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What’s a mini-pupillage?

Mini-pupillages are short work experience placements that can last from one day to up to two weeks. They consist of shadowing a barrister and often attending court hearings. While they’re usually unpaid, some organisations offer bursary and reimbursements for travel and accommodation. The experience is often structured and provides candidates with the opportunity to ask the experts questions and develop an understanding of the legal profession. For aspiring barristers, having a few mini-pupillages under your belt before applying for the coveted pupillage itself will not only help you make decisions about your legal career, but will also demonstrate your passion and curiosity for life at the Bar. Securing a mini-pupillage placement is difficult so I was very pleased when the Crown Prosecution Wessex accepted my application.

Crown Prosecution Service

Usually, mini-pupillages are with a set of chambers. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is with the employed Bar. Therefore, when I arrived at Southampton Crown Court for my three-day programme, I was directed to the prosecution offices where all the barristers were cloaking and setting up. The barrister I was shadowing was extremely helpful and friendly from the beginning; he explained his case in full and allowed me to read the case bundle before the hearing started. As a result, I was able to fully understand the legal matters of the case and engage with court reasoning. The CPS also noted that I was in first year and matched me with a relatively simple case that I could watch from start to end. It’s worth noting that I can’t talk of the case itself for confidentiality reasons.

Nevertheless, it was truly exciting to use my knowledge of criminal law studies and transfer it to a real-life setting. I also observed the different advocacy styles of the barristers; the prosecution tended to keep his questioning of the witnesses short and to the point so that the jury could easily follow and see his point. Meanwhile, the defence would often go into substantial detail, particularly of his own witnesses, which seemed slightly rehearsed. The defence barrister was equally friendly and, although he wasn’t part of the CPS, answered my questions as I sought to get the most out of this opportunity.

In addition, I took a notebook with me so I could write down observations and interesting legal points – I then  conducted independent and extensive research on these factors after. This was mainly because I’m heavily interested in the particular area of the law that was discussed, if it needs reform and its effectiveness. Shadowing a crown court case, meant there was a lot to write. However, the notes I took will support my pupillage applications because I’ll be able to refresh my memory while also demonstrating how I went beyond what was expected, exemplifying my drive and initiative. 

For my last day, I shadowed a barrister at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court. While this experience wasn’t as exciting as the start of my mini-pupillage given that the magistrates’ court deals with lower level cases,  it still offered great insights into the working life of barristers and showed that not every case is as intense as the previous one I’d observed. I still enjoyed my day very much as I sat on the counsel bench and observed hearings of people in my local area. Not only did this give me a greater awareness of my city but also incentivised me to consider a career with the CPS as I saw the positive and constructive change barristers were making to the community.

While my mini-pupillage with the CPS was highly beneficial and exceeded my expectations, I’ll still be seeking other mini-pupillages so I can experience a range of practising areas and work styles. I can, however, confidently recommend the CPS programme to other aspiring barristers.