Pupillage

Atkin Chambers is a specialist commercial set based at Gray’s Inn in London. Chambers focuses on disputes arising from construction and engineering, energy, infrastructure, technology and telecommunications, together with related areas of commercial and international dispute resolution.

Its work includes some of the largest and most complex construction, infrastructure and energy disputes in the UK and internationally. Members also undertake work involving international arbitration, PFI projects, professional negligence, shipbuilding and offshore construction, and technology and telecommunications.

The practice gives pupils exposure to technically complex disputes involving substantial commercial and factual issues, with opportunities to develop an international dimension to their practice.

The Pupillage

Atkin Chambers offers two funded 12-month pupillages each year.

The purpose of pupillage is to develop the legal, analytical, advocacy and professional skills required to become a successful member of Chambers. Pupils work alongside experienced barristers and gain an understanding of the specialist commercial work undertaken at Atkin.

The training is designed to prepare successful pupils for practice in construction, energy and infrastructure law while also developing the broader skills required to build a successful practice as a self-employed barrister.

Chambers places significant importance on pupil development. Training is not regarded as ending when a pupil becomes a tenant, with new tenants continuing to benefit from the experience and expertise available within Chambers.

Areas of Practice

Atkin Chambers' principal areas of expertise include:

Construction and Engineering: Major disputes arising from construction and engineering projects, including technically complex contractual and commercial disputes.

Energy: Disputes and advisory work relating to energy projects and the energy sector.

Infrastructure: High-value disputes concerning major infrastructure projects and related contractual arrangements.

International Arbitration: International commercial disputes and arbitration proceedings involving clients and projects across different jurisdictions.

Technology and Telecommunications: Disputes involving technology, telecommunications and related contractual issues.

Professional Negligence: Claims involving professionals and specialist advisers, particularly where they arise in the context of Chambers' core sectors.

Shipbuilding and Offshore Construction: Specialist disputes concerning shipbuilding, offshore construction and related projects.

PFI: Disputes and advisory work concerning private finance and infrastructure projects.

The combination of these practice areas means that pupils can develop expertise in a distinctive area of commercial law while working on disputes with substantial technical and international dimensions.

Work Undertaken by Pupils

Pupils undertake work designed to develop the skills they will need as junior commercial barristers.

Typical work includes drafting pleadings and legal advice, undertaking legal research and assisting supervisors with the preparation of commercial disputes. Pupils also gain exposure to the strategic and analytical aspects of complex litigation and arbitration.

The work can involve substantial technical and factual material. Pupils therefore develop the ability to identify the legally significant issues within large quantities of information and to communicate their analysis clearly and precisely.

Atkin's current recruitment information also emphasises the opportunity to work alongside barristers who are recognised as leaders in their specialist areas and to gain experience of high-value commercial and international work.

Structure of Pupillage

Pupillage is divided into three seats, with two supervisors during the first six months and a further supervisor during the second six months.

The rotation gives pupils exposure to different members of Chambers and different approaches to commercial practice. It also allows pupils to experience a variety of construction, engineering, energy and infrastructure disputes.

The work allocated during pupillage is primarily intended to provide training and development. Pupils are not generally expected to spend their pupillage undertaking the same work as a junior tenant, but instead receive work selected to develop their legal and professional abilities.

Training and Assessment

Atkin Chambers operates a structured assessment process throughout pupillage.

Pupils undertake written and advocacy exercises during the year and receive feedback designed to help them improve. Assessment is intended to identify development over the course of pupillage rather than relying solely on a single end-of-year assessment.

Towards the end of the practising period, pupils take part in a formal tenancy assessment process. This includes written reports from pupil supervisors, the ongoing assessment record, panel work, an advocacy exercise and a test paper.

The assessment process is therefore closely connected to the Chambers' decision on whether a pupil should be offered tenancy.

What Atkin Chambers Looks For

Atkin Chambers assesses applicants against a number of equally weighted criteria where applicable.

Intellectual Excellence

Chambers considers intellectual ability by reference to the whole application, including academic achievement and evidence of intellectual ability outside formal education.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate the capacity to understand complex issues, analyse information and apply legal principles accurately.

Advocacy and Communication

The selection process considers written and oral communication skills, including preparation, presentation, clarity, persuasiveness, the ability to anticipate and address opposing arguments and the ability to respond effectively under pressure.

Motivation and Commitment

Candidates should demonstrate a genuine interest in practising in Atkin's specialist areas and the motivation to build a successful practice as a self-employed barrister.

This includes an understanding of the standards of professional conduct expected at the Bar, awareness of the diverse needs and perspectives of others and a commitment to developing the business and client relationships necessary for a successful practice.

Judgment and Commercial Advice

At interview, Chambers also assesses judgment and the potential to advise professional and lay clients confidently and calmly in commercial matters.

Candidates should demonstrate that they can work effectively with barristers, solicitors, clients and staff while also being capable of working independently.

Academic Requirements

Atkin Chambers welcomes applications from both law and non-law graduates and does not give preference to law graduates.

A science or technical degree is not required, despite the technical nature of much of Chambers' work. Applicants are not expected to have prior knowledge of construction law, although Chambers looks for a firm grounding in and interest in contract and tort law.

Applicants must, at a minimum, be in the final year of a law degree or, for non-law graduates, undertaking the GDL.

Chambers normally expects applicants to have achieved a first-class degree or a good upper second-class degree. Postgraduate qualifications are viewed favourably but are not essential.

Career changers can also apply. Chambers recognises that candidates may have followed different academic, vocational or professional routes before seeking pupillage. Overseas degrees may also be accepted, subject to the relevant Bar Standards Board requirements and any necessary assessment or waiver.

Recruitment Process

Applications for the September 2028 intake are made through the Pupillage Gateway during the January 2027 recruitment window. The application period runs from 4 January 2027 to 28 January 2027.

Stage 1: Written Application

Candidates submit their application through the Pupillage Gateway.

Atkin's published application guidance also requires applicants to prepare a CV and cover letter explaining why they are applying and why they would make a good candidate for pupillage at Chambers.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages. Chambers expressly requires application materials to be the candidate's own original work and prohibits the use of generative AI, including large language model programmes, in preparing the content.

Stage 2: First-Round Interview

First-round interviews are normally 15 to 20 minutes long and are conducted by at least two members of Chambers, including at least one member of the Pupillage and Recruitment Committee.

Candidates may be asked questions about their written application.

They are also required to give a short presentation on a topical issue and answer questions arising from that presentation.

Stage 3: Second-Round Interview

Approximately 10 candidates are typically invited to the second round.

The second-round interview normally lasts around 45 minutes and is attended by the Pupillage and Recruitment Committee.

Candidates receive a legal problem in advance and are required to provide their advice and answer questions about the problem during the interview. They may also be asked to argue a position concerning a separate unseen legal or topical issue.

Each interviewer initially assesses candidates independently before the panel discusses the assessments and reaches an agreed overall assessment.

Tenancy

Atkin Chambers has a strong commitment to recruiting tenants from its own pupils.

Pupils applying for tenancy participate in a formal assessment process during their practising period. Chambers aims to make tenancy decisions in early July, approximately 10 months into pupillage.

The decision takes account of reports from each pupil supervisor, the ongoing assessment process and formal assessment exercises including panel work, advocacy and a written test.

Atkin's stated approach is to develop pupils with a view to successful entry into Chambers as tenants.

Pupillage Award

The current published pupillage award is £85,000 for pupils starting in September 2026.

The award is paid in equal monthly instalments throughout the 12-month pupillage.

Chambers currently offers up to £25,000 from the pupillage award as funding towards the Bar Training Course, with applications for further advances considered on a case-by-case basis.

The £85,000 figure should be regarded as the current published award, rather than a confirmed remuneration package for the September 2028 intake. The final 2028 Gateway vacancy should be checked for any updated award.

International Candidates

Atkin Chambers accepts applications from candidates who have studied or completed their undergraduate degree overseas.

International candidates should ensure that they have obtained any necessary Bar Standards Board waivers or certifications before applying to undertake UK Bar training.

Chambers also supports international students through the pupillage process and provides information regarding sponsorship and immigration support.

Mini-Pupillage

Atkin Chambers runs at least two one-day group mini-pupillages each year.

Mini-pupillage provides candidates with an opportunity to experience life at Chambers and gain exposure to its specialist areas of practice. Before the day, mini-pupils receive papers to read and consider. These are discussed during the day with members of Chambers who worked on them.

The programme also includes a round-table discussion about life at the Bar and practice at the Construction Bar.

Mini-pupillage is not assessed and is not a prerequisite for applying for pupillage. Its purpose is primarily to give prospective applicants a better understanding of Chambers' practice and the Bar more generally.

Applications for the 2027 mini-pupillage programme open on 1 November 2026. Chambers asks applicants to be at least in their second year of a law degree or third year of a non-law degree, although applicants studying the BPC or GDL may also apply.

Equality and Diversity

Atkin Chambers considers applications on merit and is committed to equality, diversity and social mobility at the Bar.

Chambers welcomes applications from graduates of all universities and backgrounds and does not discriminate on grounds including race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion or belief, age or other protected characteristics.

Reasonable adjustments are available to reduce disadvantage for disabled candidates and applicants.

Interview Expenses

Atkin Chambers reimburses reasonable travel expenses for candidates attending interviews.

Candidates can request information about claiming expenses when their interview is arranged and can also contact Chambers to discuss reasonable adjustments.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Atkin Chambers Pupillage 2028 is:

28 January 2027

Applications open on 4 January 2027 and the recruitment process is conducted through the Pupillage Gateway. The current published recruitment calendar confirms that Atkin's 2028 pupillage runs from September 2028 to August 2029.

How to Apply

Candidates should prepare their application in advance and ensure that their CV and cover letter are entirely their own work.

Applicants should pay particular attention to Atkin Chambers' selection criteria, particularly intellectual excellence, advocacy and communication, motivation, judgment and the ability to build a successful commercial practice.