Fountain Court Chambers
Chambers profile
Fountain Court Chambers is a leading set with a friendly, progressive and modern outlook. Members of Chambers are recognised as leaders in the fields of commercial and regulatory disputes acting for clients both in the UK and overseas. As part of the ‘magic circle’, and with offices in London and Singapore, Fountain Court has 45 silks and 64 juniors specialising in a range of practice areas.
Chambers & Partners describe members at Fountain Court as “regulars in the highest-value and most eye-catching cases of the day”, whilst Legal 500 comments that the set has “done a huge amount in recent years to promote and recruit women [which has made it] one of the most gender-diverse sets at the commercial bar.” At the Chambers Bar Awards 2023, Fountain Court was highly commended as an Outstanding Set for Diversity & Inclusion.
Pupil profile
Each year, we expect to take up to four pupils who are selected based on academic and intellectual ability as well as oral and written communication skills. We want to recruit the best and brightest candidates whatever their background and we positively encourage applications from groups who are under-represented at the Bar.
Mini-pupillages
We require you to complete an assessed mini pupillage before applying for a pupillage and you should think about making an application the year before you intend to apply for pupillage. The mini pupillage will last for two days, during which time you will learn about life at Fountain Court and complete a short piece of assessed written work.
There are two deadlines to apply for a mini pupillage during the year, over the summer and Christmas periods. Application deadlines and the form to apply can be found on the Fountain Court website: www.fountaincourt.co.uk.
Pupillage
Fountain Court aims to take around four pupils for 12 months each year and is committed to taking on all successful pupils as tenants after evaluation.
Pupillage is divided into four seats of three months’ duration and pupils are not assessed during the first two months to allow them time to settle in. The first and last three months are spent with the same pupil supervisor, who has overall responsibility for the pupil’s training. All work undertaken during pupillage is relevant to the practice of a member of chambers and is live work. Pupils are encouraged to cooperate with each other, with a view to this supportive ethos being carried on through tenancy. Applications for pupillage should be made through the Pupillage Gateway, a central clearing house for pupillage applications, which opens in early February each year. Full application details can be found on our website: www.fountaincourt.co.uk.
Pupillage Funding
Each pupil receives £80,000, in the form of a first six-month award of £50,000, with an additional £30,000 for the second six months. Chambers is prepared to advance up to £25,000 prior to pupils starting their pupillage.
Why Fountain Court?
• Exposure to the most stimulating work
Pupils gain experience and work with members across all levels of seniority. Recent new tenants have even worked on Supreme Court cases with their supervisors.
• Working with the brightest advocates
Pupillage at Fountain Court is an opportunity to work with some of the brightest and most successful advocates in London.
• Pupils are not in competition with one another
We evaluate each pupil individually based on their own merit and all pupils who meet the relevant standard will be offered tenancy.
• An inclusive and supportive culture
We have a friendly, progressive and modern outlook. We want the best people to join us, regardless of background, race, gender, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.
• First rate staffing support
As a leading set, we believe in providing the best service and our leading clerks and administrative team match the quality of our barristers.