Pupillage doesn’t have to be a test of endurance: The Bar Council’s 2025 Pupillage Survey

This week, we were thrilled to offer tenancy to one of our 2024/25 pupils, Carolyne Willow. It’s a powerful moment, and for me is a reminder of why The Barrister Group (TBG) is different.

Carolyne joined us after more than three decades championing the rights of children and young people. She pursued a legal career later in life having seen first-hand the power of the law in securing change and justice.. She’s secured her tenancy and has begun her practice, but for many talented individuals like her who come to the Bar later in life or from non-traditional routes, the path is not an easy one.

At TBG, we believe it shouldn’t be this hard for people with passion, skill and integrity to join the profession. So when we saw The Bar Council’s 2025 Pupillage Survey last week, we weren’t surprised at the picture that it painted, and by how much that the profession has to do to widen access to the Bar.

The survey said:

• Only 1 in 3 pupils would recommend the Bar as a career
• Disabled and neurodivergent pupils continue to face real barriers
• Stress levels are rising, particularly in publicly funded areas
• Many report poor feedback, unclear onboarding, and cultural exclusion

This is not just a wellbeing problem. It’s a fundamental flaw in the pupillage process.

We’re building something better.

We founded our pupillage programme on the idea that we should be able to offer places to as many people from diverse backgrounds as possible.

That means:

• Blind recruitment based on merit, not on background.
• Detailed feedback for all unsuccessful candidates.
• Remote-first supervision (which means pupils automatically experience many different areas of the law).
• Bespoke onboarding, marketing, and peer mentoring for every pupil.
• If you meet the standard, you’re in.

Last year, we welcomed our largest-ever cohort of pupils. They’re career changers, parents, people from underrepresented communities, and they’re proof that a new kind of Bar is possible.

Meet Carolyne

Carolyne Willow recently completed pupillage and is focusing on family law, human rights, and actions against public authorities. She plans to represent children, families, and NGOs – and has already secured tenancy at TBG.

“I came to the Bar later in life, through a different route than most,” she says. “TBG made that possible. It’s rigorous – but it’s also kind, clear, and fair. That shouldn’t be rare. That should be normal.”

We couldn’t agree more.

The future we’re working towards

Pupillage doesn’t need to be a survival course. It should be a launchpad from which people can thrive, not just endure. At The Barrister Group, we’ve built a model that’s flexible, inclusive, and committed to excellence – without elitism. We’re incredibly proud of our current pupils, and we’re excited to welcome the next.

If you’re thinking of applying, or just curious about being a barrister, we’d love to hear from you.