Pupil master

A pupil master (or pupilmaster or pupil-master) is an experienced barrister who takes charge of the training of a newly called barrister. Barristers are called to the Bar at an early stage in their career, after completing the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) and undertaking a required number of "dinners" in their chosen Inn of Court. In most cases, the newly called barrister is then required to undertake training for a period of at least a year before the barrister can start their own private practice. This training period is known as pupillage, usually split into two periods of six months known as "sixes". The first "six" is a non-practising six, during which the pupil will shadow their pupil master; the second is usually a practising "six", when the pupil, with their pupil master's permission, can undertake the supply legal services and exercise rights of audience in court. Occasionally, a pupil barrister may undertake a third "six", extending the training period a further six months. At the end of pupillage, to continue practising the law, a barrister may attempt to become a tenant in a set of barristers' chambers, or find a position as an employed barrister. In recent years, attempts to modernise the Bar have led to some chambers referring to pupil masters as supervisors.

Being in charge of the various recruits, the Pupil master must have an innate knowledge of what is required to make a good barrister. Whether it's a candidates grammatical ability or their skills as an orator, they are required to assess all of the faculties required to make a good barrister.

External links

• Allaboutlaw - Pupil-master blog
• Pupillage from the Singapore Board of Legal Education