Pupillage life at Drystone Chambers: insights from our pupils and juniors

Drystone Chambers is a leading London-based criminal set consistently featured in the Legal500 and Chambers & Partners legal directories. Chambers has earned an outstanding reputation in criminal litigation and also in the fields of regulatory and professional discipline law.

Drystone Chambers is committed to providing opportunities to the most talented pupil candidates regardless of background or any protected characteristic. We are a member of the Pupillage Gateway and accept applications within that timetable.

Our commitment to the growth and development of the junior criminal bar through pupillage is demonstrated by our actions.  In October 2023 we took three pupils, all of whom were offered tenancy upon the completion of their pupillages, becoming Members of Chambers October 2024. In October 2024, we took two pupils who successfully completed their pupillages, becoming Members of Chambers in October 2025.  Also in October 2025, we welcomed five new pupils. We have therefore provided 10 pupillages in the last three pupillage recruitment years. It is also important to understand that, unlike other chambers, there is no competition between our pupils, meaning that if our pupils make our grade at the end of their pupillages, they will be offered tenancy. By way of example, if our five new five pupils demonstrate their value at the end of pupillage, five tenancies will be offered. We are passionate about the development of our pupils and provide every opportunity and encouragement through high quality training and supervision, for them to succeed. It is accurate to say that not all chambers share our philosophy when it comes to  the recruitment and treatment of pupils.

To help aspiring criminal barristers gain an insight into pupillage life generally and here at Drystone Chambers, our pupils and junior members have written short stories about their experiences on their personal journeys to pupillage, which we hope provides a useful insight.

My ‘persistent’ journey to the Criminal Barr – Lidia Iancu
An against the odds journey to pupillage – Anisa Kebbati
My journey to the independent Criminal Bar – Adam Furze
A career changer’s journey to pupillage – Eliza Harris
A black woman’s inspiring journey to success at the criminal bar – Kenniesha Stephens
Pupillage applications – what I wish I knew – Ross Ludlow
Reality of pupillage at the criminal bar – Alex Shanks
My criminal pupillage experience at Drystone Chambers – Sophie Clifford