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Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
CONTACT US
Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
It is also extremely valuable to meet, at an early stage in their careers, individuals who have the potential to play a significant role in the future development of the Bar and of Drystone Chambers itself.
Drystone Chambers is a London-based specialist criminal set whose members practise in courts across England, with particular emphasis on the South Eastern, Midland, and Western Circuits. This broad footprint enables us to offer mini‑pupillage opportunities across a wide geographical area.
Mini‑pupils will have the opportunity to meet Members of Chambers and observe a variety of criminal work, primarily in the Crown Court.
Successful applicants will spend up to one week shadowing one or more of our barristers. We make every effort to ensure that mini‑pupils experience a varied range of cases during their placement, subject to available work, and you can generally expect to attend court each day. You should be prepared to travel to different court locations throughout the week. Mini‑pupils are expected to arrive at the relevant court building by 09:00am.
To assist with the cost of travel to and from court, Chambers’ provides an allowance of up to £25 per day.
The submissions window for mini-pupillage applications for 2026 opens 5 March 2026 and closes 31 March 2026.
Prospective applicants should note that we are not offering mini-pupillages in the London area during 2026 due to the continuing London courts listings crisis, consistently resulting in fixed trials becoming vacated at short notice and relisted several years ahead. This situation had a detrimental effect on our ability to provide mini‑pupillages in the London area last year hence our decision.
Our mini-pupillages during 2026 will take place on the South Eastern Circuit, primarily at Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich Crown Courts, and on the Western Circuit, primarily at Portsmouth and Southampton Crown Courts.
It is therefore crucial that anyone applying for mini-pupillage with us during 2026 is able to comfortably attend at any of the above court centres by 9.00am during allocated mini-pupillage weeks.
Our 2026 mini-pupillages take place in June and between September and November.
Applications are made using our own Application Form available here. Completed application forms should be submitted during the application window, 5 – 31 March 2026 via email to the Head of Operations at russell.burton-lawrence@drystone.com.
Alternatively, you may post or deliver your completed form within the application window to Russell Burton-Lawrence, Drystone Chambers, 1 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4BU marked Private and Confidential.
Applications will only be accepted if they are made on Chambers’ current application form (see above link). Chambers will not accept applications via CV or covering letter. Only the information provided in sections 3 and 4 of the form will be used for assessment by the applications assessment panel, to ensure that all candidates are marked fairly and consistently. It is not acceptable to submit an application form with only basic information that refers to an attached CV or other information.
Due to the sensitive nature of our work applicants must be aged 18 or over. Applicants need to be undertaking, or have undertaken, a degree course, the GDL or BPC. We usually receive more applications than we are able to accommodate so priority will be given to those candidates who are undertaking, or have undertaken, a Law Degree or equivalent.
We encourage mini-pupillage applications from candidates from all backgrounds, especially from people under-represented at the Bar. We are committed to ensuring that the Bar is an accessible profession, open to those with ability regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion or economic background. As part of our commitment to ensuring a diverse Bar, we reserve 4 mini-pupillages for individuals who meet any of the following criteria:
Mini-pupils who have mobility issues, other disabilities or other commitments such as caring responsibilities, can discuss these in advance with the Head of Operations so that appropriate reasonable adjustments can be considered and implemented.
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we usually receive, we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Mini-pupils are required to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to commencement of their mini-pupillage. Mini-pupillages will be withdrawn if our confidentiality agreement is not properly completed and returned within 14 days of being requested.
As part of the application process, candidates are asked to complete an Equality and Diversity Monitoring form which is provided at the end of the application form.
Please read our FAQs below.
Thank you for your interest in mini-pupillage at Drystone Chambers.
You may be interested to read the Bar Council’s brochure Becoming A Barrister which provides a fascinating insight into a truly dynamic and challenging career.
Good luck ahead!
Our mini-pupillages last for one single week Monday to Friday. However, shorter periods will be considered.
Yes. We pay up to £25 per day towards the cost of travelling to and from the courts you will be attending during the week. This will be via a method of reimbursement administered by the Head of Operations after the conclusion of the mini-pupillage.
No, our mini-pupillages are not assessed.
The applications window for 2026 is 5 – 31 March 2026.
In 2026 our mini-pupillages will take place in June and between September and November.
Our website www.drystone.com is the central source of all our mini-pupillage information. Prior to the application window we may advertise our mini-pupillage vacancies and application time-table on our social media channels on X @DrystoneCrime and Linked-In. You may like to follow us on these channels to keep abreast of our latest updates.
No, but you need to evidence a strong desire to come to the criminal Bar. In the event that we receive more applications than places, priority will be given to those candidates who are undertaking, or have undertaken, a Law Degree or equivalent.
Barristers at Drystone Chambers attend at Crown Courts across England, with particular emphasis on the South Eastern, Midland, and Western Circuits. This broad footprint enables us to offer mini‑pupillage opportunities across a wide geographical area. Mini-pupils need to be prepared for the possibility of significant travel during their week.
Drystone Chambers covers the full gamut of criminal work. The vast majority of our work is in the Crown Court but where availability allows, we will arrange for our mini-pupils to experience some time in the Magistrates Court shadowing our pupils and junior members in order to obtain a first-hand understanding of real life in the earlier part of a criminal barrister’s practice.
Smart dark office wear, for example, a black, navy blue or dark grey suit and a white or other light coloured shirt. Men should wear ties. Women can wear a black or dark coloured dress and jacket or smart dark coloured trouser suit. Please wear sensible shoes that you can walk in all day as you may find you have a lot of walking to do between courts. For the sake of clarity, trainers are not acceptable footwear. Please bear in mind that whilst you are undertaking your mini-pupillage with us you are representing Drystone Chambers and therefore a professional looking appearance at all times is essential. Anyone not meeting our dress code will have their mini-pupillage terminated.
There is nothing specific that you need to prepare, but it would be prudent to make yourself familiar with the type of cases that members of Drystone Chambers undertake via our website. Our news page is a useful source of information in this regard as are our social media channels.
Absolutely not. The role of a mini-pupil is to observe only. All being well, you will have the opportunity to discuss the case with the barrister afterwards in private.
Barristers are bound by very strict rules about confidentiality and you must not discuss confidential information with anyone other than the barrister who you are with. If in doubt ask the barrister. You will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement in advance of your mini-pupillage.
You should bring a notebook and pen or equivalent. It is a good idea to make notes to remind yourself of any questions you may have later, but you should avoid making notes of any ‘personal information’. We want you to get maximum benefit from your mini-pupillage experience. Making the most of your time with us by having a positive attitude, taking notes and asking good questions at appropriate times will enable you to gain an insight into life at the criminal Bar and what it entails.
The point of contact throughout the application process and when your mini-pupillage is about to commence is the Head of Operations.
We value feedback on how well we have done and so all mini-pupils are provided with a feedback form at the end of their mini-pupillage to complete and provide comment on their experience, whether positive or negative, as this will help us to review our processes and procedures to ensure the best possible experience for future mini-pupils.
59,687
Cases awaiting trial in Crown Court
2,400
Number of criminal barristers (approximately)
35%
Percentage of the Judiciary who are women
51%
Percentage of women in population in England and Wales
