If you are taking up pupillage at any time between October 2025 and October 2026, and being paid a total for the pupillage year (including guaranteed earnings) of no more than £37,500 (in London) or £32,500 (outside London), you could receive our top-up award of a further £13,000.

In recognition of the difficulties faced by many talented individuals during pupillage, the ICLR currently awards an annual bursary worth £13,000 in direct financial assistance to a pupil during the course of their 12 month pupillage in Chambers. The award was founded to mark ICLR’s 150th anniversary in 2015 and the first award was made the following year.

The Rules

1. The award will be based on a combination of financial need and merit.
2. The award is made irrespective of the core practice areas of the set hosting your pupillage.
3. To be eligible to apply for this award, you must have secured pupillage whether it’s to start this year or next year.
4. You must have a confirmed offer of pupillage at the time you make your application for the award, and we will ask you to provide evidence of a confirmed offer during the application process.
5. The total value of the pupillage award being made to you by the set of chambers hosting your pupillage must not exceed £37,500 in London (ie within any London borough) or £32,500 outside of London (including guaranteed earnings).
6. The application window opens on 1 March 2025 and closes on 30 June 2025.
7. The award will be paid to the winning candidate in two payments of £6,500. The first will be paid at the commencement of the first six months of pupillage, the second payment will be made at the commencement of the second six.

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