When I finally began my Civil Law pupillage at KBG in October 2023, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After years of working towards obtaining a pupillage, I hadn’t really stopped to think about what pupillage would really be like.
Would it be a daunting “year-long interview” where I did nothing but fetch my pupil supervisor cups of tea and sit in a corner taking notes? The simple answer to that is: “No”. I had a fantastic year that has prepared me to go on and do amazing things in the first few months of my fully solo legal career.
From Day 1 it felt like my pupil supervisor (Rawdon Crozier) invested100% of his time, effort, and energy into my success. I had (and still do have!) an excellent clerking team who looked after me and provided a great working atmosphere in Chambers. But most importantly, KBG felt like a supportive and safe learning environment where I could ask questions, learn from my mistakes, and get the skills and knowledge I needed to have a fantastic career at the Bar.
The experience I gained in First Six was simply incredible. I was fortunate to shadow members of Chambers in a wide variety of interesting and complex Civil matters including multi-day inquests and appeals in the Royal Courts of Justice. I was encouraged to draft complicated advices, Particulars of Claim, skeleton arguments, and other documents across the broad spectrum of Civil practice, receiving detailed, invaluable feedback on every piece of work.
By the time Second Six came around, I felt well-prepared to get on my feet and start doing the job thanks to all of the excellent teaching I had received. I had a great mixture of small claims trials, infant settlements, bankruptcies, possession hearings and other “less complex” Civil matters on which to “cut my teeth” early-on, and I found myself receiving praise from solicitors, judges, and more senior members of the Bar due to the high quality of my work.
Even during Second Six my pupil supervisor, the clerks, and other members of Chambers were always happy to answer questions and give advice or reassurance where it was needed, and I felt truly supported in everything I did.
However, the best thing I found about Chambers was the collegiate and social atmosphere that only comes from having great members and clerks. Chambers regularly organises social events including axe throwing, go-karting, beach days, escape rooms, and more. KBG also has a brilliant focus on wellbeing for members, pupils, and clerks – something that is helped considerably by being based in the (absolutely beautiful) South West of England!
I would encourage anybody to apply for pupillage at KBG Chambers, and I wouldn’t change my pupillage experience with them for anything.
