When should I apply for mini-pupillage?
In general, you should apply to Thirty Nine Essex Street in the final year of your academic legal studies. For those completing a law degree or a law masters degree this means in their final year of study prior to commencing Bar School the following autumn. For CPE students this means in the final year of the law conversion course (depending upon whether this has been done on a full time or part time basis).
Whilst Chambers would like to be in a position to accept applications from those who are at an earlier stage in their education, we receive so many applications each year that we have to limit the number of mini-pupils we can successfully accommodate at any one time. Consequently we have taken the decision to limit mini-pupillage in general to those who are close to the point of submitting applications for pupillage.
If you are not in your final year of law studies, but nevertheless wish to undertake a mini-pupillage at Thirty Nine Essex Street, you should apply as set out under "How?" and complete the relevant section of the application form accordingly, and we will consider whether we can make an exception in your case.
Timetable
We understand that, if we made mini-pupillage compulsory prior to applying for pupillage, candidates would spend more time completing these placements than studying. Consequently, whilst it is Chambers’ preference that an application for mini-pupillage is submitted prior to the OLPAS application being made, Chambers will not discriminate against those who have not completed a mini-pupillage.
The time-table that we have set down will ensure that candidates who are interested in Thirty Nine Essex Street have the opportunity to apply for and, if accepted, complete a mini-pupillage prior to the main pupillage selection process taking place in the summer months. We hope that many candidates will have the opportunity of completing their mini-pupillage prior to submitting their OLPAS form in April.
For those applicants who are in their final year of their law studies in 2010-11 the following timetable for applications to Thirty Nine Essex Street applies:
3rd Sept 10 to 30th Nov 10 Applications submitted by candidates – preferred dates for mini-pupillage between January and June 2010 supplied.
3rd Dec 10 to 17th Dec 10
Selection process takes place.
Offers communicated by Chambers proposing particular dates for each candidate.
18th Dec 10 to early Jan 11
Candidates respond confirming/ rejecting offer and proposed date.
Jan 11 onwards
Mini-pupillages commence and continue until June 09.
End April 11
OLPAS deadline for applications for pupillage.
June/July 11
Pupillage interviews held.
End July 11
Pupillage offers made.
Once the applications deadline has expired on 30th November, the applications will be considered by a panel of members of Chambers, some of whom will also be involved in the final selection process for pupillage the following summer. Decisions will be taken by applying the selection criteria for pupillage and will be communicated by e-mail by mid-December.
If you are successful in your application you will be allocated a date for the mini-pupillage. Chambers will make every effort to ensure that candidates are offered a mini-pupillage according to their preferred dates.