I. GENERAL 

  1. This Policy Statement reflects Three Stone Chambers (Chambers) adherence to the principles of Equality and Diversity set out in the BSB Handbook. It has been formulated taking account of the Guidelines set out in the BSB Handbook Equality Rules Supporting Information document (“the Guidelines”).
  1. Members, staff and pupils shall uphold the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. Applicants for membership, employment, pupillage and work experience shall be treated fairly and shall not be the subject of unfair or unlawful discrimination. Decisions regarding membership, work allocation, recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, disciplinary action and any other matter shall be made objectively and with those principles in mind. Where an individual has a disability, Chambers shall comply with its duty to make reasonable adjustments. Chambers is committed to the policy of securing as far as possible that the Bar is that is representative of the wider community and better equipped to meet the needs of all clients consistent with the provision of legal services to the highest possible standard.
  1. This Policy Statement sets out the policy of Chambers generally regarding:

a. Recruitment of Pupils (including Probationary Tenants);
b. Recruitment of Starter Tenants);
c. Recruitment of Established Practitioners.

  1. A copy of this Policy Statement will be published on Chambers’ website and will be available on request to all Candidates for Pupillage; Pupils on commencement of Pupillage; and candidates for recruitment as  Established Practitioners.

II. SELECTION CRITERIA 

5. The criterion for selection for Pupillage is whether the Candidate has shown sufficient excellence to be a Pupil in Chambers. In assessing this, Chambers will have regard to the Candidate’s abilities (including where appropriate performance during Mini-Pupillage) in the following categories, assessed objectively, in accordance with the procedures set out below:

a. Intellectual Ability;
b. Analytical ability;
c. Effective communication skills;
d. Strong motivation for a career at the Bar;
e. Strong motivation for a career at Three Stone Chambers;
f. Advocacy skills;
g. Interpersonal skills;
h. Resilience;
i. Ability to work independently;
j. Ability to work as part of a team;
k. Drive and determination.

  1. The criterion for selection for Starter Tenancy is:1. That Chambers has identified a Business Need for a Starter Tenant in the area in which Chambers practises, and the Starter Tenant intends to practise; and
    2. whether the Candidate has shown, by the work conducted throughout their Pupillage (whether in Chambers or elsewhere) that they have attained, by the time of the Tenancy Decision, a sufficiently high standard of excellence to be a Tenant in Chambers. In reaching this decision, Chambers will have regard to the Candidate’s performance in the following categories, assessed objectively, in accordance with the procedures set out below:

a. General Legal Skills;
b. Written Skills;
c. Oral communication and Advocacy Skills;
d. Interpersonal Skills;
e. Capacity for team work; and
f. Temperament

  1. The criteria for recruitment of an Established Practitioner are as follows:

1. That Chambers has identified a Business Need for an Established Practitioner in the area in which the Candidate practises; and
2. That the Candidate is assessed, objectively in accordance with the procedures set out below, as an outstanding practitioner in the relevant area of practice.

The first of these criteria may be waived for a Candidate of exceptional merit.

III. PUPILLAGE

  1. Members will not take pupils by private arrangement.

COMPOSITION OF SELECTION COMMITTEES AND SELECTION OF PUPIL AND MINI-PUPIL SUPERVISORS 

  1. The Head of Chambers in consultation with the Chambers Management Committee shall nominate, from time-to-time, Members of Chambers to form the Pupillage Committee. Pupillage Committee requirements include:

a. The Chair of the Pupillage Committee shall be a King’s Counsel or Senior Member of Chambers of over 20 years call or if Joint

Chairs are appointed at least one of the Joint Chairs shall be a King’s Counsel or Senior Member of Chambers of over 20 years call;

b. The members shall be selected having regard to the need for maintaining an appropriately diverse committee;
c. The Senior Clerk shall also sit on the Pupillage Committee;
d. Each member of the Pupillage Committee will be familiar with the BSB Handbook and the Bar Council’s Fair Recruitment Guide for the Bar and members will have received training in fair recruitment and selection methods.

  1. It is Chambers’ current policy to advertise pupillages through the Bar Council’s online system although recruitment is carried out directly. All vacancies for pupillage will continue to be advertised in compliance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct and advertisements will include:
  • encouragement of applications from groups which are under-represented in Chambers,
  • a statement of compliance with the Rules and Guidance,
  • a statement indicating willingness to make reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates.

Selection for Pupillage will follow the policies and procedures set out in the Chambers Pupillage Policy in force from time to time.

11. The Chambers Management Committee may select a panel of junior Members of Chambers to be Mini- Pupil Supervisors. Each Mini-Pupil Supervisor will be familiar with the BSB Handbook and the Bar Council’s Fair Recruitment Guide for the Bar. So far as is practicable, each Mini-Pupil Supervisor will have received training in fair selection methods.

12. The Pupillage Committee will select a panel of Members of Chambers who are qualified to be Pupil Supervisors to be the Pupil Supervisors of Pupils in Chambers. Each Pupil Supervisor will be familiar with the BSB Handbook and the Bar Council’s Fair Recruitment Guide for the Bar and will have received training in fair selection methods. Further details will be set out in the Chambers’ Pupillage Policy. Pupillage Agreement, and Pupillage Handbook.

13. At an appropriate time during the year, the Head of Chambers in consultation with the Management Committee shall nominate Members of Chambers to form the Tenancy Committee which shall assist in the assessment of applicants for Starter Tenancy. The Tenancy Committee will be composed as follows:

13.1 The Chair of the Tenancy Committee shall be a King’s Counsel or senior Member of Chambers; if there are joint chairs at least one shall be a King’s Counsel or Senior Member of Chambers

13.2. There shall be three other members of the Tenancy Committee one of whom shall include the Senior Clerk;

13.3 The members shall be selected having regard to the need for maintaining an appropriately diverse committee;

13.4 Each member of the Tenancy Committee will be familiar with the BSB Handbook and the Bar Council’s Fair Recruitment Guide for the Bar and/or will have received training in fair selection methods.

13.5 The Tenancy Committee will report to the Management Committee and the Head of Chambers. Any offer of tenancy will be made in accordance with the Chambers Constitution.

14. It is Chambers’ current policy to offer up to two pupillages in any one year, and it is anticipated that pupils will apply for tenancy in Chambers. If pupils in Chambers apply then pending the decision on their application no further advertisement will take place.

15. If a tenancy remains available notwithstanding a pupil’s applications for tenancy, further applications will be invited by advertisement. This may take the form of an invitation for an application for a position as a third 6 month pupillage (“Probationary Tenancy”) or as a Starter Tenant. An ad hoc recruitment procedure following the Rules and Guidance will be agreed upon by the Tenancy Committee.

16. In the event of an application to Chambers by an Established Practitioner, which is determined by the Head of Chambers after consultation with the Management Committee to merit detailed assessment, the Chambers Committee shall nominate Members of Chambers to sit on an ad hoc Assessment Committee to interview and assess the Candidate. This Committee shall be composed as follows:

17. All Chambers Tenancy selection decisions will be taken in accordance with the Chambers’ Constitution.

 

IV. ADVERTISEMENTS AND APPLICATION FORMS

 18. Chambers will advertise where appropriate in appropriate media all vacancies for Pupillages or Established Practitioner Tenancies.

19. Where, in accordance with the procedure set out below, Chambers decides to take up references it will contact the referee and direct the referee as to the relevant selection criterion or criteria being applied and the type of information sought.

V. PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING PUPILS

20. Any Candidate’s Application will be assessed in accordance with the Chambers Pupillage Policy.

21. Weight will be given inter alia to academic achievements at degree level; legal and nonlegal employment and work experience relevant to a career at the Bar in general and in particular at the Chancery Bar; written and oral advocacy experience; and written communication skills.

22. After the Interviews, the Pupillage Committee will assess, applying the selection criteria for Pupillage set out, which Candidates most clearly satisfy the selection criteria for Pupillage, and recommend to the Head of Chambers and Chambers’ Management Committee which candidate should be offered pupillage.

23. Offers of Pupillage will be made through the Bar Council’s Gateway scheme, and to those Candidates who Chambers assesses most clearly satisfy the criteria. Offers will usually be made to one candidate and one reserve for each pupillage available.

24. Chambers will keep written records of each step set out above.

25. Chambers will ask Candidates to complete monitoring forms for review by Chambers.

26. If a vacancy for a third six pupillage, also known as a Probationary Tenant, arises, an ad hoc recruitment and selection procedure following the Rules and Guidance will be agreed upon by the Pupillage Committee. Candidates for Probationary Tenancy will be selected having regard to  the procedure and criteria identified above. The term  of any Probationary Tenancy will be 6 months. The offer of a Probationary Tenancy is made on the basis that Chambers believes that it is likely that the candidate will be offered a seat in chambers at the end of the 6 months period but that is not guaranteed and there is no agreement or obligation on Chambers to make such an offer.

VI. PUPILLAGE

27. A Pupillage in Chambers comprises four periods (each of approximately three months) with four different Pupil Supervisors. The Pupil will be expected to participate fully in the work of their Pupil Supervisor. In addition, Chambers organises written exercises and advocacy training, some of which are assessed. Further details of Pupillage in Chambers are  set out in Chambers’ Pupillage Information pack.

28. During a Pupillage, the Pupil will be assessed by their Pupil Supervisor, in accordance with the selection criterion for Starter Tenancy set out above. The Pupil Supervisor will give written feedback in standard form to the Pupil at the conclusion of the Pupil’s period with the Pupil Supervisor and will submit a written report to Chambers, in standard form.

29. For each piece of written work which is assessed, the assessor(s) will give oral feedback to the Pupil regarding the work and will submit a written report to Chambers, in standard form.

30. Chambers will keep records of all written reports and written feedback.

31. Chambers will ask Pupils to complete monitoring forms for review by Chambers.

32. The Pupillage Committee may make amendments to clauses 25 to 29 inclusive in the case of a Probationary Tenant to have regard to the training already received by that person in any previous period of pupillage.

33. All offers of pupillage or probationary tenancy will be made on the basis of the Chambers’s standard form of Pupillage Agreement as varied from time to time.

VII. SELECTION OF STARTER TENANTS

 34. It is the Policy of Chambers in the first instance to seek to recruit Starter Tenants only from its own Pupils. Chambers does not have a limit on the number of Starter Tenancies which it will offer.

35. It is the Policy of Chambers to offer Starter Tenancies to all Pupils who are determined to have met the Selection Criterion for Starter Tenants. However, in exceptional circumstances Chambers may seek also to recruit a Starter Tenant from outside Chamber Chambers and/or in seek to recruit a Probationary Tenant.

36. In order to assist Chambers select Starter Tenants, the Tenancy Committee will:

a. Collate and analyse all Pupil Supervisor and Assessor Reports for each Pupil; and
b. Prepare a Report assessing whether on the basis of the feedback above it considers that each Pupil (or where relevant the Probationary Tenant) Pupil has achieved the selection criterion for Starter Tenancy set out above, and making such recommendations as are appropriate.

37. Starter Tenants will be selected by the Head of Chambers in consultation with and following votes of the Management Committee and the other Members of Chambers in the manner described in the Chambers Constitution. Each Member will be provided with a copy of the Tenancy Committee Report, all the Pupil Supervisors’ Reports, and such other documents as are appropriate.

38. Chambers will keep a written record of the steps set out above.

VIII.   RECRUITMENT OF ESTABLISHED PRACTITIONERS 

39. It is the Policy of Chambers only to recruit Established Practitioners where:

a. Chambers has identified a Business Need for an Established Practitioner in the area in which the Candidate practises; and
b. The Candidate is assessed, objectively, in accordance with the procedures set out below, as an outstanding practitioner in the relevant area of practice.

The first of these criteria may, however, be waived for a Candidate of exceptional merit.

40. The procedure for recruitment of an Established Practitioner is as follows:

a. In the event that a group of Members of Chambers considers that there is a Business Need for an Established Practitioner, then it will submit a report to Chambers Management Committee identifying the Business Need and setting out the basis for the Business Need;
b. If the Chambers Management Committee agrees that there is a Business Need for an Established Practitioner it may (a) authorise advertising for such an Established Practitioner; or (b) authorise a confidential personal approach to such an Established Practitioner to invite an application to join Chambers.
c. In the event that Chambers receives applications following advertising, Chambers Committee shall determine whether there are any applications which may satisfy the selection criterion for an Established Practitioner. If it concludes that there are, then it will establish an ad hoc Assessment Committee as set out above;
d. The Assessment Committee will assess the Candidate by taking references, and if it considers it appropriate, by interviewing the Candidate in accordance with the Code;
e. The Assessment Committee will prepare a Report stating whether the Candidate meets the selection criterion for Established Candidates;
f. If, in the view of the Assessment Committee, the Candidate meets the selection criterion, the Chambers Committee shall report to the Head of Chambers and Management Committee who will determine the Candidate’s Application in in accordance with Chambers’ Constitution;
g. Members of Chambers may vote at a Chambers meeting in accordance with and kn the manner set out in paragraph 58 of the Constitution on the recruitment of an Established Practitioner to join Chambers.
h. The Head of Chambers and the other members of the Management Committee may dispense with the foregoing provisions in the manner set out in paragraph 58 of the Constitution.

41. In the event that Chambers received an unsolicited application from an Established Practitioner and Chambers Committee determines that the Established Practitioner is a sufficiently outstanding Candidate that it is appropriate to treat the application as an exceptional case, then the Chambers Committee may make such variations to the procedure set out above as it considers appropriate, save that the decision in respect of Tenancy Selection must always be determined in accordance with the Chambers’ Constitution.

42. Chambers will keep a written record of the steps set out above.

X. MONITORING AND REVIEW 

  1. The Chambers Equality and Diversity Officers will ensure that there is a periodic review (at least annually) of the compliance by Chambers with this Policy.
  1. The Chambers Equality and Diversity Officers will ensure that there is a periodic review (at least annually) of the monitoring data generated pursuant to this Policy, in order to enable them to take such further actions as are necessary to secure the aims of the Equality and Diversity Policy.
  1. Where, following such review, the Chambers Equality and Diversity Officers are of the view that there are significant unjustifiable differences between those applying and those appointed to pupillage and as members, the Chambers Equality and Diversity Officers will propose corrective action to the Chambers Management Committee which will decide, according to the Chambers Constitution, what action is appropriate. Such  action may include, but not be limited to, focused marketing of the employment, pupillage and tenancy opportunities in Chambers.
  1. Following each such review, The Head of Chambers in consultation with the Chambers Management Committee will decide whether or not it is necessary to take steps to help secure a more representative Chambers (including staff, members and pupils). Where it is decided that such steps are necessary, the Head of Chambers in consultation with the Chambers Management Committee will decide, according to the Chambers Constitution, the steps to be taken by Chambers.
  1. In respect of all of the above selection processes Chambers will make all reasonable adjustments in order to remove or reduce substantial disadvantage for disabled people in compliance with our Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

 

July 2025