A Year in the Life of our Pupils

Holly Girven

Holly undertook her pupillage at Farrar’s Building between October 2022 and September 2023. Here, she offers an insight into her life as a pupil.

From the outset of my pupillage it was clear that the atmosphere in Chambers was friendly and relaxed. I was made to feel very welcome and really enjoyed my pupillage experience, and a large part of that was due to feeling supported by members and staff.

Pupillage consisted of three, four month rotations with different supervisors. During my non-practising first six months, I shadowed my supervisors in court, conferences and joint settlement meetings. I also had the opportunity to observe other members in mediations and court, including the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Observing a variety of members enabled me to gain experience across a wide range of cases, with a focus on personal injury and clinical negligence. I was given written work to complete by my supervisors, including particulars of claim, defences, schedules and counter-schedules. I also undertook a few noting briefs, for example attending a sentencing hearing for death by dangerous driving to take a note for a solicitor in preparation for planned civil proceedings.

I found the feedback during this time really useful, enabling me to compare my work to that of my supervisors and to develop my knowledge across Chambers’ core areas of expertise.

Towards the end of my first six, I was able to shadow junior members in court, to gain experience of the types of hearings I would be undertaking during my second six. This allowed me to observe a variety of advocacy styles, and ask any questions about the case, or their practice generally.

During my second six I attended courts around the country on average four days a week, from Clerkenwell, to Huddersfield and Bournemouth, to name just a few. I completed hearings including road traffic liability disputes, credit hire quantum disputes, Stage 3 hearings, and procedural applications. Appearing in court regularly is a great aspect of pupillage at Farrar’s Building, I learnt a lot and my advocacy developed significantly. I was also able to build on my previous experience before coming to the Bar and was instructed in regulatory law cases on a number of occasions as a pupil.

I used the days when I was not in court to continue completing paperwork for my supervisors, and other members. I also continued to observe my supervisor in court where possible. I felt very well supported during my second six, and there was always someone who would be willing to help, especially via a “Pupillage Hotline” WhatsApp chat. I received feedback throughout pupillage, including a full report from each supervisor, which supported my professional development.

The assessment process during pupillage was clear to me from the outset of pupillage. I completed an assessed piece of written work for each supervisor, which included particulars of claim for a complex clinical negligence case, an advice on quantum and an advice on procedural issues. I was given clear deadlines for each piece, but my supervisors ensured that I was not given other work during that time so I could focus on the assessed work. The tenancy interview involved preparing a skeleton argument and making submissions before a general discussion with a panel of members and staff. I felt like everyone genuinely wanted me to succeed in this process and I felt fully supported by a friendly, approachable team throughout, providing me with an excellent foundation to start my career at the Bar.

Holly became a tenant at Farrar’s Building in October 2023.

Peter Savory

Peter Savory, discusses a typical day in the life of a Pupil at Farrar’s Building below.

Peter became a tenant at Farrar’s Building on 1st October 2019.