Pupillage

Tanfield Chambers is a leading specialist set practising across business and property law. Its work covers a broad range of property, commercial and related disputes, with particular expertise in residential and commercial property, real property, enfranchisement, service charges, development disputes, commercial disputes, company and shareholder disputes, insolvency and professional negligence.

The Chambers also has expertise in areas including agriculture and rural matters, building safety, infrastructure and natural resources, private client work, ADR, finance, securities, mortgages and receivership.

Tanfield takes a focused approach to pupillage, recruiting only candidates who are considered to have the potential to become future members of Chambers. The Chambers has offered tenancy to all of its pupils over the last ten years, with 100% of pupils in the last five years being offered tenancy.

The Pupillage

Tanfield offers up to three 12-month pupillages each year. Pupillage is divided into three four-month periods, with a different pupil supervisor for each period.

The structure is designed to expose pupils to the Chambers' principal areas of practice and allow them to work with a wide range of members. Pupils sit in their supervisor's room and receive in-person supervision throughout the year.

During the first six months, pupils are non-practising. They shadow members of Chambers, undertake legal research and drafting, prepare opinions and pleadings, and attend court and client conferences both in person and remotely.

The second six months are a practising period. Pupils begin undertaking their own work under supervision and can expect to be in court regularly. Typical work includes possession claims and interim applications, with opportunities to undertake small claim and fast-track trials and tribunal work.

This structure gives pupils practical experience of advocacy before they begin junior practice while retaining the support of their supervisors.

Practice Areas

Tanfield's practice covers a wide range of business and property work, including:

Residential property: Contractual issues, leasehold matters, possession claims and property rights.

Commercial property: Business tenancies, planning and development and commercial property disputes.

Real property and enfranchisement: Disputes concerning ownership, rights in land and enfranchisement.

Service charges: Residential and commercial service charge disputes.

Development disputes: Disputes arising from property development and related transactions.

Commercial disputes: Commercial litigation, finance, securities, mortgages and receivership.

Company and shareholder disputes: Disputes involving companies, shareholders and corporate relationships.

Insolvency: Property and commercial insolvency matters.

Professional negligence: Claims arising from professional services and advice.

Private client: Wills, trusts, probate and related disputes.

Agriculture and rural: Property and commercial matters involving agricultural and rural land.

Building safety: Disputes and advice arising from building safety issues.

Infrastructure, natural resources and environment: Property and commercial issues involving major infrastructure and natural resources.

Alternative dispute resolution: Mediation and other forms of dispute resolution.

Life as a Tanfield Pupil

Pupils are involved in both the legal and practical aspects of life at Chambers. Alongside drafting and advocacy, they attend court and client conferences and have opportunities to become familiar with the wider operation of a barristers' practice.

Tanfield's published pupillage material describes a positive work-life balance. Chambers' stated office hours are 8:30am to 6:30pm, and pupils are not expected to work outside those hours. Pupils can also become involved in client entertainment, conferences, seminars and Chambers' social activities.

The Chambers provides access to major legal publications, a laptop and screen, compulsory training courses and an internal training programme throughout the year.

Advocacy and Training

Advocacy is an important part of Tanfield's pupillage structure. Pupils develop their advocacy skills through practical court experience, supervision and feedback.

The second six provides particularly valuable advocacy experience because pupils begin practising on their feet and handling their own hearings under the supervision and support of experienced members.

The training programme continues throughout pupillage and includes internal training as well as compulsory external courses funded by Chambers.

What Tanfield Looks For

Tanfield assesses candidates against a defined set of competencies covering academic ability, legal analysis, communication, advocacy, resilience, interpersonal skills, motivation and independent working.

Intellectual Achievement

Candidates are normally expected to have achieved a First Class or Upper Second-Class degree, together with strong A-level or equivalent results. Lower results may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Analytical Thinking

Candidates should be able to absorb and process complex information quickly and accurately, distinguish relevant facts from irrelevant material, identify the key legal issues and analyse complicated arguments without making unwarranted assumptions.

Communication

Tanfield looks for candidates who can communicate clearly in writing and orally, structure information effectively, adapt their communication to different audiences and explain complex legal points simply and accurately.

Influencing and Advocacy

Candidates should be able to construct strong and logical arguments, anticipate objections and communicate persuasively and confidently. The ability to influence through both rational argument and an understanding of the audience is important.

Resilience

Candidates must be able to remain composed under pressure, deal constructively with difficult situations and handle conflict without losing focus.

Interpersonal Skills

The Chambers looks for people who can develop productive relationships with colleagues and clients, listen carefully, understand different perspectives and treat others with courtesy and respect.

Drive and Determination

Candidates should demonstrate initiative, persistence and a clear focus on achieving objectives while understanding the limits of their own responsibilities.

Motivation

Tanfield looks for candidates who have made a considered decision to pursue a career at the Bar and understand the realities of practice. Applicants should also demonstrate a genuine interest in Tanfield's core areas of work.

Independent Working

Pupils need to be capable of working independently, exercising their own judgment and seeking guidance appropriately when necessary.

Application Process

Tanfield recruits through the Pupillage Gateway. The recruitment process for pupillage commencing in September 2028 has already been published by Chambers.

Stage 1: Pupillage Gateway Application

Applications open on 4 January 2027 at 11:00am and close on 28 January 2027 at 11:59pm.

Applications are shortlisted on an anonymised basis against Tanfield's published selection criteria. Candidates are expected to demonstrate academic achievement, analytical ability, communication skills, advocacy potential, resilience, interpersonal skills, motivation and the ability to work independently.

Stage 2: Interview

Successful applicants are invited to an interview.

The interview consists of two parts. Candidates receive a legal problem 30 minutes before the interview and are assessed on their ability to analyse and discuss it. The second part is a 30-minute competency-based interview covering areas including situational, biographical and ethical questions.

Approximately 20 candidates have been invited to this stage on average over the past five years. Interviews are scheduled for March 2027 and are expected to take place in person unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.

Stage 3: Final Assessment

Candidates who progress from the interview stage are invited to a final assessment.

The assessment is conducted remotely and involves producing a written opinion. Instructions are provided in the morning and the work is completed by the end of the business day. Candidates can access Chambers' online library if required.

Approximately eight candidates have progressed to this stage on average over the past five years.

Stage 4: Final Interview

Candidates who complete the final assessment are invited to a short final interview conducted remotely.

The interview focuses on discussion of the candidate's final assessment and takes place in the following week.

Successful candidates will receive their pupillage offer on 7 May 2027 at 9:30am, in accordance with the national Pupillage Gateway timetable.

Pupillage Award and Financial Support

The current published pupillage award at Tanfield is £80,000, of which £40,000 is guaranteed earnings during the second six months.

Candidates who have not yet undertaken their Bar vocational training year may draw down up to £20,000 of the award during that year.

Tanfield also provides a laptop and screen, access to major legal publications and funding for compulsory training courses.

The £80,000 figure is the current published award and should be checked against Tanfield's final 2028 vacancy for any subsequent change.

Tenancy

Tanfield's pupillage is undertaken with a view to eventual tenancy. Chambers' policy is to recruit only candidates who are considered to have a realistic prospect of becoming members.

The Chambers has offered tenancy to all pupils over the last ten years, while its latest pupillage brochure reports that 100% of pupils in the last five years have been offered tenancy.

Equality and Diversity

Tanfield considers applications on merit and welcomes applications from candidates from under-represented groups at the Bar. Its equal opportunities policy covers applications for pupillage and tenancy as well as administrative positions.

Reasonable arrangements can be discussed where candidates have particular requirements during the recruitment process.

Pupillage Open Evening

Tanfield is holding a Pupillage Open Evening on 25 November 2026. The event is intended to give prospective applicants an opportunity to learn more about life at Chambers and the pupillage application process. Further information about attendance is to be released by Chambers.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Tanfield Chambers Pupillage 2028 is:

28 January 2027 at 11:59pm

Applications must be submitted through the Pupillage Gateway. The national Gateway timetable confirms that applications for the 2028 pupillage cycle open on 4 January 2027 at 11:00am and close on 28 January 2027 at 11:59pm.

How to Apply

Candidates should prepare their Pupillage Gateway application in advance and review Tanfield's published selection criteria carefully. The Chambers places particular emphasis on analytical thinking, effective communication, advocacy, resilience, interpersonal skills, motivation and independent working.