18SJS
Careers

18 St John Street Chambers – Probationary Tenancy Vacancy (6 months)

Our personal injury, clinical negligence and costs department is looking for an ambitious individual who wants to quickly develop a practice in serious injury, clinical negligence or costs work. We are looking for people who are capable of building a successful practice in any of these areas.

The successful candidate can expect to have a busy and varied caseload, comprising of cases ranging from those allocated to the small claims track up to and including cases allocated to the multi-track. They will benefit from the support of more senior members of chambers for the duration of their probationary tenancy and beyond.

The successful candidate will be recruited with a view to tenancy.

How to apply:

Please send a CV and a covering letter by email to Emma Bowie, our Chambers Manager, at ebowie@18sjs.com.

Your covering letter should explain why you are interested in a probationary tenancy with 18 St John Street Chambers, and it should provide an outline of the experience you have gained during your pupillage to date.

All applications will be treated with confidence.

This vacancy is also advertised on the Bar Council website: https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/18-st-john-street-chambers-no-deadline.html

18 St John Street Chambers are actively inviting applications from established practitioners due to our extremely busy and increasing workload. We are keen to attract established practitioners across all our departments.  Applications will be treated in strictest confidence and should be addressed to the Chambers Manager.

Business & Property:

At present, we are particularly keen to attract applications from established practioners to join our expanding Business and Property department as well as ambitious juniors with a demonstrative practice in the Business & Property courts.

Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence & Costs Department:

Our Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Costs department welcome applications to join our specialist team from those both with established practices and for those juniors looking to progress quickly into serious injury law, clinical negligence and costs.

Enquiries can be made in confidence to the Head of Recruitment Committee, Soria Kajue who will arrange for you to have an informal discussion with the head of the relevant team.

Applications (in confidence, by way of a letter and CV and giving details of two referees) should be addressed to Chambers Manager, Emma Bowie.

• • • Pupillage

  18 St John Street Chambers are committed to delivering the highest level of advice, advocacy and client service to professional and lay clients for over 50 years, regionally, nationally and internationally.

  We maintain the highest standards and traditions of the independent bar, but we are a dynamic and forward-thinking chambers focussed on quality client service and sound management.

  We have proven success in providing a first-class platform for Pupil Barristers, assisting them right through the pupillage process to a point where they can apply for full tenancy within chambers.

  Across our four core departments we offer exceptionally skilled practitioners in Business and Property; Family Law; Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Costs & Employment and Criminal Law.

  The depth of each department allows us to offer an extensive list of barristers across the full range of seniority and experience who are knowledgeable, insightful and analytical with particular expertise in verbal and written advice, legal drafting, negotiation and court advocacy.

• Recruitment

  We are looking for 4 candidates to join us for pupillages in 2027 in the following areas:

  Family Law

  Business & Property Law

  Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Cost & Employment Law

  Criminal Law

   

  We provide excellent training, clear pathways all with an inclusive and friendly culture – essentially providing the skills and knowledge to succeed at the modern Bar.

  Throughout the Pupillage period, Pupils receive regular feedback from their Pupil Supervisor.

  Most importantly we offer Pupillage with a view to Tenancy, at the end of the year.

  Pupils are not in competition with each other and as a result build a strong support network and friendships together.

  We provide a working culture which recognises the value of equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of society.

   

  Application Procedure

  Applications for 2027 Pupillages open on 5th January 2026 and close on 22nd January 2026 via the Pupillage Gateway. www.pupillagegateway.com

  Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 13th March and invited to an assessment day which will be held at 18 St John Street Chambers, on Saturday 11th April 2026.

  There will be a timed written exercise on the evening of 1st April to be completed remotely and returned the same evening.

  Final interviews will take place in Chambers on Sunday 12th April 2026.

  Please note the assessment day and final interviews will be held in person in Manchester. Chambers does not cover travel expenses.

  Pupillage offers will be made on 8th May 2026.

18 St John Street has published its Diversity Data from the 2021 round of pupillage applications. The link can be found by clicking here.