A record number of pupillages have been offered in the Bar Council’s recruitment site, the Pupillage Gateway
A total of 638 positions were advertised this year, nearly 150 more than for the 2019/20 intake and more than 10% more than the 578 places advertised in 2021/22. Most, but not all, places for pupillage are recruited through the gateway.
Competition for places is likely to be as stiff as ever due to increasing numbers of applicants—there were 2,979 applicants in 2022/23 compared to 2,782 the year before.
Degree classification, mini-pupillages and scholarships were important factors in the 2022/23 round, with 60% of successful applicants having a first class honours degree and 36% a 2:1. Only 1.7% of candidates who had not attended a mini-pupillage were successful, compared to 12.7% of those who attended at least one. More than half (53%) of offers went to applicants who had a scholarship from one of the Inns of Court.
Sam Townend KC, Bar Council Chair, said: ‘The encouraging increase in pupillage awards shows that the Bar overall is doing well, with chambers having confidence in the future of the profession. I hope aspiring barristers and those who have already begun their careers at the Bar find the contents of this report useful. It offers insight into the trends emerging at the recruitment stage of the profession.’
View the ‘Pupillage Gateway report 2024’ here.
