Pupillage Advice - Lincoln's Inn

The Inn offers various opportunities for student members in their search for pupillage, including a Pupillage Foundation Scheme (PFS), Mock Interview Scheme and a Pupillage Advice Panel.

3 students at Call Day in front of New Square Fountain

The Pupillage Foundation Scheme was absolutely fantastic and I met so many incredible people. I am very grateful for it and I hope it continues to help other aspiring barristers network and improve their approach to Pupillage Applications.
Pupillage Foundation Scheme Participant (2023/24)

Pupillage Foundation Scheme

The Pupillage Foundation Scheme assists members who have completed their Bar Course and are in search of pupillage. The scheme offers an intensive pupillage application workshop and mock interview sessions, and a one to one mentor to offer on-going support throughout the pupillage application process.

The dates for the next Pupillage Foundation Scheme 2024/25 are below:

Monday 18 November 2024 – Introductory Evening
Wednesday 11 December 2024 – Application Review Workshop
Thursday 20 February 2025 – First-round Interview Practice Session
Thursday 27 March 2025 – Second-round Interview Practice Session

Please be aware that participants are expected to commit fully throughout the scheme, as such participants must attend all four sessions in-person at the Inn. Participants travelling from outside of London may request re-imbursement for reasonable travel costs. After the Scheme’s past success and popularity, we have seen how much it can benefit individuals who are willing to participate fully.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

Be a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.
Have completed the Bar Training Course or Bar Transfer Test.
Have applied for pupillage, and been unsuccessful at least once.
Have received a Very Competent/Merit/70% or above in the Bar Training Course or a Pass in the Bar Transfer Test (unless you have extenuating circumstances).
Intend to practice at the Bar of England and Wales.

Applications for the Pupillage Foundation Scheme 2024/25 are now closed.

Please conact the Member Engagament Team with queries.

Mock Interview Scheme

The Inn will hold Mock Interview events after the close of the Pupillage Gateway every year. The scheme is open to student members who have secured a pupillage interview. Due to high demand we will only be allowing students to attend one event per year and places will be given on a first come first served basis.

The events for 2024/25 will be held on the following dates:

Online: Wednesday 12 March 2025, Zoom
In Person: Wednesday 19 March 2025, Ashworth Centre

The 2025 Mock Interview Scheme is now open. To apply, please click here. The deadline to apply is Tuesday 04 March. Students will be notified of their place in due course.

Pupillage Advice Evening

Just after the Pupillage Gateway opens, on 2 January 2025, we are hosting a Pupillage Advice Evening to assist members with applying for pupillage. The evening will involve talks from our members on tips for pupillage applications and pupillage interviews. This will be followed by a chance to ask any questions on getting pupillage to our expert panel. After the talks, we will be hosting a networking drinks reception which will allow prospective pupils to network with members from various practice areas and ask informal questions about attaining pupillage.

The 2025 Pupillage Advice Evening has now taken place. Details on the 2026 evening will be announced late 2025.

Pupillage Application Review

The Inn will organise Pupillage Application Review Surgeries prior to the Pupillage Gateway deadline every year. Students will be paired with a member of the Bar who will review their application and provide feedback and advice. The aim is to assign you a barrister or judge with knowledge of the area of law or practice in which you have an interest but, inevitably, this will depend on demand.

Applications for the 2025 Pupillage Application Review Surgery have now closed. The scheme will run again next academic year.

A quote from a PFS participant (purple background with white text in gold quotation marks:

A quote from a PFS participant (blue background with white text in gold quotation marks:

Purple background with gold quotation marks:

Navy background with gold quotation marks:

White background with gold quotation marks:

"I am truly grateful for the support I received from Lincoln's Inn. The Pupillage Foundation Scheme was excellent – I am sure that it had a significant impact on my applications’ success."

"The support and advice I received on the Pupillage Foundation Scheme was invaluable in helping me to rethink my approach towards applications and interviews."

"To say that without the PFS I would not have had this opportunity would be an understatement. It was with your help and guidance and invaluable mentoring that I secured a pupillage at an excellent chambers. This has changed my life."

"The scheme is truly the Inn’s greatest asset for aspiring barristers and I am looking forward to being as generous with my time as those who supported me."

"This year, with the help of the PFS, I achieved more success than the last two rounds combined."

"The Scheme was absolutely fantastic and I met so many incredible people. I am very grateful for it and I hope it continues to help other aspiring barristers network and improve their approach to Pupillage Applications."

"This was my fourth year applying and the PFS made all the difference. It was extremely well organised and the programme was thorough and comprehensive. It was a privilege and a pleasure to have been part of the PFS."

"During the PFS I received a variety of perspectives on my applications and interview skills which allowed me to target any weaknesses."