We are keen to extend mini-pupillage opportunities to the widest range of applicants who may be considering a career at the bar.
As a Chambers, we are committed to reducing barriers to the profession.
Mini-pupillage offers experience of working life as a barrister but is also an important opportunity to make connections and get to know different sets of Chambers.
Our mini-pupillages are not assessed and are not a requirement of applications for Pupillage at The 36 Group.
Please see our separate Pupillage page for information about Pupillage at the 36 Group.
Applications are welcome from all candidates regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexuality, health, disability, neurodiversity or family/other circumstances.
Our mini-pupillage opportunities can be obtained in one of three ways: the annual, Chambers competition; Bar-wide schemes (Bridging the Bar or 10,000 Black Interns); and team-specific applications. Opportunities to apply for for mini-pupillage with Chambers’ individual practice teams are available on an ad-hoc basis and will be advertised through our social media pages.
We offered work experience to 4 applicants in 2023 through the 10,000 Black Interns initiative.
Chambers pride itself on being a friendly and supportive team of barristers and staff members. We want all our mini-pupils to feel welcome to have the opportunity to discuss life at the bar and to speak freely with those who supervise them during the week. We will work with any successful applicants for mini-pupillage requiring additional support to ensure they can take full advantage of the opportunities that mini-pupillage offers.
When attending mini-pupillage, on each day of the course, mini–pupils are offered the opportunity to attend court hearings, arbitration appointments and client conferences, or to work on legal research in Chambers.
It is expected that mini-pupils will attend for the whole week and will spend time with a number of different counsel. The hours will likely by from 9 to 5 each day but we can accommodate your needs.
Mini-pupils are expected to enter into a confidentiality agreement.
After the success of previous years’ competitions, The 36 Group is once again running its popular Oral Advocacy Competition in 2026. This competition requires applicants to submit a video recording showcasing their advocacy skills on a specific topic. The top 10 submissions will be offered mini-pupillages.
This competition is open to anyone aged 18 or above who has an interest in the legal profession and have not already been offered mini-pupillage with The 36 Group.
You may be undertaking a degree in law, completing or waiting to start a GDL or BVC, but this is not a requirement.
Applicants must be available to take up mini-pupillage in person, based in London in 2026. The aim is to offer five consecutive days in the second half of 2026.
Applications are judged on the merit of the oral advocacy submission alone. Judges will have no other background information on the candidate.
Timelines
The timelines for the 2026 competition is as follows:
Competition opens 1 March 2026
Competition closes and applications must be submitted by 1 April 2026
You will receive a response on your submission by the end of July 2026.
2026 Proposition
Please answer this question by way of a video submission.
Proposition: Juries; for or against?
1. Set out your answer to the proposition providing a compelling argument underpinned by evidence.
2. You may want to consider the following structure:
a. Introduction
b. Proposition
c. The position you are arguing for
d. Reasons for your argument with reference to specific evidence
e. Summary of the position
3. The time limit is flexible but aim to spend at least three minutes and do not exceed five minutes.
You may find the following useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft1jB7bIWOc
Video submissions must be submitted by 1 April 2026 by email to Callum@36group.co.uk
