Mini-pupils will sit with members of Chambers and will experience a broad range of work. Mini-pupillages are of two or three days’ duration (at the mini-pupil’s option) and are not assessed.
Applications for mini-pupillages are considered three times a year:
- those wishing to come on a mini-pupillage between 11 November 2019 and 17 January 2020 (excluding the period 16 December 2019 to 3 January 2020), should apply by 11 October 2019 (GDL students are particularly encouraged to apply in this round);
- those wishing to come on a mini-pupillage between 2 March and 29 May 2020 (excluding the period 6-17 April 2020), should apply by 31 January 2020; and
- those wishing to come on a mini-pupillage between 1 June and 25 September 2020 (excluding the period 27 July to 4 September 2020), should apply by 3 May 2020.
Mini-pupillages are funded and all mini-pupils receive an allowance of £50 per day. In addition, where a mini-pupil’s reasonable costs of attending a mini-pupillage exceed that amount, a further needs-based allowance is available. We ask that successful applicants who wish to apply for the further allowance inform us as soon as possible after accepting an offer of mini-pupillage.
Applications should be made to the Mini-Pupillage Secretary by either post or email to pupils@pumptax.com by means of a full CV, which should include university examination results to date, and covering letter. The covering letter should, as well as explaining why the applicant is interested in undertaking a mini-pupillage in Chambers, indicate preferred length of mini-pupillage and dates. In the case of two-day mini-pupillages it should usually be possible, if this makes it easier to fit around work or study commitments, for the mini-pupillage to take place on non-consecutive days.
Experience suggests that mini-pupils get most out of their time in Chambers if they are in their second or later year of a law degree or have started the GDL. We therefore give priority to such applicants when mini-pupillage rounds are over-subscribed.
All enquiries relating to pupillages and mini-pupillages should, where possible, be made by email to pupils@pumptax.com.