*/
The Ministry of Justice will match-fund up to 100 criminal pupillages, with grants available to criminal chambers across England and Wales. Similar to the COIC scheme, the grants will match-fund pupillages additional to those otherwise offered without government funding
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is launching a landmark scheme, investing up to £1.5 million per year to increase the number of match-funded criminal pupillages and support entry into the Bar. This is an exciting opportunity to support and expand the junior end of the Criminal Bar.
The MoJ will fund up to 100 additional match-funded places, providing specialist on-the-job training and widening access to a career at the Criminal Bar for candidates from across society. The aim of the scheme is to improve opportunities and increase the number of junior barristers practising in criminal law at a time when the criminal justice system needs more excellent practitioners.
This scheme is in addition to the existing Council of the Inns of Court (COIC) match funding scheme, which covers all practice areas. The MoJ scheme will run on very similar lines, but only for criminal pupillages. The match-funded grants will be available to chambers across England and Wales and will be for pupillages additional to those that would otherwise have been offered without government funding.
Chambers will be responsible for ensuring that the total pupillage award meets the Bar Standards Board’s minimum award for the relevant year. They must provide evidence which demonstrates that where a pupil achieves the requisite standard, the pupil may be awarded a tenancy with the prospect of specialising in criminal law.
Chambers will further be expected to incorporate certain equal opportunity measures into their recruitment practices. These comprise:
COIC’s Grant Committee plans to run an online session with the MoJ to explain the scheme and answer any questions that chambers may have.
Applications to match fund pupillages are invited between 1 September and 16 October 2026. Decisions on applications will be communicated during the week commencing 2 November 2026.
Online applications can be made through the COIC website at: www.coic.org.uk/pupillage-matched-funding.
To find out more about the scheme, including the online session, please email Hayley Dawes: hdawes@coic.org.uk.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is launching a landmark scheme, investing up to £1.5 million per year to increase the number of match-funded criminal pupillages and support entry into the Bar. This is an exciting opportunity to support and expand the junior end of the Criminal Bar.
The MoJ will fund up to 100 additional match-funded places, providing specialist on-the-job training and widening access to a career at the Criminal Bar for candidates from across society. The aim of the scheme is to improve opportunities and increase the number of junior barristers practising in criminal law at a time when the criminal justice system needs more excellent practitioners.
This scheme is in addition to the existing Council of the Inns of Court (COIC) match funding scheme, which covers all practice areas. The MoJ scheme will run on very similar lines, but only for criminal pupillages. The match-funded grants will be available to chambers across England and Wales and will be for pupillages additional to those that would otherwise have been offered without government funding.
Chambers will be responsible for ensuring that the total pupillage award meets the Bar Standards Board’s minimum award for the relevant year. They must provide evidence which demonstrates that where a pupil achieves the requisite standard, the pupil may be awarded a tenancy with the prospect of specialising in criminal law.
Chambers will further be expected to incorporate certain equal opportunity measures into their recruitment practices. These comprise:
COIC’s Grant Committee plans to run an online session with the MoJ to explain the scheme and answer any questions that chambers may have.
Applications to match fund pupillages are invited between 1 September and 16 October 2026. Decisions on applications will be communicated during the week commencing 2 November 2026.
Online applications can be made through the COIC website at: www.coic.org.uk/pupillage-matched-funding.
To find out more about the scheme, including the online session, please email Hayley Dawes: hdawes@coic.org.uk.
The Ministry of Justice will match-fund up to 100 criminal pupillages, with grants available to criminal chambers across England and Wales. Similar to the COIC scheme, the grants will match-fund pupillages additional to those otherwise offered without government funding
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
