Pupillages  

Pupillage Interview Dates 2013

First Round Interviews - Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th June 2013

Second Round Interviews - Saturday 29th June 2013

1 Garden Court prides itself on being at the forefront of Family Law.  

General

Click here to view our Equal Opportunities policy

The breadth and depth of our expertise and the work which our reputation attracts enable us to provide our pupils with experience in all areas of Family Law.

We undertake a full range of work arising from family breakdown in its widest sense.

Pupils will gain a good experience of financial disputes from those in which the assets are relatively small through to 'big money' cases.

The range of work involving children is wide. We have been involved in a number of cases developing private law in relation to children, including cases with an international element, such as Child Abduction, as well as residence and contact disputes.

Public law child care is a specialism and members of chambers are prominent in this field. Instructions are received from throughout England and Wales to act on behalf of parents, Local Authorities, Children's Guardians (and CAFCASS) and separately represented children.

Pupils are also likely to gain some experience of cases involving Local Government Law, Special Educational Needs and Mental Health law. Pupils should note that they are unlikely to have any involvement with the 1 Garden Court Mediation Team, such work being conducted by a small number of senior practitioners

Junior tenants are recruited, with rare exception, from our pupils.

Chambers is unable to give feedback following selection or interview.

Training

We offer a high standard of training in this demanding and changing field of law. We aim to do this in a friendly and supportive environment.

Chambers has a strong commitment to continuing internal education and pupils will be invited to attend talks, lectures and seminars delivered by members of chambers to firms of solicitors, Local Authorities and similar organisations.

Pupillages

We offer up to two 12 month pupillages. Applications are accepted via

Pupillage Gateway.

Pupillage is divided into separate periods of four months to give the best range of experience, and the total 12 month period is divided between three pupil supervisors. Pupils will have the opportunity to see all types of family law work during their time at 1 Garden Court.

In the first six months, pupils will shadow their pupil supervisor, attending court and conferences and assisting with paper work. Pupils are also encouraged to attend court with and work for other members of Chambers.

As the time to start the second six months approaches, we also require pupils to accompany junior tenants to court to familiarise themselves with the sort of work the pupil can expect to be doing once on their feet.

In the second six months, all our pupils are regularly briefed to attend court.

Feedback and reviews are important so that the pupil's progress can be monitored. Pupil reviews will be held at the end of every four months (except the final one). These will take the form of meetings between the pupil and their supervisor. Strengths and weaknesses will be discussed in an informal but constructive way. All members aim to be supportive and approachable to pupils, whilst encouraging them to develop their own practice.

In addition, a junior tenant acts as pupil liaison to whom the pupil can turn in an informal way if any issues arise. Chambers operates an equal opportunities policy for staff, tenants and pupils. All pupils will be treated fairly in accordance with this policy and will be expected themselves to comply with this policy.

Finance

Funding is offered to a maximum of £22,500 for a 12 month pupil. This award covers both the pupillage allowance and is also expected to cover a pupil's expenses during pupillage.

Our pupils can expect to be in court regularly during their second six months and will be entitled to retain any fee they receive for such work.