Pupillage and Mentoring

At present, there are no formal pupillage requirements in Western Australia.  From time to time, Bar Council may, when considering an application for membership from a junior practitioner, recommend that the practitioner undertakes a period of pupillage, or practitioners may decide to do so of their own volition.

Pupillage provides instruction and training by more senior barristers in the art of advocacy, barristers’ work, the proper conduct of a barrister’s practice and the ethical standards required of a barrister.

Less senior practitioners may consider joining the Bar by undertaking a pupillage with experienced barristers.  Interested practitioners should make inquiries as to pupillage with individual set of chambers.

Some chambers do offer pupillage and, or, a more formal mentoring program.  Details are available directly from such chambers.

The various chambers in Perth all have senior members who are available to provide mentoring.  Junior members are encouraged to discuss mentoring with the leaders of the individual chambers.