Pupillage

Express Chambers is the employed Bar within Express Solicitors, a specialist personal injury law firm. The Chambers operates as an integrated advocacy and advisory team within the wider business, with barristers, pupil barristers, advocates and clerks working alongside the firm's solicitors.

Express Solicitors was the first claimant personal injury firm in the UK to offer pupillage for prospective employed barristers after obtaining Authorised Education and Training Organisation status from the Bar Standards Board in 2022.

The model is designed to combine the training and advocacy opportunities associated with pupillage with the financial security and employment benefits of the employed Bar. Pupils work closely with experienced barristers and solicitors on real cases involving injured clients.

The Pupillage

Express Chambers currently offers up to four pupillages each year, with the number expected to increase as the business continues to grow.

The 12-month programme is designed to develop barristers specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence. Pupils work with experienced barristers and receive practical training in advocacy, drafting, legal research, advisory work and case preparation.

Unlike a traditional pupillage, Express Chambers allows pupils to gain practical advocacy experience at an early stage. Subject to approval by pupil supervisors and satisfaction of the relevant Bar Standards Board requirements, first-six pupils may be able to exercise limited rights of audience and participate in court hearings.

The second six places a much stronger emphasis on independent work and advocacy. Pupils take on their own work and can expect to be in court most days, giving them substantial practical experience before completing pupillage.

Work During Pupillage

Pupils are given exposure to real client matters throughout the programme.

Work can include:

• Legal research and analysis.

• Drafting opinions and written advice.

• Drafting pleadings and other court documents.

• Advice on quantum.

• Preparing grounds of appeal.

• Case preparation.

• Conferences and client work.

• Interlocutory hearings.

• County Court advocacy.

• Other civil litigation and personal injury hearings.

The Chambers' integrated structure means that pupils work closely with both barristers and solicitors. This provides insight into the complete lifecycle of a case, from initial instructions and preparation through to advocacy and resolution.

Practice Areas

The principal focus of Express Chambers is personal injury and clinical negligence.

Personal injury work can involve claims arising from accidents, serious injuries, occupational injuries, road traffic accidents and other forms of civil liability.

Clinical negligence work involves claims arising from medical treatment and alleged failures in healthcare.

The wider Express Solicitors business also handles areas including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, occupational disease, serious injury, medical negligence, criminal injuries compensation, housing disrepair, civil liberties, group actions and data breach claims. Express Chambers provides specialist advocacy and advisory services across the wider business.

Learning and Development

Pupils receive structured training and mentoring from experienced members of Express Chambers.

The programme is designed around the knowledge, skills and attributes required by the Bar Standards Board, while going further by providing an early opportunity to develop practical advocacy skills.

At the beginning of pupillage, each pupil discusses individual objectives and training needs with their pupil supervisor. The training programme can then be adapted to address the pupil's particular development needs.

Express Chambers also provides tailored learning through its Learning Management Systems and in-house trainers.

The Employed Bar

One of the main differences between Express Chambers and a traditional set of chambers is the employed status of its barristers.

Pupils are trained within an employment environment and can benefit from the financial security and employment protections associated with being an employee. There are no traditional chambers expenses or desk rent to pay.

The structure also provides access to employee benefits and flexible working arrangements. Express Chambers currently operates a 3/2 alternate working pattern, allowing pupils to divide their working time between home and the office, subject to the requirements of the role.

The Chambers also places emphasis on maintaining a reasonable work-life balance. Court attendance and the demands of litigation can sometimes require additional hours, but the programme is structured with work-life balance in mind.

What Express Chambers Looks For

Express Chambers is looking for candidates who have a clear interest in personal injury and clinical negligence law and who are suited to a career at the employed Bar.

The published selection criteria include:

Academic excellence: A minimum 2:1 degree and a Very Competent result at the vocational stage of training, except where exceptional mitigating circumstances apply.

Advocacy: Candidates should demonstrate strong potential as oral advocates.

Analytical ability: Candidates must be able to analyse legal and factual issues and reach well-reasoned conclusions.

Commitment to the employed Bar: Applicants should understand why they want to pursue an employed rather than traditional self-employed Bar career.

Interpersonal skills and temperament: Barristers need to work effectively with clients, solicitors, colleagues and other professionals.

BSB requirements: Candidates must demonstrate the qualities and suitability required to train and practise as a barrister.

Academic Requirements

Candidates must normally have achieved at least a 2:1 degree and a Very Competent result at the vocational stage of Bar training.

Express Chambers can take exceptional extenuating circumstances into account.

The Chambers places emphasis on academic and intellectual qualities alongside advocacy, interpersonal skills and suitability for the employed Bar.

Recruitment Process

Applications are made through the Pupillage Gateway. Express Chambers does not accept applications outside the Gateway.

For the October 2028 pupillage cycle, the national Pupillage Gateway timetable provides for applications to open on 4 January 2027 at 11:00am and close on 28 January 2027 at 11:59pm.

Express Chambers' recruitment process consists of three principal elements.

Application Form

Candidates complete the application form through the Pupillage Gateway.

The form requires information about education and employment history and includes questions concerning motivation, knowledge of the personal injury industry and advocacy experience.

The application is assessed not only on the substance of the answers but also on the candidate's drafting ability.

Advocacy Exercise

Candidates who progress through the application stage complete a short advocacy exercise as part of the interview process.

Candidates are given preparation time before presenting their arguments to the interview panel. The exercise is designed to assess advocacy skills and the candidate's ability to analyse and present a position effectively.

Panel Interview

The final stage involves a face-to-face panel interview.

The interview includes competency-based and strength-based questions, together with situational judgment questions. The process is designed to give candidates an opportunity to demonstrate different aspects of their skills and suitability for the role.

Pupillage Award and Employment Benefits

The latest available industry information lists a £30,000 pupillage award for Express Chambers. At the employed Bar, pupils are employed and receive a fixed salary rather than operating under the traditional self-employed chambers model.

Express Chambers also highlights the financial security associated with employment, together with employee benefits and protections and the absence of traditional chambers expenses or desk rent.

The financial package should be checked against the final 2028 Pupillage Gateway advertisement before publication if Express Chambers updates its salary.

Opportunities After Pupillage

Express Chambers views pupils as potential future members of the Chambers.

Pupils are given opportunities to demonstrate their competence throughout the 12-month programme, with the possibility of being offered full-time employment after completing pupillage and obtaining a practising certificate.

A post-pupillage position is not guaranteed, and candidates should therefore distinguish between the opportunity for employment and an automatic offer of a permanent barrister position.

The continuing growth of Express Chambers and the wider Express Solicitors business provides opportunities for development and progression after pupillage.

Mini-Pupillage

Express Chambers does not currently offer mini-pupillages.

Candidates who have completed their Bar qualifications but have not secured pupillage may sometimes be able to apply for advocate positions within Express Solicitors. However, Express Chambers makes clear that advocates cannot bypass the standard pupillage recruitment process, and an advocate position does not guarantee pupillage.

Equality and Reasonable Adjustments

Express Chambers is an equal opportunities employer and can make reasonable adjustments to facilitate applications from candidates with disabilities.

The Chambers has ground-floor meeting rooms and can make appropriate adjustments to the recruitment process where required.

International Applicants

Express Chambers currently does not have approval to sponsor visa applications.

International candidates should therefore ensure that they have the appropriate immigration status and right to work before applying.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Express Chambers Pupillage 2028 should be submitted through the Pupillage Gateway.

Applications open: 4 January 2027 at 11:00am
Application deadline: 28 January 2027 at 11:59pm
Pupillage start: September 2028
Pupillages available: Up to four
Latest published award: £30,000

Candidates should check the final Pupillage Gateway advertisement for any updated salary, start date or recruitment requirements.