Pupillage Recruitment

25 Bedford Row has a long and proud history of recruiting many of its members of chambers on completion of pupillage.

We have a rigorous and demanding pupillage programme which we believe provides the best opportunity for our pupils to gain tenancy in chambers and to excel at the Criminal Bar.

Our chambers adheres to the Bar Council’s and the Bar Standards Board's Equality and Diversity policies in respect of all aspects of pupillage. We take all steps to ensure that proper arrangements are in place for dealing with pupils and pupillage and that the affairs of Chambers are conducted in a manner, which is fair and equitable for all pupils.

Chambers has a firm commitment to equal opportunities and welcomes and encourage applications from all sections of society, regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or age.

Chambers operates the following policy with regard to the conduct of pupillage:

Number of Pupils

Chambers offer up to three 12-month pupillages, terminable at the end of the twelve months by either Chambers or the pupil, but this policy is reviewable each year by the Pupillage Committee in consultation with the Management Committee of Chambers. Pupillages for a shorter period will be considered for successful candidates where appropriate but ALL applications, irrespective of length, must be made through the Pupillage Gateway.

Chambers also welcomes applications for Probationary Tenancies (formerly known as third-six pupillage), each 6-months in length (some of whom may have completed 12 months pupillages with 25 Bedford Row, some of who may be external candidates).

Advertisement of Pupillages

In accordance with the ‘Pupillage Funding & Advertising Requirements’ issued by the Bar Standards Board (Annex R to the BSB Handbook), all First and Six month pupillages offered by Chambers are advertised through the Pupillage Gateway website.

Applications for Pupillage

25 Bedford Row is a member of the Pupillage Gateway. All applications for 1st and 2nd six-month pupillages must be made via the Pupillage Gateway.

The Pupillage application process is competitive and every year we are privileged to meet many talented and ambitious lawyers who were either at the start of their career, or who were seeking to change careers. We are constantly impressed by the dedication and passion many have shown towards a career at the Criminal Bar but we also understand that a large number of applicants will have been disappointed not to have received pupillage from us or from another set this year.

In a comprehensive pupillage recruitment guide found on our website, we have outlined what successful candidates have done well, as well as what could be done by way of improvements. There are four key areas which candidates may wish to consider before the 2026 application process:

Structure – one key problem identified across the different stages was a lack of structure. A good structure can really lift a piece of advocacy you are doing to the next level. A good structure helps the tribunal (or marker) to follow your argument. Without a solid structure, good points can become lost or obscured.

Analysis – make sure you take the time to consider properly the factual basis of whatever scenario is thrown at you. We appreciate that this is difficult under the pressure of time, and particularly difficult in an interview scenario. However, proper analysis and consideration of the facts provides the bedrock for your submissions.

Commitment – our panels are consistently looking for evidence of commitment to a career as a barrister, and in particular to those seeking to develop a practice in criminal law. Candidates who did well in this area were generally able to demonstrate this by:

showing a commitment to advocacy (whether through participation in mooting competitions, public speaking, or voluntary work including FRU / schools exclusion projects / community projects); and
by being able to point to something concrete which demonstrated a real interest in criminal law or the criminal justice system.

Knowledge – we understand that candidates come to pupillage interviews with differing levels of knowledge. We make allowances for the fact that many applicants apply to us without first having taken the Bar Practice Course. However, many candidates of all levels this year clearly had not kept up to date with legal issues such as the impact of the Post Office Scandal on the Court of Appeal, proposed legislative changes or media interest in changes to trial by jury.

Advert

Our advert for pupillages commencing in October 2027 will be avaialble for viewing on the Pupillage Gateway from Monday 24 November 2025, 12.01 (am).

Timetable

The Pupillage Gateway timetable for our application round for pupillages commencing in October 2027 is as follows:

Monday 24 November 2025, 12.01am: Applicants may access the Pupillage Gateway to browse vacancies.
Monday 5 January 2026, 11am: The submissions window for applications opens and applicants can start, edit and submit their applications.
Thursday 22 January 2026, 11.59pm: The submissions window for applications closes.
Friday 8 May 2026, 9.30am: Offers made.
Friday 15 May 2026, 9.30am: Deadline for accepting initial offers.

The dates of the First, Second and Third round interviews will be confirmed in due course.

Pupillage Open Evenings

We invite aspiring criminal defence barristers to join us at one of our Pupillage Open Evenings on either Wednesday 17 December 2025 or Wednesday 14 January 2026.

These events are in-person only.

During the evenings, prospective pupils will hear talks from various members of Chambers, including our Head of Pupillage, and will have the opportunity to meet some of our current tenants and pupils. All those considering a career at the Bar are invited to attend this event, although it is likely to be most beneficial to those applying either in this or the next application round.

If you would like to register, please email 25BR.Events@25bedfordrow.com specifying your preferred date of attendance.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. When registering, please let us know if you have any accessibility or other requirements, and we will do everything we can to accommodate you.

Recruitment Guide for Pupillage Applicants

The Pupillage Committee have compiled a guide to assist applicants for pupillage to both 25 Bedford Row and also more broadly. To access the Pupillage Recruitment Guide 2024, please click here.

Accessibility

At 25 Bedford Row, accessibility to Chambers is very important to us.

Chambers has a portable ramp, which has limitations for safety. Therefore, depending on the dimensions and weight of your wheelchair, we can accommodate your arrival to Chambers. If the dimensions and weight of your wheelchair are not suitable for our portable ramp, then we can rearrange your visit to Chambers to another location close by. We currently have arrangements with Chambers on the opposite side of Bedford Row who have improved wheelchair access because the entrance to their buildings are either level with the pavement or are lower than the buildings on our side.

The seminar room, which is used for meetings and presenting seminars is easy to access for wheelchairs, as it has a door which leads directly onto Theobalds Road with one set of three steps, which is suitable for the portable ramp.

Any advocacy training sessions which would normally be held in-house would be rearranged to meet the required needs.

Within a wholly criminal pupillage such as ours, a great deal of time (at least 80%) is spent at court, this is either with your pupil supervisor during 1st Six or representing clients once you are on your feet during 2nd Six.

There is a considerable amount of travel in a criminal pupillage and this is something which we can discuss and plan with you. Generally, pupils travel by public transport. However, legal aid, which funds the majority of the work for pupils, does provide mileage costs for those who need to use private transport. Travel costs for private cases are negotiated separately. Over 95% of criminal cases are conducted with the Crown Court Digital Case System which provides the necessary papers to Counsel via a secure web portal, so there is no need to attend Chambers to receive case papers.

Should you have any other specific access needs, please contact us in advance of your visit 72 hours beforehand so that we can discuss this with you and make any necessary arrangements.