How To Prepare For A Pupillage Interview

At the end of your studies on a Barrister Training Course (BTC), applying for and completing a pupillage is the final step to take on your path to becoming a barrister. The pupillage is usually completed in chambers under the supervision of experienced barristers, or it can be undertaken at an employed bar organisation like a law firm, the Government Legal Department, or the Crown Prosecution Service.

Pupillages usually start in early autumn and last for a full year. They’re typically split into two sections: non-practising for the first six months and practising for the second six months. In order to apply for and secure a pupillage and become a qualified barrister, you must be within five years of finishing the academic component of your training (the BTC).

Pupillages are highly competitive placements, often contested by many students, so it’s important that you revise and practice your interview technique to succeed. Remember that most trainee barristers will not secure a pupillage after their first interview, so you shouldn’t consider not winning your first pupillage opportunity as a failure. It’s likely that there will be as many as 10 times more people applying than there are pupillages available in any given year.

Given the stark competitiveness of pupillages, the most important thing to remember about the entire interview process is to learn from it. At the end of your interview, write down notes on the questions you were asked and how you felt you performed. Ask for feedback and compare your notes to the feedback you’re given by the interviewer. This will help you to learn from your interview experience, so that next time, you have a greater chance at success.

However, as long as you prepare properly for a pupillage interview, there’s always a chance that you’re the lucky applicant. Here are some of the best ways to make sure you’re ready, and some example pupillage questions similar to ones you might get asked on the day.

Know your application

In such a competitive jobs marketplace, you should make sure that you memorise your CV and know it back to front. Often, interviewers will start with questions based around your skills and experience. They might want to discuss your degree subject or exam results, as well as any extra-curricular activities you took part in. Being able to answer these questions concisely and confidently by knowing your CV by heart will get you off to a great start.

Example questions

• Talk through your relevant experience

• Were you in any societies at university?

• What modules did you enjoy studying at university?

Learn to advocate your opinions

The panel will want to test your advocacy skills by seeing how you can articulate an argument under pressure. Analyse each question thoroughly – make notes on a pad as the interviewer says the question if it helps – and, if you need to, ask for a few minutes to think before you reply. It might seem like asking for time to think is a demonstration of weakness, but in reality it shows that you want to present a considered argument – an invaluable trait for a barrister.

Often, there is no right or wrong answer to these questions – the interviewers will want to see you display your skills and structure an argument. The best way to prepare for questions like this is to read up on current legal affairs and news.

Example questions

• What current law cases have caught your attention, and why?

• What area of law interests you the most?

• Do you agree with the death penalty?

Prepare to prove your enthusiasm

The pupillage interview is an opportunity for you to prove why you want a career in law. Interviewers will ask questions about different aspects of the bar so that you can prove your understanding, so stay up to date with recent developments to make sure you’re prepared.

Prove your motivation by demonstrating your personal experience and aspirations. Discuss work experience, university assignments that you enjoyed or got a high grade on, and your motivations. Demonstrate what sparked your personal experience in the profession and link it with relevant skills and attributes whilst matching with the job role requirements.

Example questions

• What skills does a good barrister have?

• Why do you want a pupillage here?

• How have you prepared for a career at the bar?

Other things to know about the pupillage interview

You should thoroughly research the chambers you’re applying to before the interview – getting familiar with the types of law they practice, who works there, and even the people who might be interviewing you. Read any recent news about the organisation to round out your contextual knowledge.

During the interview, expect your interviewers to challenge you on your points, and be prepared to defend your arguments on the spot. Stay calm, and use reasoned, well balanced arguments to avoid being caught out. Remember - don’t be afraid to take a pause before answering a question to gather your thoughts.

Get the basics right by making sure you come across as polite, positive, and professional. Speak with confidence, dress smartly, arrive early, and prepare questions to ask your interviewers at the end of the interview.

Finally, don’t take rejections personally – pupillages are extremely competitive, and you should be prepared to move on to the next opportunity with a positive mindset if you’re unsuccessful at first.