18SJS
Careers

18 St John Street Chambers are actively inviting applications from established practitioners due to our extremely busy and increasing workload. We are keen to attract established practitioners across all our departments.  Applications will be treated in strictest confidence and should be addressed to the Chambers Manager.

At present, we are particularly keen to attract applications from ambitious juniors of up to 10 years’ call to join its busy and expanding Business and Property department and also for our Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Costs department.

Enquiries can be made in confidence to the Head of Recruitment Committee, Soria Kajue who will arrange for you to have an informal discussion with the head of the relevant team.

Applications (in confidence, by way of a letter and CV and giving details of two referees) should be addressed to the Chambers Director James Parks or Chambers Manager, Emma Bowie.

• • • Pupillage

   

18 St John Street Chambers are committed to delivering the highest level of advice, advocacy and client service to professional and lay clients for over 50 years, regionally, nationally and internationally.

We maintain the highest standards and traditions of the independent bar but we are a dynamic and forward thinking chambers focussed on quality client service and sound management.

We have proven success in providing a first-class platform for Pupil Barristers, assisting them right through the pupillage process to a point where they can apply for full tenancy within chambers.

Across our four core departments we offer exceptionally skilled practitioners in Business and Property; Family Law; Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Costs & Employment and Criminal Law.

The depth of each department allows us to offer an extensive list of barristers across the full range of seniority and experience who are knowledgeable, insightful and analytical with particular expertise in verbal and written advice, legal drafting, negotiation and court advocacy.

• Recruitment

  We are looking for 3 candidates to join us for 12 month pupillages in 2026 in the following areas.

  1. Business and Property Law
  2. Family Law
  3. Personal Injury Law

  We provide excellent training, clear pathways all with an inclusive and friendly culture – essentially providing the skills and knowledge to succeed at the modern Bar.

  Throughout the Pupillage period, Pupils receive regular feedback from their Pupil Supervisor.

  Most importantly we offer Pupillage with a view to Tenancy, at the end of the year.

  Pupils are not in competition with each other and as a result build a strong support network and friendships together.

  We provide a working culture which recognises the value of equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of society.

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  Application Procedure

  Applications for 2026 Pupillages open on 2^nd January 2025 and close on 6th February 2025 via the Pupillage Gateway. www.pupillagegateway.com

  Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 17^th March and invited to an assessment day which will be held at 18 St John Street Chambers, on Saturday 5^th April.

  There will be a timed written exercise on the evening of 26^th March to be completed remotely and returned the same evening.

  Final interviews will take place in Chambers on Sunday 6^th April.

  Please note the assessment day and final interviews will be held in person in Manchester. Chambers does not cover travel expenses.

  Pupillage offers will be made on 9^th May 2025.

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• Pupillage Award

  The Pupillage Award is paid in monthly instalments for the first 6 months.

In the second six-month period, the pupillage award takes the format of guaranteed earnings. For example, if your guaranteed earnings are £2000 and you have only earned £1000 in a given month, Chambers would pay you £1000 to ensure you have earned the total guaranteed minimum in that month. If your earnings exceeded the minimum, then Chambers would not pay you anything in that month.

For more details about our pupillage offers, including information on assessment, interviews and funding, please see our Pupillage & Recruitment Policy which can be downloaded here.

18 St John Street has published its Diversity Data from the 2021 round of pupillage applications. The link can be found by clicking here.

Head of Chambers, Richard Chapman KC, said, “Our commitment to diversity is longstanding, is well-evidenced by our approach to recruitment, and has ensured that we have attracted the very best applicants, pupils, and tenants. 18 has always emphasised the importance of being a close community of colleagues and friends, which makes inclusion and diversity natural parts of who we are.”