Pupillage

Fountain Court Chambers is a leading commercial set based at Temple in London. Its practice covers a broad range of commercial and related areas, including commercial disputes, banking and finance, civil fraud, company and insolvency work, competition, construction and energy, employment, financial services, insurance and reinsurance, international arbitration, professional negligence, sports, technology and media.

The Chambers' work includes complex and high-value commercial disputes and precedent-setting cases. Pupils are given the opportunity to work on live matters throughout their pupillage and to gain exposure to members across different levels of seniority.

The Pupillage

Fountain Court takes around four pupils each year for a 12-month pupillage beginning in October. The pupillage is structured around four seats of three months each.

The first and final three months are spent with the same pupil supervisor, who has overall responsibility for the pupil's training. The middle six months are spent with two different supervisors, giving pupils exposure to a wider range of practices and working styles.

Pupils are not assessed during their first two months. This allows them time to settle into Chambers and become familiar with the work and expectations of practice at the Commercial Bar.

Fountain Court does not require pupils to compete against each other. Pupils are assessed individually on their own merit, and the Chambers does not operate a fixed tenancy quota.

Live Commercial Work

A central feature of the pupillage is that pupils undertake work arising from the practices of members of Chambers rather than artificial assessment exercises.

Pupils spend significant time reading papers and may prepare pleadings, skeleton arguments, advices and legal notes addressing specific questions of law. They can accompany members to trials, appeals and, more frequently, interlocutory hearings.

Pupils are encouraged to develop an understanding of the full range of work undertaken at Fountain Court. Where possible, opportunities can be arranged for pupils who wish to gain experience in particular areas of practice.

Pupils will generally not receive their own work before the tenancy decision, as the emphasis during pupillage is on learning within Chambers and developing the skills required to practise as a junior commercial barrister. In the final three months, however, pupils are positively encouraged to undertake paid advocacy work.

Practice Areas

Fountain Court's practice encompasses a wide range of commercial and related areas, including:

Commercial Disputes: High-value commercial litigation and complex business disputes.

Banking and Finance: Financial disputes and banking-related litigation.

Civil Fraud: Fraud, asset recovery and related commercial disputes.

Company, Restructuring and Insolvency: Corporate disputes, restructuring and insolvency matters.

Competition: Competition litigation and related regulatory disputes.

Construction, Energy and Infrastructure: Disputes involving major construction, infrastructure and energy projects.

Employment: Commercial and employment-related disputes.

Financial Services: Litigation and regulatory matters affecting financial institutions and businesses.

Insurance and Reinsurance: Complex insurance and reinsurance disputes.

International Arbitration: International commercial arbitration and related proceedings.

Professional Negligence: Claims involving professional advisers and other professionals.

AI, Crypto and Technology: Disputes involving emerging technologies, digital assets and technology businesses.

The Chambers also has expertise in areas including administrative and public law, aviation and travel, commercial crime, group litigation, media and entertainment, offshore disputes, procurement, product liability, professional discipline, sanctions and sports.

Training and Development

Fountain Court provides tailored training throughout pupillage. Pupils work closely with their supervisors, who review and discuss their work and provide feedback on their progress.

The training is designed to prepare pupils for practice as junior commercial barristers. Pupils gain experience in legal research, analysis, drafting, advocacy and the practical aspects of working on commercial disputes.

Pupils are also encouraged to work collaboratively. The Chambers places emphasis on communication and cooperation between pupils, members, solicitors, clients and staff.

What Fountain Court Looks For

Fountain Court assesses candidates against three broad areas.

Academic and intellectual ability is an important part of the selection process. Candidates need to demonstrate strong analytical ability and the capacity to understand and work with complex information.

Advocacy and communication skills include clarity of expression, the ability to think and respond under pressure and potential as an advocate.

Potential as a self-employed commercial barrister includes an interest in and understanding of the work undertaken at Fountain Court, the ability to work effectively with members, solicitors, clients, staff and other pupils, and qualities including determination, resilience and integrity.

Application Process

Applications for pupillage are made through the Pupillage Gateway. Candidates complete the standard Gateway application and select Fountain Court as one of their preferred Chambers.

For the 2028 pupillage cycle, applications open at 11:00am on 4 January 2027 and close at 11:59pm on 28 January 2027. The Bar Council will not accept applications after the deadline or grant extensions. Offers are scheduled to be made on 7 May 2027 at 9:30am.

Mini-Pupillage Requirement

Fountain Court requires applicants for pupillage to have completed an assessed mini-pupillage, except in exceptional circumstances.

Candidates considering applying for pupillage are therefore encouraged to apply for a mini-pupillage well in advance. Where an applicant has not completed a mini-pupillage, a pupillage application may initially be treated as an application for mini-pupillage, although only a very limited number of mini-pupillages are available in those circumstances.

The Chambers recommends that law students consider applying for mini-pupillage during the second or third year of their degree. Non-law students should generally apply after beginning their legal studies because the mini-pupillage assessment involves completing a piece of legal written work.

Pupillage Award and Financial Support

For pupils starting from October 2026, Fountain Court provides a total pupillage award of £90,000. This comprises £55,000 for the first six months and £35,000 for the second six months, payable monthly in advance. The pupillage year runs from October to September.

The Chambers is also prepared to advance up to £35,000 before pupillage begins, providing financial support to prospective pupils during their vocational training.

Mini-pupils receive a £150 grant intended to cover reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses. Additional funding may be available in exceptional circumstances.

Tenancy

Fountain Court does not operate a fixed quota for tenancy. A pupil will only be offered pupillage where Chambers considers that the candidate has genuine potential to become a tenant, and all pupils who meet the required standard will be offered tenancy.

Tenancy offers are usually made in June or July. Fountain Court reports that in recent years it has taken on all of its pupils as tenants.

Following tenancy, junior barristers undertake a mixture of led work alongside senior members and unled work on their own. Fountain Court places particular emphasis on giving junior tenants opportunities to develop their advocacy skills and appear in court regularly.

Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility

Fountain Court is committed to widening access to the Commercial Bar and recognises the barriers that can discourage people from less privileged backgrounds from considering a career at the Bar.

The Chambers participates in initiatives designed to broaden access to commercial practice, including mentoring and outreach programmes. It also emphasises that there is no single route to the Commercial Bar and that its members come from a range of educational and personal backgrounds.

The Chambers has policies designed to prevent discrimination on grounds including gender, race, sexual orientation, age, disability and religion, and seeks to recruit from the widest possible pool of talent.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Fountain Court Chambers Pupillage 2028 is:

28 January 2027 at 11:59pm

Applications are made through the Pupillage Gateway. The application window opens on 4 January 2027 at 11:00am.

How to Apply

Candidates should complete the Pupillage Gateway application and ensure that they have completed an assessed Fountain Court mini-pupillage before applying, unless exceptional circumstances apply.