A complex crime and fraud set has taken the decision to pause pupillage recruitment due to the pandemic.
Red Lion Chambers will not be recruiting any pupils for its September 2022 cohort, with its programme re-opening in October 2021 for its 2023 cohort.
The set said the pandemic has meant it has had to extend its current training programme. It cited that Covid-19 and closure of the courts for large parts of the year has had an effect on the current training programme.
Joint heads of chambers, Antony Shaw QC and Gillian Jones QC told The Lawyer: “We are thoroughly committed to delivering the highest standard of pupillage training to each pupil as well as to promoting social mobility and diversity into the profession.
“However, if we started recruiting now for pupils starting in September 2022 that would cause a considerable training overlap between pupils of different annual intakes. We think it is in the best interests of chambers and more importantly of those pupils to whom we are already committed and who will be training with us during 2022 and 2023 not to recruit further pupils to start in September 2022.”
Red Lion will resume normal recruitment next year for pupils due to start in September 2023.
At the start of the pandemic, Henderson Chambers pulled out of pupillage recruitment due to interviewing pressures created by coronavirus. However, the set decided to defer the process rather than cancel it.
Several sets postponed mini-pupillage schemes in March, with the likes of One Essex Court, 7KBW, 3VB and Brick Court deferring their work experience schemes. Blackstone moved its mini-pupillage to a remote and virtual basis.
