Equality and Diversity Scheme

At Cloisters, we are committed to making the Bar more accessible as a profession. Five of our ten mini-pupillages are reserved for applicants from less advantaged backgrounds, or applicants who have a disability, or applicants who have/have had caring responsibilities. More information on how to be considered for an Equality and Diversity mini-pupillage will be included on the relevant Cloisters mini-pupillage application form.

If you choose to be considered for one of our five Equality and Diversity mini-pupillages, you will still automatically be considered for a mini-pupillage outside the Equality and Diversity scheme.

Any information you provide in relation to the Equality and Diversity mini-pupillage scheme will not be shared with members of Chambers who are not involved in the selection process (although the information is collated in anonymised form for monitoring purposes).

Expenses

We recognise that there are costs associated with being a mini pupil, which is why our mini pupillages pay a total of £120 to cover expenses for three days. However, we recognise that some applicants may require a higher amount in order to undertake a mini-pupillage, e.g. if you are travelling a long distance to come to London. If you consider that your expenses to attend a three-day placement in London are likely to exceed £120, please say so here. If possible, please provide a rough estimate of your likely expenses. Decisions about increased expenses payments will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Open Evening

Cloisters often receives many mini-pupillage applications, and it is not possible to offer a mini-pupillage to every deserving candidate. In order to give the most promising candidates an opportunity to come to Cloisters, meet our barristers, and learn more about the work we do, Cloisters holds an open evening each year, usually in January, for particularly strong mini-pupillage candidates to whom we unfortunately could not offer a mini-pupillage.

Please be aware that attendance at Open Evenings is by invitation only. In order to obtain an invitation, you must have applied for a mini-pupillage and have been regarded as a particularly strong candidate.