Temple Garden Chambers offers a set number of mini-pupillages each year. These are designed to allow prospective applicants for pupillage to see the work that we do, and gain an insight into life as a barrister at Temple Garden Chambers. It is also an opportunity for us to meet you.
Mini-pupils are invited into Chambers for three days, and will spend the majority of that time shadowing one of our barristers throughout their working day.
A typical mini-pupillage will therefore include attendance at court and/or client conferences, as well as opportunities to see the paperwork that we do. This will not normally include Treasury Solicitor Panel work, due to its particular sensitivities.
We do not operate a system of formal assessment of mini-pupils. Whilst a mini-pupillage with us is not a prerequisite for an application to Chambers for pupillage, we would encourage prospective pupillage applicants also to apply for a mini-pupillage.
Temple Garden Chambers is committed to promoting equality and diversity within the legal profession, and in addition is proud to work with several schemes that share its aims.
Chambers is a proud supporter of Bridging the Bar, a charity committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity at the Bar of England and Wales. Bridging the Bar offers a mini-pupillage programme for candidates from non-traditional backgrounds at leading sets in England and Wales, including Temple Garden Chambers. For more information or to apply, please visit Bridging the Bar’s website here.
Temple Garden Chambers also participates in the Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS), which aims to improve access to the profession by providing high-achieving students from under-represented backgrounds with mini-pupillages and skills development training. To find out more details on PASS or to apply, please visit Inner Temple’s website here.
We also support 10,000 Black Interns, an organisation working to offer 10,000 internships to Black African, Black Caribbean and Black British candidates over the next five years. Temple Garden Chambers will be hosting two interns through the scheme in 2022. To apply or find out more details, please visit here.
Unfortunately, Chambers does not generally offer work experience placements for school-age students due to lack of capacity to accommodate the same.
Our mini-pupillages take place during the Easter and summer university holidays, with the exception of the month of August. Applications for mini-pupillages in 2023 must be made by 13 December 2022. The application form will be available on this page from late 2022.
As a limited number of places are available, priority will be given to those applicants who are entering their second or final year of a law degree or undertaking the GDL/BPTC.
We will consider all applications after the 13 December deadline and our decision will be made in accordance with the Temple Garden Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Policy. All applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome, and successful applicants will also be allocated mini-pupillage dates.
If you wish to be considered for a mini-pupillage, you will need to complete a Mini-Pupillage Application Form which should then be sent to Gaye Spencer King at Temple Garden Chambers.
Whilst our mini-pupillages are not funded, Chambers does not wish potential applicants to be deterred from applying for mini-pupillage for financial reasons. As a result, Chambers operates a discretionary expenses policy to assist those who can demonstrate genuine financial hardship that would otherwise act as a barrier to undertaking mini-pupillage in Chambers.
Any individual seeking such expenses should make a request following an offer of mini-pupillage. Chambers will indicate the amount of funding it is prepared to provide prior to the commencement of mini-pupillage and payment will be made upon the completion of mini-pupillage upon provision of receipts.
Those who have secured a mini-pupillage but require additional funds to help with the cost of long distance travel, commuting, accommodation and purchasing professional clothing may wish to consider applying to the Mini Pupillage Grant Scheme, if eligible, which can be found here.
Chambers will make all reasonable adjustments to accommodate candidates. The main building, which includes the reception, the clerks’ room and all the conference rooms, is accessible by wheel-chair users, and arrangements can be put in place for use of fully accessible toilets within Temple. In appropriate circumstances we will also consider requests for virtual mini-pupillages.
If you have any particular concerns or requirements about access of any sort, please contact Gaye Spencer-King.