05 February 2020
All chambers have been told to harmonise their pupillage recruitment schemes with the Bar Council’s Pupillage Gateway timetable
Chambers must comply by 1 November 2020, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) said this week.
Many chambers run their own recruitment schemes for pupils. They will be allowed to continue to do so, but must follow the same timetable as the Gateway scheme, which runs from late November to early May.
The BSB will also require all chambers to use written pupillage agreements from 1 May onward.
Ewen MacLeod, BSB director of strategy and policy, said: ‘The introduction of a single timetable will make pupillage recruitment fairer and more consistent, while written pupillage agreements will enhance pupils’ and chambers’ understanding of their obligations.
‘The decision to introduce these measures reaffirms the BSB’s commitment to make Bar training more accessible, affordable and flexible while sustaining high standards.’
The Bar Council has backed the changes.
