Stone Chambers lifts pupillage award to £60k in bid for talent
Stone Chambers has bolstered its pupillage award by 50 per cent in a bid to lure talented aspiring barristers.
The Gray’s Inn set, which currently makes an award of £40,000, is raising the payment to £60,000 for those beginning pupillage in autumn 2012.
In a statement a spokesperson said: “This increase reflects our commitment to excellence and attracting the very best talent to join our thriving chambers.”
The news follows Wilberforce Chambers announcing a 35 per cent jump in pupillage award, increasing from £48,000 to £65,000 (21 November 2011).
The move meant that Wilberforce now offers the highest pupillage award among the top 10 chambers.
Brick Court Chambers, One Essex Court, Essex Court Chambers, Fountain Court, Blackstone Chambers and 3 Verulam Buildings provide maximum payments of £60,000, and have indicated that they will hold their awards steady for 2013.
4 Pump Court also announced a rise, by 4 per cent, from £48,000 to £50,000.
Readers' comments (4)
Anonymous | 20-Dec-2011 10:55 am
Yet many other sets in the Inns of Court are unable to take on pupils due to the compulsory funding requirements. An award of £60,000 can pay for 5 competent pupils who are likely to show the same level of commitment and talent. Pupillage Training needs an urgent reform-many are called, but few are chosen!
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Anonymous | 20-Dec-2011 2:56 pm
The reason students can't find pupillages isn't because sets won't/can't pay the minimum (or choose to pay more). It's because there are far too many students wanting to be a barrister. I agree pupillage needs reforming and the £12k minimum is still not much, but criticising a set that can afford to pay pupils like this seems to be missing the point. Anyway, Stone Chambers has only 5 silks - that will limit the number of pupils they can realistically take on.
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Anonymous | 21-Dec-2011 1:33 pm
I presume "bid to lure talent" means "more 1sts from Oxbridge".
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Julian Fundhedge | 21-Dec-2011 6:35 pm
It's manifestly unfair if sets are permitted to step up their efforts to attract Oxbridge graduates in possession of first class degrees by offering more money.
Sets such as these should cast their nets further by offering less money so that individuals from a broader background are encouraged to apply.
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