Pupil barrister pay hits £75,000 as top London sets boost awards

Avatar photo

By Thomas Connelly on

Rises at One Essex Court, Monckton, Matrix, 7KBW, 39 Essex and Outer Temple

A number of prominent barristers’ chambers have increased their pupillage awards by as much as 20%.

One Essex Court has jumped to the top of our Chambers Most List with an improved pupillage award of £75,000, an uptick of 7% from £70,000, with an advanced drawdown option of £25,000 to cover bar course fees. A member of the bar’s so-called ‘magic circle’, the set provides four pupillage places each year.

Public and commercial law specialist Monckton Chambers has boosted pupil barrister pay from £65,000 to £70,000, an increase of 8%. The set takes on around two pupils each year and offers a drawdown of £20,000.

Fellow London set Matrix Chambers has also upped its award, with pupils now receiving £60,000 — a sizeable uplift of 20% from £50,000. Stuffed full of high-profile silks, the human rights and public law set’s enhanced award includes an advanced drawdown of £10,000 that can be taken the year before commencing pupillage.

Secure your place: The October 2021 UK Virtual Pupillage Fair

Elsewhere, 7KBW and 39 Essex Chambers have both upped their cash offerings to £70,000, rises of 8% (up from £65k) and 17% (up from £60k) respectively. Commercially-focused 7KBW recruits up to four pupils each year with a drawdown option of £25,000, while 39 Essex takes on around three wannabe barristers annually and provides a drawdown of up to £12,500.

Finally, Outer Temple has increased its award by 8% to £70,000 for pupillage commencing in 2023, with up to £17,500 available for drawdown during the bar course year. The civil and commercial specialist offers up to two training spots each year.

The 2021 Legal Cheek Chambers Most List

Related Stories

Pupil barrister numbers down nearly a third in 30 years

757 in 1991 ⤵️ 542 in 2020

Jul 28 2021 11:33am

Pupillage seekers jump by 50% during pandemic

Over 3,300 wannabe barristers applied for 246 training spots this year

Apr 28 2021 10:33am

Barristers to share Gray’s Inn with 300 kids as new primary school gets go-ahead

To open amid top chambers next year, with kiddies lunching in historic hall

May 17 2021 1:16pm