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• Doughty Street

• • General

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  • Pupillage

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  Doughty Street Chambers is a premier set with a top-ranking reputation in civil liberties and human rights cases in domestic as well as overseas jurisdictions. The set came into being in 1990, set-up with 30 practising tenants on board and was among the few preferring to work away from the Inns of Court.
  
  Since then, the set has grown by leaps and bounds and never looked back in its climb to success. It is currently home to over 90 barristers and an efficient support team including some of the best clerks in the business.

  If you are an aspiring barrister who wants to practice law because you want to provide justice for all and believe that you can make a difference, then Doughty Street is without a doubt the best address to hang your hat at.
  
  There is a wide variety of work available at chambers at all levels and the work ethos at Doughty is highly commendable. The team displays an amazing zeal and passion for righting wrongs, and is always looking to take on like-minded talent. Hence, it is important for an aspirant to know and fully understand the prevailing philosophy at chambers, and be equally committed towards achieving social justice.
  
  There can be times when you can be extremely stretched and stressed, but most practitioners at the set do not mind the slog on account of the good causes it involves. The overall work atmosphere is one of camaraderie and an appreciable absence of a rigid hierarchy. Work attire is informal and casual and the tenants believe in cooperation and seamless teamwork.

  The undisputed champion in civil liberties and human rights law, the chamber has built first-class expertise in a number of specialist areas such as criminal law, actions against police authorities, extradition, employment & discrimination.
  
  They also focus on housing & social welfare, immigration, human rights, international law, media law & defamation, clinical negligence & personal injury, mental health, public & administrative law and regulatory & financial crime.

  Ideal candidates, though there isn’t a prescribed prototype, should be intelligent, confident, outgoing and empathetic individuals. An ability to self-motivate and sustain stress and pressure, a cool head for judgment and the drive to thrive on challenges are other key qualities.
  
  Given the nature of Doughty’s work, it helps to have a strong community ethic and the aspiration to help disenfranchised and needy fellow human beings. The minimum educational qualification required is a high second or first class degree in any discipline, a proven history of participation in pursuits other than academia, whether sport, cultural or social volunteering activities.
  
  An evangelical commitment to social welfare, human rights, civil liberties and a belief in justice for all is extremely vital.

  The chamber usually takes on 3 – 4 pupils each year, the programme runs over a period of twelve months. The full term is split into two sixes and two supervisors will be assigned during each six, based on pupils’ preferences. A meeting prior to the beginning of the pupillage with the prospective supervisor ensures the right fit, else another supervisor can be picked.
  
  Pupils with a preference for civil work will also be required to spend some time with a supervisor specializing in criminal cases, or may be paired with junior tenants to witness and experience the full range of criminal work and the judicial framework at Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.
  
  The pupillage begins with an orientation session where pupils meet with the Chief Executive of chambers and other teams handling administration and resource infrastructure. The supervisor introduces the pupil to all members of chambers and all tasks to be assigned to the pupil will be routed through the supervisor.
  
  A first formal assessment is held at the end of the first three months with the supervisor, covering all the work done for the supervisor and other members of chambers. Feedback forms are completed for all tasks and collated for the final interview for tenancy.
  
  During the second six, pupils begin to handle their own cases, covering all court systems, or assist other members with their cases. Pupils are required to complete three written assignments and attend an advocacy exercise and a final interview for tenancy.
  
  Mini-pupils spend one full week at chambers, attend court hearings and work on tasks allocated in chambers. Discussions and lectures will be organised on various areas of practice, basic legal knowledge and information on the Bar. The sessions are not assessed and are not a compulsory requirement for applying for a full pupillage.

  Earnings during the pupillage year consist of a fixed award of £20,000 and guaranteed earnings of £5,000 for paid work undertaken during the second six.

  The chamber participates in the OLPAS summer schedule for recruitment; application forms are accessible at http://olpas.gti.co.uk. The selection process at is comprised of two rounds of interviews, 50 applicants will be selected during the first round and up to 20 will be shortlisted for the final interview.
  
  The first interview is taken by a panel of two members; candidates are given a hypothetical problem five minutes before the interview and will discuss the problem with the panel for about 15 – 20 minutes. The second interview is before a panel of three members, one of whom will be a senior barrister. A presentation will be made by the candidate during this round and the topic will be given one day in advance.
  
  The chamber conducts two mini-pupillage programmes every year lasting for a period of one week and with 10 – 12 available places. One session is conducted the week before Easter vacation and the second is during the first week of September.
  
  The programmes are open to law students in their second year and above, non-law students doing their CPE course and others with relevant experience interested in practising as a barrister. Application forms can be downloaded from the chamber website at http://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/join_us/mini_pupillage.cfm. Completed forms should be submitted by 31 January.

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