This report uses data from our Pupillage Gateway, a recruitment portal used to advertise vacancies and recruit aspiring barristers for pupillage (the work-based component of training to become a barrister). The Gateway is used by Authorised Education and Training Organisations to advertise vacancies and recruit aspiring barristers.
This report includes data useful to aspiring barristers and those engaged with barrister training, such as the number of applicants and vacancies listed on the Pupillage Gateway. The report helps us understand who obtained a pupillage and what contributed to their success.
Key findings from the report:
- The number of pupillages advertised in 2023/24 increased by approximately 5%. 671 pupillages were advertised on the Pupillage Gateway in 2023/24 compared to 638 in 2022/23.
- There was an increase in the number of applicants. There were 3,408 applicants in 2023/24 compared with 2,979 in 2022/23.
- 261 pupillage offers were made through the Gateway in 2023/24. This represents 38.9% of the number of pupillages (671) advertised on the Gateway, compared to 288 out of 638 advertised in 2022/23.
- Degree classification was a key indicator of success. Candidates with a First-Class Honours degree were more than twice as likely to secure an offer than those with a 2:1. No students with a 2:2 or a Third-Class Honours degree secured a pupillage offer.
- Few candidates who had not done mini-pupillage (work experience) obtained offers: 9.9% of candidates who had done mini-pupillage received an offer compared to 1.8% of candidates who did not.
- 57.1% of the 261 offers recorded went to candidates who had secured a scholarship from one of the Inns of Court.
- More pupillage offers went to women (57.5%) than men (37.2%). This is in line with the 2022/23 figures, and in line with the proportion of applicants by sex.
- In the calendar year 2023, the number of registered pupillages started at the Bar (544) was similar to the number in 2022 (538).
