensure a smooth transition.
Chambers is committed to Equality and Diversity and as such will require prospective applicants to complete an application form. Please contact our Chambers Director in confidence to discuss the application procedure.
Pupillage
Applications are Currently Closed
Chambers intends to recruit one civil and one family specialist pupillage.
Magdalen Chambers is one of the largest set in the south-west (south of Bristol) with 39 members and is looking to expand further through the recruitment of outstanding pupils with the potential to become tenants. Chambers is a friendly and welcoming set with a reputation for excellence in both family and general civil law, cultivated by members across Chambers who have been consistently recognised by legal directories such as Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.
Chambers is committed to ensuring that pupils receive training of the highest standard. Chambers undertakes regular review of its pupillage policies and procedures to ensure that the training provided continues to meet this expectation. Training is designed to ensure that pupils are able to meet the competences in the Professional Statement to the threshold standard by the end of their pupillage.
Pupils will be allocated one pupil supervisor but will be expected to spend time with other members in order to gain exposure to the different types of work that Chambers undertakes. In your second six, you will start to take on your own cases as well as continuing to undertake work with, or on behalf of, tenants. A junior member will be allocated as a mentor to provide more informal support and advice.
The training for pupillage will include:
- Regular opportunities for pupils to receive feedback on their progress from their pupil supervisor and the pupillage committee;
- Formal reviews every three months;
- Regular advocacy exercises;
- The opportunity to undertake work with a variety of members specialising in different areas of law;
- The opportunity to attend court with junior members;
- Such flexibility as is necessary to take into account pupils’ personal circumstances;
- Encouraging pupils to reflect critically on their own progress.
The pupillage award will be £30,000 pa inclusive of expenses (and excluding the cost of undertaking mandatory courses). The pupillage award will be made up of Chambers’ grant plus earnings (in the second six). Pupils can reasonably expect their earnings to exceed the minimum award in their second six.
Chambers has a good track record of seeing its pupils successfully obtain tenancy at Chambers. In the last 3 years, 8 out of 8 pupils have been offered (and taken up) tenancy with Chambers.
The timetable for recruitment is likely to be as follows:
- 22 January 2026 Deadline for applications
- w/c 2 March 2026 Invitations for first round interviews
- w/c 9 March 2026 First round interviews
- w/c 23 March 2026 Invitations for second round interviews
- 11 April 2026 Second round interviews
- 8 May 2026 Offers go out
- 15 May 2026 Deadline for accepting offers
- October 2026 Pupillage starts
(Chambers reserves the right to vary this timetable and process as necessary).
Application Questions
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to chambers using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
Alongside the Bar Council Standardised Questionnaire you will also be asked the following questions by chambers
- Please provide details of your interests and any non-work related involvement. If relevant to your proposed area of practice, please explain in what way. (min 500-1250 characters)
- With reference to your experiences and achievements, please explain why you would be suited to a career at the bar. (min 500-1250 characters)
- Please explain why you want to join Magdalen Chambers (min 500-1250 characters)
- Which areas of civil or family law are you interested in and why? (min 500-1250 characters)
- What is the greatest challenge you have faced and how have you dealt with it? (min 500-1250 characters)
Pupils will be able to apply for tenancy from approximately two months before the end of their pupillage.
How to apply
Please use the Pupillage Gateway.
Mini-Pupillage
What is Mini-Pupillage?
Chambers prides itself on its commitment to the education of aspiring members of the Bar and welcomes applicants who demonstrate the potential to secure pupillage. We are able to provide successful applicants with an opportunity to sit with our barristers and to gain useful experience of life in Chambers.
Chambers invites applications from talented and determined individuals pursuing a career at the Bar. Whilst it is not a prerequisite to pupillage, we recommend that anyone who intends to apply for pupillage with Chambers first completes a mini-pupillage.
Chambers welcomes applications from a broad and diverse range of applicants. We have signed up to the Western Circuit’s Bar None project meaning that we have committed to aim for at least 50% of mini pupillages to be awarded to those from state school and/or BAME backgrounds.
What does Mini-Pupillage involve?
We aim to provide our mini-pupils with a balanced experience, which generally includes observing a range of court hearings; attending client conferences and negotiations; and undertaking written work and research.
Application procedure
Chambers considers applications for mini-pupillage from talented individuals who have commenced study for a qualifying law degree or who have studied or are studying on the GDL/CPE, BVC or BPTC courses. Please note that we are unable to offer work experience placements.
Applicants should apply using the application form, which should be completed in type and emailed to minipupillage@magdalenchambers.co.uk, marked for the attention of Lewis Jukes, who deals with the applications on behalf of the Pupillage and Membership Committee. Applicants should please note that no documents other than the application form will be considered when assessing applications, so there is no need to attach CVs, references or detailed cover letters. Please note that whilst we will endeavour to consider applications in a timely manner, Applications will be considered within two months of receipt.
Chambers considers all applications for mini-pupillage on a fair and objective basis and is committed to ensuring compliance with Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Policy. In particular, when considering applications, Chambers does not consider such factors as age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, sex or political stance.
For further information pertaining to the mini-pupillage process, please feel free to contact Chambers’ clerking team.