Careers

9BR Chambers Pupillage: Overview

Chambers is not part of the Pupillage Gateway Scheme. However, the timetable for applications and communication of offers is the same as the Pupillage Gateway Scheme. Applications can be submitted from 02 January 2025 (11am). The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on 06 February 2025 (11:59pm). 

9BR Chambers will offer one pupillage starting in October 2025:

• Crime: one pupillage offered to a candidate wishing to focus on (domestic) criminal law.

9BR Chambers will offer four pupillages starting in October 2026:

• Crime: three pupillages are offered to candidates wishing to focus on (domestic) criminal law.
• International: one pupillage is offered to candidates wishing to focus on international law and extradition law.

As set out below, the application process differs depending on the desired track. Candidates wishing to apply to both tracks must submit a full, separate application for each.

We welcome applications from applicants from all backgrounds and are proud to draw our members from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are committed to equality and diversity throughout our practices and our recruitment process. Members of Chambers and those directly involved in recruitment decisions are regularly in receipt of both specialist equality and diversity training and fair recruitment training.

9BR Chambers will hold first round interviews and final interviews in person at 9BR Chambers in London. The first-round interview consists of three set questions. The final round interview involves an advocacy exercise followed by questions from our Pupillage Committee.9BR Chambers Pupillage: Overview

Offers will be made on 9 May 2025 (9:30am) in accordance with the timetable set by the Bar Council. The deadline for accepting initial offers is 16 May 2025 (9:30am).

Crime track pupils spend four months with each supervisor in their first 12 months and 6 months with their final supervisor once they are on their feet, to ensure they have as rounded a training as possible and are exposed to the full breadth of Chambers’ practice.

During their first six, pupils will also undertake placements with the regulatory and extradition teams, and will be expected to spend time in the Magistrates’ Courts with Chambers’ junior tenants prior to getting on their feet.

Once on their feet, pupils will be kept very busy with 9BR Chambers’ diverse and growing practice and can expect to be in court every day with a wide variety of work, regularly earning in excess of the minimum guaranteed earnings threshold. During their first six months, pupils will be reimbursed for occasional travel outside of the Southeast and London Circuits. We will also cover the cost of any mandatory training undertaken during pupillage.

The International track will involve training alongside the three (domestic) crime pupils, with a view to also developing expertise in international law and extradition.

During the non-practising ‘first six’, the pupil will be assigned to at least one supervisor from Chambers’ International Team and will work on cases involving international criminal/humanitarian law and extradition law. The nature of the work will depend on the supervisor’s practice and their current caseload. During the practising portion of pupillage, there will be a particular focus on developing an extradition practice, with regular attendance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and possibly the Administrative Court.

The pupil will be expected to obtain a solid grounding in English criminal law and may appear in domestic criminal proceedings. The pupil will spend part of the first-six with a domestic practitioner and will also undertake a placement with the regulatory team. They will be expected to participate fully in Chambers’ advocacy training, which is largely focussed on domestic criminal practice.

Crime: Application Process

Your application to the Crime track must include the documents set out below:

Completed Application form

Completed Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form

These documents must be sent to pupillage@9brchambers.co.uk as pdf files and titled according to the following format:

Surname, First Name, 9BR Application – CRIME – [insert as appropriate] Application form / Monitoring Form

We are recruiting for one crime pupillage starting in October 2025, and three starting in October 2026. If you are applying for both start dates, please only complete and submit one application form.   

International: Application Process

Your application to the International track must include the documents set out below.

Covering letter of no more than 600 words evidencing your experiences and successes, and answering within it the following questions:

• What attracts you to pupillage at 9BR Chambers?
• What triggered your interest in international/extradition law? Is there any particular area which interests you?
• Describe your experience of these areas of law (preferably with specific examples).
• How would you hope to make a successful practice at 9BR Chambers?

Curriculum vitae of no more than two pages, in Times New Roman, font size 12 and normal spacing, including your mobile telephone number and contact email address.

Completed Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form

These three documents must be sent to pupillage@9brchambers.co.uk as pdf files and titled according to the following format:

Surname, First Name, 9BR Application 2025 – INTERNATIONAL– [insert as appropriate] Cover Letter / CV / Monitoring Form 

Selection criteria

• Intelligence
• Talent for oral and written advocacy
• Interpersonal skills
• Business acumen
• Integrity and trustworthiness
• Determination and commitment to building an international/extradition practice or criminal practice (depending on the track)

Tips

• Note: the contents of your covering email will not be considered by those marking your application. As such, please ensure that all relevant information is contained within your attached Application Form / CV and Cover Letter.
• Similarly, additional documents/attachments will not be considered.
• Whilst 9BR Chambers does not have a minimum ‘grade’ requirement, if you have genuine extenuating circumstances to advance, please include a short paragraph in the relevant part of the Application Form / at the end of your Cover Letter document. Any short additional paragraph will not count towards the word count.
• We will confirm receipt within 48 hours maximum – if you have not received a confirmation email within this time, please contact us by email.
• Please ensure that you have submitted all three documents in pdf, and that all documents are titled according to the specified format.

In addition, 9BR Chambers accepts direct applications from suitably qualified candidates for third six pupillages. Please email pupillage@9brchambers.co.uk with your CV and a short covering letter explaining the nature of the application and answering within it the following two questions:

1. In light of changing times at the criminal bar, how do you intend to establish yourself as a successful business?
2. Why have you decided to apply to 9BR Chambers in particular?

We now accept mini-pupillage applications on a rolling basis, for mini-pupillages up to a week in length.

These will be with members of our Criminal, Extradition and Regulatory teams and will not be assessed.

Potential applicants should send a CV and cover letter to minipupillage@9brchambers.co.uk, for the attention of Lucy Waterstone.

Applications will be assessed as per the following criteria:

1. The extent to which the cover letter demonstrates an understanding of and enthusiasm for the work carried out by 9BR Chambers;
2. Aptitude for the Criminal bar, including public speaking, advocacy experience, academic ability, and drafting skills as demonstrated by the cover letter and CV.

Our mini-pupillages run quarterly, over the following cycles:

• 1 May to 31 July (“Summer”)
• 1 August to 31 October (“Autumn”)
• 1 November to 31 January (“Winter”)
• 1 February to 30 April (“Spring”)

Applications are to be submitted by 00:00 on the following dates for the following cycles:

• Summer 31 March
• Autumn 30 June
• Winter 30 September
• Spring 31 December

Applications will be assessed as per the following criteria:

1. The extent to which the cover letter demonstrates an understanding of and enthusiasm for the work carried out by 9BR Chambers;
2. Aptitude for the Criminal bar, including public speaking, advocacy experience, academic ability, and drafting skills as demonstrated by the cover letter and CV.