Pupillage (Bar Vocational Stage) Chambers Practice, Practice Management and Wellbeing Syllabus

Chambers Practice, Practice Management and Wellbeing syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Chambers Practice, Practice Management and Wellbeing in Pupillage (Bar Vocational Stage), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Working as a Pupil in Chambers

   4 topics

   • The pupil supervisor relationship
     • Role and duties of the pupil supervisor
     • Feedback, appraisal and the pupillage diary
   • Devilling and supervised work
     • Producing draft documents for the supervisor
     • Shadowing in court and conferences
   • On your feet: the practising second six
     • Taking your own instructions
     • Handling first court appearances
   • Tenancy decisions and pupillage outcomes
     • Tenancy committees and assessment criteria
     • Third six pupillage and squatting
2. 2

   Practice Management and the Self-Employed Bar

   4 topics

   • The role of clerks and chambers administration
     • Diary management and fee negotiation
     • Relationship with the senior clerk and practice managers
   • Fees, billing and managing aged debt
     • Standard contractual terms and the Withdrawal of Credit Scheme
     • VAT registration and self-assessment
   • Professional indemnity and insurance
     • Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund cover
   • Employed Bar and alternative practice routes
3. 3

   Wellbeing, Resilience and Professional Development

   3 topics

   • Wellbeing at the Bar
     • Managing stress and vicarious trauma
     • Wellbeing at the Bar resources and support
   • Equality, inclusion and harassment
     • Bullying and harassment policies
     • Talk to Spot and reporting routes
   • Building a sustainable practice and reputation
     • Networking, professional clients and referrals
     • Continuing competence beyond pupillage

Chambers Practice, Practice Management and Wellbeing flashcards for Pupillage (Bar Vocational Stage)

22 of 50 cards from the Chambers Practice, Practice Management and Wellbeing deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the role of a pupil supervisor during pupillage?

   A qualified barrister (normally of at least 7 years' standing, or approved by the Bar Standards Board / Inn) responsible for overseeing a pupil's training, allocating work, giving feedback, and signing off that the pupil has met the required competences.

2. How is the standard 12-month pupillage divided?

   Into two parts: the 'first six' (non-practising period) where the pupil shadows and assists their supervisor, and the 'second six' (practising period) where the pupil may accept instructions and appear in court in their own name.

3. What is the minimum award (funding) a pupillage must provide under BSB rules?

   Pupillages must be funded at or above the minimum pupillage award set by the BSB (a minimum annual amount, with separate higher minimums for London and outside London), covering the full 12 months.

4. Define 'devilling' in the context of the Bar.

   Devilling is when a junior barrister (often a pupil) carries out preparatory or written work, such as drafting opinions or pleadings, on behalf of a more senior barrister, usually unpaid as part of training or for a share of the fee.

5. What is the key difference between supervised work in the first six and work in the second six?

   In the first six the pupil cannot accept instructions or conduct litigation in their own name and works only under supervision; in the second six the pupil may accept instructions, be on the record, and appear unled in court.

6. What documents must a pupil obtain before they can practise in the second six?

   A provisional practising certificate from the BSB and sign-off from the pupil supervisor / Director of Pupil Training confirming satisfactory completion of the first six (the 'first six certificate').

7. What is meant by being 'on your feet' as a barrister?

   Appearing and making oral submissions or advocacy in court or tribunal in person on behalf of a client, as opposed to written/paper work.

8. What types of hearings does a second-six pupil typically cover first?

   Lower-value, lower-complexity matters such as small claims, applications, case management hearings, infant approvals, possession lists, and magistrates'/county court appearances.

9. What is a tenancy decision at the Bar?

   The decision by chambers (usually by a tenancy/pupillage committee and members' vote) on whether to offer a pupil a permanent place as a self-employed member (tenant) of chambers at the end of pupillage.

10. List the main possible outcomes of pupillage.

    (1) Offer of tenancy; (2) offer of a 'third six' (further pupillage) to gain more experience; (3) squatting (temporary use of chambers without tenancy); (4) no offer, requiring application elsewhere; (5) moving to the employed Bar.

11. What is a 'third six' pupillage?

    An additional six-month practising pupillage taken after the standard 12 months, allowing a barrister to continue building experience and a practice while seeking tenancy, often at a different chambers.

12. What is 'squatting' in chambers terminology?

    An arrangement where a barrister who has completed pupillage but not been offered tenancy is permitted to continue working from chambers on a temporary basis without becoming a full tenant.

13. What is the primary role of a barristers' clerk?

    To manage members' diaries, negotiate and agree fees with solicitors, distribute and allocate work, market the chambers and its barristers, and handle the administrative and business side of the practice.

14. What is the difference between a senior clerk and a junior clerk?

    The senior clerk (or chief clerk/practice manager) leads the clerking team, sets strategy, handles high-value fee negotiations and senior practices; junior clerks handle diary management, court listings, fee notes, and day-to-day administration.

15. How are clerks traditionally remunerated, and how has this changed?

    Traditionally by a percentage commission on members' fees (e.g. around 10%); increasingly many chambers now pay clerks fixed salaries with discretionary bonuses instead.

16. What is a 'practice manager' in modern chambers?

    A title used in many chambers for senior clerking staff, reflecting a business-management and marketing focus rather than the traditional clerking role; sometimes salaried professionals from a business rather than clerking background.

17. How do self-employed barristers typically contribute to chambers' running costs?

    By paying chambers' expenses ('rent'), usually as a percentage of their gross earnings (e.g. 15-25%) and/or a fixed contribution, covering premises, staff, clerks, IT and shared services.

18. What is 'aged debt' in a barrister's practice?

    Outstanding fees that have been billed but remain unpaid beyond their due date, categorised (aged) by how long they have been outstanding (e.g. 30, 60, 90, 120+ days).

19. Why is managing aged debt important for a self-employed barrister?

    Because barristers' income is cash-flow dependent on fees actually being collected; unrecovered aged debt reduces real income, and unpaid fees still attract income tax liabilities and chambers expenses.

20. What is the standard order in which a barrister's fees should be aged for monitoring?

    By outstanding period, typically grouped as current (0-30 days), 31-60 days, 61-90 days, 91-180 days, and over 180/365 days, with older debt prioritised for chasing or write-off.

21. What mechanism allows barristers to be paid directly by clients without a solicitor?

    Public Access (Direct Access), where a member of the public instructs a barrister directly; the barrister can require fees in advance and must comply with the Public Access rules and complaints/handling requirements.

22. What is the 'cab-rank rule'?

    A core professional obligation requiring a self-employed barrister to accept any instructions in a field in which they practise, at a proper fee and if available, irrespective of the identity of the client or the nature of the case.

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