Pupillage

Choosing where to apply for pupillage is not easy. We hope that what you will read here, which sets out the various areas of law for which these Chambers and its members are well known, will help you when considering whether to apply for a pupillage at Quadrant Chambers.

What we do

Quadrant holds a pre-eminent international position in all aspects of the shipping and aviation sectors, both long established practice areas within our Chambers.  Over recent years however the set has expanded significantly and today provides specialist experience across a range of major business sectors. We are also one of the founding members of the Commercial Bar Association (Combar), with one of our former Heads of Chambers being Combar's first chairman.

The challenging and rewarding work of Chambers encompasses the broad range of commercial disputes. We advise on domestic, commercial and international litigation and act as advocates in Court, arbitration and inquiries in England and abroad. Members of Chambers also act as arbitrators, mediators and expert witnesses.

The main specialist practice areas of Quadrant members are:

• Aviation & Travel
• Banking & Finance
• Commercial Litigation
• Dry Shipping, Commodities & Transport
• Energy, Shipbuilding & Construction
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• International Arbitration
• Mediation
• Salvage, Collision & Admiralty
• Sports & Media

We pride ourselves on combining first class legal and advocacy skills with a friendly, down to earth approach. This is also reflected in a supportive and unstuffy atmosphere within chambers.

Pupillage at Quadrant Chambers

Pupillage: academic record

Chambers has a policy of active recruitment and expansion. Pupillage is awarded only to those who Chambers regards as having real potential as a future Member of Chambers. As the work of Chambers is intellectually demanding applicants will usually be expected to have a first or good upper second degree.  Although applicants will generally be law students or graduates, applications from students or applicants in other disciplines are often successful.  It will be a condition of pupillage that applicants achieve a competent grade on the Bar Professional Training Course.

Pupillage award

We offer up to three funded pupillages for a period of up to 12 months (reviewable and terminable after 6 months). We seek to recruit the brightest and best pupils.  The object of the award is to attract applicants of the highest quality.  Each pupillage therefore currently carries an award of £55,000 over the twelve month period.  Part of this award may be advanced during the BPTC at the pupillage committee`s discretion.

Pupillage at Quadrant

We intend to train pupils so that they will be able to practise in every area of the commercial work undertaken by Members of Chambers.  Pupils will find that Members of Chambers and its Practice Managers are friendly, approachable and willing to assist pupils in any area of difficulty.

During pupillage every pupil will see the full range of Chambers’ work in addition to the particular specialities of their pupil masters.  After the first three months pupils are consulted as to the further areas of practice they wish to see and every effort is made to ensure that Quadrant pupils have a broad commercial training.  Quadrant Chambers uses the General Commercial Pupillage Checklist provided by the Bar Standards Board.
 
In the first few weeks of pupillage new pupils will be given an induction course run by Members of Chambers to assist them with areas of law or disciplines that may be new to them.  This consists of a series of lectures in Chambers’ key areas of specialty.

In the first six months pupils spend three months with two different pupil masters. After six months the performance of each pupil is reviewed.  Pupils will be told whether or not Chambers regards them still as having serious tenancy prospects. If successful at that stage, pupils will be assigned to a further pupil master and in addition undertake work for a broader number of Members.  If unsuccessful at that stage, the pupil will be encouraged to find pupillage elsewhere. However, if alternative pupillage proves impossible, the pupil will be permitted to complete pupillage within Chambers and will receive full and proper training, whilst being paid the Phillips Award (currently set at £5,000 for six months) for the balance 6 month period.

During the course of pupillage, pupils will also be set advocacy exercises under the supervision of senior Members of Chambers.  These are intended, so far as possible, to test pupils in a court room environment in which they will be expected to practise in their early years as a tenant at Quadrant.  Written sets also form an important part of the pupillage assessment process.