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The core work of Fountain Court is commercial: members of Chambers advise and represent clients in business and commercial disputes of all kinds and at all levels. In addition to general commercial litigation, particular areas of practice include: arbitration & ADR, aviation, banking, civil fraud, company law, conflict of laws, employment, energy, financial services, insolvency, insurance & reinsurance, intellectual & industrial property, media, entertainment & sport, mergers & acquisitions, product liability, professional negligence, public law, regulation and human rights, sale of goods & agency, shipping, technology & construction.

In selecting our pupils we will be looking to assess academic and intellectual abilities, skills in oral and written presentation, judgement, how well the candidate is likely to communicate with clients (both lay and professional), and an understanding of and interest in our work. Referees should therefore be asked to address these matters as far as possible. Successful applicants tend to have at least a 2.1 degree.

During the year's pupillage we aim to give pupils a broad and thorough training in the types of work done by Chambers. This also enables members of Chambers (in selecting tenants) to make the best possible assessment of the pupil's abilities. Pupils spend the first three and last three months with the same pupil master (who has overall responsibility for seeing that they are getting proper experience) and the middle six months with two different pupil masters. A pupil will be called upon to do specific pieces of work for other members of Chambers, particularly the silks. In this way pupils will get to know and to be known by Chambers generally and experience the full spectrum of work done in Fountain Court. If pupils wish to see more of particular areas of work, that can usually be arranged.

The work of pupils is varied and challenging. Much of it is of a commercial nature and the Bar Council's 'commercial-general' pupillage checklist is used at Fountain Court. A pupil will spend much time reading papers and preparing pleadings and advices. Notes on specific questions of law are often required. This work is reviewed and discussed with the pupil master. A pupil can also expect to accompany his or her pupil master to trials and appeals and, more frequently, to interlocutory hearings. One consequence of the nature of the work at Fountain Court is that it is unusual for pupils to get work of their own. Some pupils choose to undertake work for the Free Representation Unit, or other pro bono work.

Through OLPAS summer season 2005.

Around 30-40 offered per year. Apply in writing to Chloe Carpenter, sending a CV and covering letter.

Funding for 12-month pupillages is currently set at £37,000. Fountain Court is willing to consider making an advance to award pupils for the vocational course year, and has done so on several occasions in the past.