Pupillage

Devereux Chambers is a leading civil set based in London. Its barristers act for leading solicitors' firms, major corporates and multinational businesses, government departments and private individuals.

The Chambers' principal areas of practice are commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, personal injury, clinical negligence and tax. Its commercial practice includes insurance, reinsurance, professional negligence and telecommunications, while its tax practice covers both advisory and contentious work for HMRC and taxpayers.

Pupils have the opportunity to become involved in complex litigation and develop experience across several of Chambers' principal areas of practice.

The Pupillage

Devereux offers two funded pupillages each year.

The programme is structured to provide pupils with placements alongside leading junior members of Chambers in at least three of its main practice areas. This gives pupils exposure to different types of work, clients and litigation while developing the practical skills required for tenancy.

The programme is structured and challenging, with regular written and advocacy assessments throughout the year. Devereux's stated aim is to provide pupils with the training and support required to fulfil their potential as barristers.

Work During Pupillage

Pupils can expect to undertake substantial legal work across Chambers' civil practice.

Depending on their placements, this can include legal research, drafting, written advice, pleadings, preparation for hearings, conferences and advocacy. Pupils are exposed to complex litigation and are given opportunities to work with different members of Chambers.

The breadth of the practice allows pupils to develop experience across several areas rather than being restricted to a single specialist field.

Practice Areas

Devereux Chambers' core areas of practice include:

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration: Commercial disputes and arbitration, including complex disputes involving businesses and corporate clients.

Insurance and Reinsurance: Insurance coverage, liability and reinsurance disputes.

Professional Negligence: Claims involving professional advisers and other professionals.

Telecommunications: Commercial and regulatory disputes concerning telecommunications and related technology.

Employment: Employment disputes and advisory work, including dismissals, employment rights, discrimination, industrial relations, investigations and restrictive covenants.

Personal Injury: Claims involving serious injury, employers' liability, industrial disease, accidents abroad and other personal injury matters.

Clinical Negligence: Claims arising from medical treatment and alleged clinical negligence.

Tax: Advisory and contentious tax work, acting for both HMRC and taxpayers.

Devereux also has expertise in areas including banking and financial services, energy and natural resources, fraud, environmental law, regulatory and professional discipline, financial mis-selling, consumer credit and alternative dispute resolution.

What Devereux Chambers Looks For

Devereux looks for candidates with the potential to become tenants at Chambers.

The selection criteria include:

Incisive analysis: Candidates should demonstrate the ability to identify the important issues in complex material and analyse them effectively.

Advocacy skills: Candidates should have the potential to develop strong written and oral advocacy skills.

Academic excellence: Strong academic performance is an important part of the selection process.

Common sense and practicality: Devereux values the ability to approach problems sensibly and provide practical solutions.

Interpersonal skills: Barristers need to work effectively with clients, solicitors, opponents, colleagues and other professionals, making the ability to get on with people an important part of the assessment.

The Chambers' emphasis is on identifying candidates with the potential to become successful tenants rather than simply assessing existing legal knowledge.

Academic Requirements

Applicants are expected to have achieved at least a 2:1 degree together with an impressive all-round CV.

Devereux's published requirements focus on academic performance alongside the wider evidence of a candidate's abilities, experience and suitability for practice at the Bar.

Candidates should therefore use the application to demonstrate not only academic achievement but also evidence of analytical ability, advocacy, practical judgment and commitment to a career as a barrister.

Assessment During Pupillage

Assessment takes place throughout the year rather than being concentrated at the end of pupillage.

Devereux's programme includes five formal written assessments and two formal advocacy assessments. One formal assessment takes place each month from December through to June.

The assessment structure gives pupils regular opportunities to demonstrate their progress and receive feedback on the skills required for practice.

Tenancy

Devereux's pupillage programme is designed with tenancy in mind.

The Chambers has recruited all pupils who applied through the Pupillage Gateway as tenants during the last four years, resulting in eight tenancies over that period. This provides a strong indication of the relationship between successful completion of pupillage and tenancy at Chambers, although a tenancy offer remains dependent on the individual pupil meeting the required standard.

Pupillage Award

The latest published pupillage award is £75,000.

Up to £20,000 of the award can be drawn down during the BPTC year. The advance is paid in two instalments, in December and May.

During the first six months of pupillage, pupils receive £27,500, paid in monthly instalments. During the second six months, earnings are guaranteed at a minimum of £27,500, also paid monthly.

The £75,000 figure is the latest published amount and should be checked against Devereux's final 2028 Gateway advertisement in case the Chambers updates the award before applications open.

Mini-Pupillage

Devereux offers two mini-pupillage programmes.

The July programme is principally aimed at candidates who are at an earlier stage of their journey to the Bar. Successful applicants spend one day with a member of Chambers.

The December programme is aimed at candidates who are in a position to apply for pupillage during the same academic year. Successful applicants undertake a two-day mini-pupillage during a two-week period in December shortly before the Pupillage Gateway application window opens.

The December 2026 mini-pupillage application window opened on 1 September 2026 and closes at midday on 23 October 2026.

Mini-pupillage provides candidates with an opportunity to observe members of Chambers, experience the work undertaken by barristers and gain an insight into Devereux's collegiate working environment.

Recruitment and Application Process

Applications for pupillage are made through the Pupillage Gateway.

For the 2028 pupillage cycle, the national Gateway timetable provides for applications to open on 4 January 2027 at 11:00am and close on 28 January 2027 at 11:59pm. Candidates cannot submit applications after the deadline and extensions are not available.

Devereux has confirmed that it will participate in this application timetable.

Candidates should ensure that their application demonstrates the qualities Devereux is looking for, particularly analytical ability, advocacy potential, academic achievement, practicality and interpersonal skills.

Equality and Diversity

Devereux considers applications on an equal basis and does not discriminate on grounds including gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or age.

The Chambers welcomes applications from candidates with disabilities. Its main building has ramp access to the entrance and conference rooms and a disabled toilet. The Chambers also provides access to wheelchair-accessible facilities in its other building.

Equality and diversity monitoring information is kept separately from applications and is not considered during the selection process.

Pupillage Information Webinar

Devereux provides prospective applicants with additional information about its pupillage programme through recruitment events and webinars.

A Pupillage Information Webinar was held on 28 November 2025, and the Chambers also provides guidance from current and former pupils covering topics such as preparing pupillage applications, interview preparation and life as a pupil.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Devereux Chambers Pupillage 2028 should be made through the Pupillage Gateway.

Applications open: 4 January 2027 at 11:00am
Application deadline: 28 January 2027 at 11:59pm
Pupillage start: October 2028
Pupillages available: Two
Latest published award: £75,000

Candidates should check the final Pupillage Gateway advertisement when it is published for any updated financial information, application questions or recruitment requirements.