Pupillage Fair 2026: your guide to the event
Life at the Bar webinars: Monday 12 October to Thursday 15 October, 4.30pm to 6.45pm
Saturday in-person: Saturday 17 October, 10am to 3pm
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Welcome to the Bar Council's Pupillage Fair 2026 programme
We’re delighted to welcome you to the Pupillage Fair. It’s the only event of its kind delivered directly by the Bar Council of England and Wales. We’re your professional body. We represent and support all practising barristers, champion the rule of law and access to justice, and support the next generation of barristers.
Because this fair is run by the Bar Council, it offers an unrivalled opportunity. You’ll hear from the people who know the profession best, connect with chambers, organisations, Inns of Court, and specialist Bar associations, and gain insights you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re just beginning to explore a career at the Bar, or are already preparing for applications, this is your chance to access expert guidance, practical resources, and invaluable networking, all in one place.
The support doesn’t stop there – we’ve created a range of resources you can explore ahead of the event to help you prepare, and if you can’t make it on the day, you’ll still be able to access these along with the Life at the Bar webinars taking place ahead of the fair. Have you seen our becoming a barrister hub? We've laid out steps to make and opportunities you can take on your journey to becoming a barrister. This is always available and updated regularly.
By bringing together expert advice, practical resources, and the support of the profession, the Bar Council’s Pupillage Fair gives you a great start to your path to the Bar.
Explore our Pupillage Fair
Take part in our programme of webinars from Monday 12 to Thursday 15 October 2026.
Meet chambers and other industry professionals exhibiting at the Pupillage Fair on Saturday 17 October 2026.
Get advice in our in-person seminars and CV and application clinic on Saturday 17 October 2026.
Meet with organisations who support diversity at the Bar on Saturday 17 October 2026
Find out how to get to the venue for the Pupillage Fair on Saturday 18 October
Explore resources and blogs to support you with pupillage and your application
Designed in partnership with the Inns of court and supported by specialist Bar associations (SBAs) and circuits, this free event is the largest recruitment fair run by the Bar, for the Bar of the future.
Pupillage Fair 2026 in partnership with:
Council of the Inns of Court
The Inns of Court are key institutions for the Bar, and every barrister must be a member of one of them. There are four Inns - Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray's Inn - and students join before beginning the vocational component of becoming a barrister. They have a central role in the education of young barristers and oversight over several parts of becoming a barrister. Additionally, they are also the Bar’s largest scholarship providers, awarding approximately £6m to aspiring barristers each year.
lincolnsinn.org.uk
innertemple.org.uk
middletemple.org.uk
graysinn.org.uk
Pupillage Fair 2026 supported by:
Chancery Bar Association
chba.org.uk
The Chancery Bar Association was established in 1935 and is the oldest specialist bar association and has over 1400 members. Our members are barristers who practise chancery law, offering a great depth of legal expertise across the whole spectrum of finance, business and property law.
Our members provide specialist advice and high-quality advocacy in all courts and tribunals in England and Wales and in many courts and tribunals abroad. They regularly appear in the Chancery Division of the High Court but are equally at home in other divisions of the High Court. Our members also appear in county courts, specialist tribunals, arbitrations and mediations.
The Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
combar.com
Combar is the specialist Bar association for commercial barristers advising the international business community. Combar represents over 1,600 commercial barristers and 38 member sets providing specialist advice, advocacy, and mediation services in relation to commercial law for businesses, individuals and other organisations.
A lot of work is heard in the Commercial Court, but Combar members appear as counsel in all the courts of England and Wales as well acting in dispute resolution processes in all forms – litigation, arbitration, and mediation – taking place worldwide.
Combar members work closely, not just with solicitors in this jurisdiction, but with law firms and co-counsel in every corner of the globe.
Criminal Bar Association
criminalbar.com
The Criminal Bar Association exists to represent the views and interests of specialist criminal barristers in England and Wales.
We offer several bursaries to members each year and provide a yearlong calendar of education with speakers from several academic institutions, the Bench and of course, the Bar.
Student membership is welcome, and those with in interest in criminal law are invited to consider our ‘shadowing scheme’, the details of which are on the website under Social Mobility.
Employment Law Bar Association (ELBA)
elba.org.uk
Employment Law Bar Association (ELBA) represents and supports UK barristers working in employment law. Formed in 1994, we are involved in government, and other, consultations as well as supporting our members through meetings, dinners and other events.
Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
flba.co.uk
The FLBA is the specialist Bar association for the family Bar in England and Wales. Our members are employed and self-employed family barristers and we welcome applications from students and those that have secured pupillage. We are actively involved in promoting family justice through our work and regular events, as well as promoting the well-being of our members, on a regional and national basis.
Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA)
piba.org.uk
The Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA) is the specialist bar association for barristers who practise in the field of personal injuries. The aims of PIBA are to provide a forum for discussion on matters of common concern and interest to our members; to ascertain and represent the views of members on matters affecting their professional interests; and to further the study, understanding and development of the law relating to personal injuries.
PIBA is also committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion amongst its members as well as aspiring barristers from diverse backgrounds who wish to practice in this area.
If you are interested in finding out more about practicing in personal injury law, please visit piba.org.uk.
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
tecbar.org
The Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR) is the specialist Bar association for employed or self-employed barristers who practise in the Technology and Construction Court, forming part of the UK’s Business and Property Courts, or before adjudicators, arbitrators, both domestic and international, and other tribunals.
If you are interested in finding out more about practicing in technology and construction law, please visit tecbar.org.
Pupillage Fair (North)
We're proud to support the Pupillage Fair (North) organised by the Northern and North Eastern Circuits. If you’re looking to practise in the North of England you could also attend the Pupillage Fair (North) to meet with chambers from Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and more. You'll need to book your tickets separately for this event on Saturday 29 November.
Our commitment to sustainability
We have worked hard to ensure that the Bar Council’s Pupillage Fair 2025 is as sustainable as possible:
- The venue map that is available at the event is printed on CO2 neutral paper with FSC and EU-Ecolabel certifications
- We provide exhibitors with green exhibitor guidance, and reused banner stands from previous events
- We provide attendees with an online programme for the event instead of a printed programme
- Our venue is also committed to sustainability, you can find out more at convene.com/impact
