Pupillage

2 Temple Gardens (2TG) offers two or three pupillages each year to candidates who demonstrate the potential to become tenants of Chambers. 2TG is a leading set with a broad civil and commercial practice, and its barristers regularly appear in significant cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

The Pupillage

The pupillage is structured around three different pupil supervisors. This gives pupils the opportunity to experience different areas of practice and to work with a range of barristers, including leading Silks.

Pupils are closely involved in their supervisors' ongoing work and are given the opportunity to develop their own practice from an early stage. At the beginning of the second six, pupils are given cases of their own and begin gaining experience of appearing in court.

Pupils also receive advocacy training throughout the year. The training is delivered by qualified Inns of Court advocacy trainers and is designed to prepare pupils for taking on their own cases. Pupil supervisors and junior tenants also provide support as pupils begin appearing in court independently.

The structure is intended to give pupils both broad exposure to Chambers' work and practical experience of developing an independent practice.

Areas of Practice

2TG has a broad civil and commercial practice, with expertise including:

Commercial
Employment
Healthcare and injury
Insurance
Construction
Healthcare
Insurance and reinsurance
Manufacturing and products
Professional services
Sport
Travel
Adjudication
Arbitration
Mediation
International arbitration
International claims
International courts
International group litigation
Private international law

Chambers also has experience of complex cross-border disputes and regularly acts in international courts and arbitral tribunals.

Pupillage Award

The 2026/2027 Pupillage Award is £82,500, comprising:

• £20,000 paid as a grant following acceptance of the offer for the BPTC year.

• £47,500 paid during the first six months of pupillage.

• £15,000 guaranteed earnings during the second six months.

2TG states that its experience is that pupils in their second six earn significantly more than the guaranteed £15,000.

The published award relates to the 2026/2027 pupillage year, so applicants should check the current terms applicable to the relevant intake.

Candidate Requirements

Selection is based on merit. 2TG looks for candidates with a strong academic background, with successful applicants usually having or being predicted to achieve a first or high 2:1 undergraduate degree.

The selection criteria also consider:

Intellectual ability
Legal aptitude
Motivation
Impact
Temperament
Commitment to 2 Temple Gardens
Non-academic involvement and achievements

Candidates are expected to demonstrate a commitment to a career at the Bar, together with drive, determination, leadership ability and the ability to see matters through to a successful conclusion. The selection process also considers candidates' ability to communicate confidently, work under pressure and remain calm in demanding situations.

Selection Process

Applications are submitted through the Pupillage Gateway.

Applications are scored against 2TG's selection criteria. The initial applications are anonymised and equality monitoring information is removed from the assessment process.

Approximately 40 of the strongest applicants are invited to a first-round interview at Chambers. The interview lasts around 20 minutes and includes an advocacy exercise. Candidates receive 30 minutes to prepare for the exercise.

Approximately 12 candidates who perform best at the first stage are invited to complete a written exercise and attend a final-round interview.

The final interview lasts approximately 40 minutes and includes structured questions and a legal problem. The written exercise and legal problem are intended to test legal aptitude rather than specific legal knowledge. Candidates also have an opportunity to learn more about life at 2TG.

Candidates who have previously applied are permitted to apply again. However, 2TG recommends reapplying only where the new application is materially different, such as where there have been substantially improved academic results, significant mooting success or additional relevant experience.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

2TG is committed to increasing inclusion and diversity at the Bar. Chambers particularly encourages applications from women, people of minority ethnic origin and people with disabilities, as well as candidates from other groups historically underrepresented at the Bar.

Application

Applications should be submitted through the Pupillage Gateway.

The application deadline depends on the relevant Pupillage Gateway recruitment cycle. Candidates should check the current Pupillage Gateway timetable and the 2TG website for the applicable opening and closing dates before submitting an application.