At Becket we have just finished our latest round of pupillage selection. I have now been involved with recruiting pupils for a decade or so and have been reflecting on the qualities of successful candidates.
As a set we put an enormous amount of time and effort into our pupils. We only take on pupils if we have space for them as tenants and we want them to succeed in gaining tenancy. They have regular meetings with their pupil supervisor, the head of pupillage and the clerks. They are given separate members as mentors in all areas of chambers practice to contact if they have any law based questions or queries. They are allocated a buddy from the junior end of chambers so they have someone who has recently experienced the process to speak to. We encourage and help them to make relationships with solicitors in the area early and also become involved in the local community by helping with local law clinics and other pro bono schemes. Our aim is to make every pupil as successful as they can be and give them the best start to their career at Becket Chambers.
When we are evaluating potential pupils we are not just looking for good academics and a general enthusiasm for the bar but also a good understanding of the benefits and commitments of provincial life. We want to invest in people who see themselves as staying with chambers in the long term and can clearly explain the multiple benefits of doing so.
A further deciding factor comes from gaining an understanding of the personality of the individual applying. We always give opportunities in interviews for candidates to give us a glimpse into who they are rather than just how much law they know. What motivates them, what interests them, any core values etc. It is always a mistake to make every answer about past academics and case law.
Of course we want people who can read and understand a brief, are good advocates and are able to listen and then answer the precise question that has been asked too! I have found though that by the time a candidate reaches the final round of interviews they are rarely not good at the basics. What distinguishes the successful from the near misses is us getting a good sense of who they are and what they can offer chambers in the longer term.
Ultimately we look for pupils who, once they gain tenancy, will stay and support both future pupils and their fellow members. We are a supportive, diverse and ambitious set and want to find pupils who will positively contribute to our longterm success.
You can see more information on our pupillage process here.
