Mini-pupillage
What is mini-pupillage?
Mini-pupillage is work experience with one or more of the barristers at Cornerstone Barristers. Mini-pupillage provides an opportunity to view the life of a barrister first-hand and gives a special insight into life at our Chambers. Most Chambers, when considering applications for full pupillage, will expect to see that an applicant has undertaken at least two mini-pupillages. It helps the applicant demonstrate that they understand the nature of practice at the independent Bar.
Mini-pupillages at Cornerstone Barristers involve successful candidates attending a one-day event in Chambers, followed by an opportunity to attend court with a barrister at some point in the year.
- What to expect
Mini-pupillages at Cornerstone will involve a one-day event in Chambers, with Cornerstone’s members giving presentations on their areas of practice. A networking lunch with members will then follow, during which successful candidates can ask further questions about the life of a barrister at Cornerstone. In addition, all mini-pupils will have the opportunity to attend court with a barrister from Cornerstone at some point throughout the year. Successful candidates will be informed as and when suitable shadowing opportunities arise.
The type of hearing that mini-pupils will observe will depend on the cases being handled by our barristers at that particular time. Mini-pupils need to be flexible: sometimes cases settle at the last minute or clients’ plans change. Last-minute change is all part of life at the Bar, but our staff will do their best to reallocate mini-pupils to other cases or barristers.
- Eligibility
You must have completed the first two years of a law degree or have completed or have a confirmed place on a GDL conversion course to be eligible to apply for a mini-pupillage at Cornerstone Barristers.
School pupils are not eligible for mini-pupillages and we do not currently offer other types of work experience programmes.
- How do I apply?
We offer approximately 20 mini-pupillages in each year. There is one cycle per year.
For the 2025-26 cycle, applicants must submit their applications by Friday 24 October 2025. Cornerstone will let applicants know by mid-November whether their applications have been successful.
The 2025 mini-pupillage day will take place on Monday 15 December 2025.
Applicants will then be separately contacted to organise their one day of shadowing at some point in 2026.
To apply, please download our application form and equal opportunities monitoring questionnaire and send a completed copy of both documents to minipupillage@cornerstonebarristers.com. There is no need for you to submit a CV or covering letter.
We have recently joined the Inner Temple’s Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS) which supports high achieving students from underrepresented groups through mini-pupillage. Eligible candidates can apply to receive funding to cover their travel and accommodation costs associated with their mini-pupillage. We will offer up to three mini-pupillages through PASS.
For more information about the eligibility criteria as well as for applying to the Scheme, please visit the Inner Temple’s PASS Scheme page.
- Selection procedure and criteria
We receive hundreds of applications for mini-pupillage each year for a limited number of places, so we have adopted a selection process and criteria to assess applications. Cornerstone is strongly committed to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion and we particularly encourage applicants from backgrounds that have not been traditionally represented at the Bar.
Each application form is marked ‘blind’ (with references to the candidate’s name removed). We mark application forms against the criteria below. Please have these in mind as you complete the application form.
- Intellectual ability
We look for mini-pupils with strong intellectual ability and many of our mini-pupils have outstanding academic track records. Exam success is not the only way an applicant can demonstrate intellectual ability. If your academic record is less strong, please explain on the application form how you can demonstrate your intellectual ability.
- Personal qualities
We look for mini-pupils who can demonstrate qualities such as:
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- Self-reliance
- Resilience
- Independence
- Integrity
- Reliability
- Capacity to work well with others
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- Understanding of the legal profession
We look for mini-pupils who have some understanding of the legal profession, in particular the work of the independent Bar.
- Interest in Chambers' work
We look for mini-pupils who:
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- Have an accurate understanding of what Chambers’ key specialisms are.
- Have gained a fair understanding of what those specialisms entail.
- Can demonstrate reasoned enthusiasm for one or more of those specialisms, supported by evidence.
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- Oral advocacy aptitude
- We look for mini-pupils who can speak clearly, engagingly, and persuasively.
- You can demonstrate this by telling us about your extra-curricular activities, such as debating, public speaking, or mooting. You may have experience of public speaking gained from work or a previous career.
- Written advocacy aptitude
We look for mini-pupils who can:
- Express themselves clearly in writing
- Be concise where appropriate
- Write accurately (free from typos)
- Write persuasively
Cornerstone Barristers considers all applications equally and does not discriminate on grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief or age. Information provided in the equal opportunities monitoring questionnaire will be kept separately from your application and will not be considered during the selection process.
- Data collection
We will retain personal data you send us only for the purpose of assessing your application for mini-pupillage and, if offered a mini-pupillage, administering your mini-pupillage, receiving feedback from you and statistical analysis of equality and diversity data. We will delete the data we hold about you at the end of the mini-pupillage season you apply for. We summarise diversity data in a redacted form that cannot be attributed to individuals. If you would like to receive our legal updates and news, please sign up by following the link here.