'Expect questions meant to throw you off': how to ace a pupillage interview

Pupillage season is here. The interview process can bring on stress, and it can feel like all of your education leads up to a 15-minute judgement. But pupillage is a significant investment for chambers: they are looking to recruit pupils for the long-term, and want to see that you are fully committed and have what it takes.

According to the Bar Standards Board’s latest report, around a third of barristers are privately educated and more than half of British-educated QCs attended a fee-paying school. Whatever your background, however, advocacy is something that can be learned. For advice on how to improve, we asked barristers and pupils for their top tips.

Related: Law students: how to start practising before you graduate

Prepare to be interrupted

According to Hugh Southey, QC at Matrix Chambers, it is common to ask people to change their position on a topic halfway through an answer. “Expect that you may be asked a question intended to throw you,” he says. “Focus on key points as you want to make an impression.”

Although not all chambers intervene, some will probe if there is more that needs to be said. “It’s got to be a tiny bit realistic,” says Katy Thorne, a QC at Doughty Street Chambers. “People who might be in front of a judge must be able to deal with a new dilemma.”

Questions can be designed to put you on the back foot, but do not take it personally. John Nee, chairman of the management committee at Becket Chambers in Kent, says they want candidates to impress them, and sometimes being tough is the best way of getting someone to shine in an interview.

Fake confidence

Part of being a barrister is being able to communicate well. Do chambers expect the finished product? Family barrister Louise Jones*, 32, says they do. “The way you speak is really important and in interview you constantly think: ‘How would they come off in court?,’” she says. “Nervousness can put the panel off because a lot of the job is faking confidence for clients.”

Max Schofield, a barrister at 3 Paper Buildings, says although they don’t expect a polished hybrid of Rumpole of the Bailey and Lady Hale, they do want someone with the right foundations. They look for structured answers delivered with fluency, clarity and a little flair. “It is nice to see candidates who enjoy public speaking,” he says.

Current pupil Chloe Birch, from Carmelite Chambers, agrees. “We go to court without knowing everything and having all the paperwork. You need to be unflappable on the outside even though you’re panicking,” she says.

Slow down

The main tip on advocacy exercises is to speak slowly: take your time and keep it engaging. “People will be interviewing maybe 15 [candidates] that day. If you garble, your words will be lost. Slowing down gives you time to think. It’s always going to help,” advises Thorne.

If there are reasons such as a disability which might affect your communication, let the chambers know in advance.

Related: Training to be a solicitor: how to write a successful application

Try to relax

Give the impression of someone people would want to work with and try not to be too stilted, although you should avoid overfamiliarity, too.

Aimee Stokes, barrister and pre-pupillage officer at the Middle Temple Young Barristers’ Association, says personality is a massive part of it. “It’s about coming across as controlled with confidence, not arrogance,” she says. “It definitely takes practice.”

Jones agrees. “You wouldn’t want an arrogant pupil because you want them to say yes to lots of work,” she adds.

Practice out loud

Always structure your arguments. Advocacy is not a stream of consciousness, and it is not a chat over coffee. Tell your judge (or in this case, your panel) what you are asking for, and why you should have it, as clearly as possible.

Schemes within the four Inns, such as the Inner Temple PASS scheme, provide mentors and interview practice for applicants from under-represented backgrounds, and all members can ask for a mock interview. The Supreme Court’s video library is also available online, and you can watch leading counsel and take notes on style and substance. Use feedback and practice in front of a mirror.

* Name changed on request