The COIC Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme helps to provide additional pupillages in chambers, and other approved training organisations (AETOs), predominantly engaged in legally aided work.

Encouragingly, a growing number of chambers are applying for COIC match-funded grants. COIC is set to support 34 pupillages in 2022. This is an impressive improvement on the scheme’s first year of operation in 2014, when it supported 14 pupillages.

How the scheme works

It is a prerequisite of the scheme that chambers understand that match-funded pupillages are in addition to those they would have offered in any event. COIC matches pupillage funding already provided by chambers with a total grant of £9,650 for 2023-2024 London pupillages and £8,250 for 2023-2024 out-of-London pupillages, and £10,000 for 2024-25 London pupillages and £8,550 for 2024-25 out-of-London pupillages, to fund the first six months of a second pupillage.

Chambers are responsible for ensuring that the total pupillage award meets the BSB’s minimum award for the year in question.

How to apply

Applications to match fund 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 pupillages are invited between 5 September and 21 October 2022.

Decisions will be communicated during the week commencing 7 November 2022.

Online applications can be made at www.coic.org.uk/pupillage-matched-funding. To find out more please email Hayley Dawes at COIC at: hdawes@coic.org.uk 

Testimonial: Bank House Chambers
The only independent set in Sheffield, we have been using the COIC matched funding scheme for a number of years and found it hugely beneficial. As a chambers completing mainly publicly funded work, in particular crime and family, we’ve always had more than enough work for members and pupils. The difficulty has been in justifying the outlay to take multiple pupils given our relative size. 
Through matched funding, over a number of years, we have been able to grow our team organically from the junior end. This has spurred everyone else in Chambers on to bigger and better cases, with those more junior nipping at their heels. Our first match-funded pupils are now established and valued tenants and, as they’ve moved up the ladder, are now assisting the new pupils.
Pupillage can be a difficult year. We have always made it clear that our pupils are not in competition with each other. In this way, they have an additional ally in their co-pupil(s), who know exactly what they are going through at that time and these prove to be invaluable relationships as they forge successful careers together. All of this simply wouldn’t have been possible without the COIC scheme, so we have much to be grateful for.
Chris Aspinall, Bank House Chambers – Pupillage AETO

 

 

 

Testimonial: Devon Chambers

Pupillage is at the heart of Devon Chambers. As a comparatively small set on the Western Circuit, we understand the importance of recruitment and the benefits for both pupil and chambers from investing in the pupillage system.
The COIC Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme has allowed us to extend that opportunity to more pupils. Over the course of the last four years, we have been able to take seven pupils in Chambers, all of whom have successfully completed pupillage and taken up offers of tenancy. This has had an obvious benefit to Chambers but, importantly, it has generated huge benefits for the pupils themselves.
The size of Chambers has meant that, without the generous support of the Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme, we would often have to offer only one pupillage each year; the ability to offer two enhances the companionship and collegiality available to our pupils. Together with fair recruitment, funded mini-pupillages, the Devon Chambers Student Forum and the Devon Chambers’ ‘Boot Camp’ scheme, the Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme plays an integral part in our progressive approach towards training the next generation of barristers.
Amy Edinborough, Pupillage Coordinator, Devon Chambers