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Congratulations on securing pupillage! The mini-pupillages and mooting were all worthwhile. As was studying hard on your Bar and degree courses. The next 12-18 months are going to be tough, but you will be working on interesting cases, within institutions that date back to the 16th century, and watching some excellent advocacy. There will be highs and lows, with some people looking back on their pupillage as the best time of their life.
Unfortunately, many people do not enjoy being a pupil. And those who successfully complete the process and apply for tenancy may have a sense of relief for ‘getting through’ pupillage rather than it being a life-affirming experience. A new member of Chambers once described the feeling on becoming a tenant like having Stockholm Syndrome after a hostage situation: ‘I was released from a basement, looked at the light of the sun in the sky and didn’t really know what to do. So went back into Chambers and started working again.’
Whether you love pupillage or hate it; enjoy it or endure it; think of it as the greatest time ever or a minor inconvenience that you are fairly indifferent about; what you should not do is begin your time in Chambers as a cyber risk. Middle Temple Hall was built by 1573 but you need to be aware of the potential online vulnerabilities of working at the Bar in the 21st century.
Chambers should have a policy relating to social media usage. If not, it may be worthwhile highlighting this to your pupil supervisor. (I would not advise you bringing it up with the management committee quite yet.) A chambers policy will likely reflect the Bar Standards Board (BSB) Guidance for Barristers Using Social Media, which references the BSB Guidance on the Regulation of Non-Professional Conduct.
Conversations with clients are covered by legal professional privilege. It may be very exciting that you have met someone who has confessed to murder or would like to invest tens of millions of pounds in a tax vehicle that you have helped devise. However, it should be obvious that these points should never be posted on social media. Less obvious, perhaps, are pictures, locations and comments which, if ‘jigsawed’ together, can potentially disclose advice. An Instagram post of you at a famous restaurant during business hours, followed by a post on X a week later stating: ‘Food hygiene law is really complex’, is also not acceptable.
It is worth noting that ‘social media’ includes not only your own accounts but also commenting on posts, videos or articles of others. The BSB recognises that debate and discussion on social media is common and likely to engage a person’s right to a freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). However, Article 10 is a qualified right, and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recognises that lawyers have a special status, by virtue of their profession, which justifies some restriction on their conduct:
‘… the special status of lawyers gives them a central position in the administration of justice as intermediaries between the public and the courts. Such a position explains the usual restrictions on the conduct of members of the Bar… Regard being had to the key role of lawyers in this field, it is legitimate to expect them to contribute to the proper administration of justice, and thus to maintain public confidence therein.’
Be cautious about the material you are posting. At university, or even Bar school, it may have been acceptable to post certain pictures. However, without context, these may not reflect positively upon your professionalism and could be considered as irresponsible or even illegal by a member of chambers depending upon the content.
With regard to political or religious comment, consider whether you would be willing to make the same point in person at a chambers event. The BSB Core Duty 5 states that:
‘You must not behave in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in you or in the profession.’
Sexist, racist, homophobic or intentionally offensive language is unacceptable. Be cautious before posting comments which may offend and remember as an advocate your job is to be persuasive not provocative.
Chambers should have a cyber security policy for devices accessing the chambers’ network. If your chambers does not have one of these either, it may be worth raising this with your pupil supervisor and head of pupillage. Abide by any chambers policy relating to online access but if none exists, read the Bar Council guidance Data Protection and Security when Working from Home:
Do not connect to a chambers network unless you are confident that your computer is safe, secure and, importantly, not riddled with malware. It makes a very bad impression to cause the network to collapse the first time you log on to the system, or even worse to subsequently find out that you were the source of a supply chain attack that has not only infected chambers but also several of its most important solicitors and clients.
Chambers may have training for pupils on cyber security. If so, complete this as soon as possible. If not, ensure that you are using strong passwords (‘three simple words’); activate multifactorial authentication; and be cautious in opening unknown links in emails whether sent to your work or personal accounts. If you are running Hotmail or Gmail accounts on your laptop these need to be secure as well (strong passwords; multifactorial identification). Just because it is a personal account does not mean that it is not a potential weak point for a chambers network. It may be entirely unrealistic to have a separate work and personal device but remember that hackers are unconcerned about how they deliver malware. And while there may be little interest in placing ransomware on just your laptop, there is a much bigger incentive to encrypt and ransom a set who may be willing to pay.
Chambers may have a policy in relation to backing-up data, whether this is to a central server or cloud, or a requirement that each individual is responsible for their own back-ups. Again, ensure that you are complying with the set’s IT policies.
Pupillage is hard. And you may feel overwhelmed with the amount of research you have to undertake, and the documents you are required to draft. Be incredibly careful when using Generative AI as a tool. If you do not really understand how Gen AI works then do not use it. The Bar Council Guidance on the use of Generative AI is a must-read.
AI hallucinations are an increasingly well-known risk. In Frederick Ayinde v The London Borough of Haringey [2025] EWHC 1383 (Admin), the Administrative Court was expressly critical of a pupil barrister who had cited five ‘fake’ cases found through AI searches. The court decided not to begin proceedings for contempt of court; however, the BSB was encouraged to take appropriate action.
Do not cut corners, approach online research with care and ensure you are professional throughout your pupillage.
Bar Standards Board Guidance for barristers using social media (September 2023).
Bar Standards Board Guidance on the regulation of non-professional conduct (September 2023).
Bar Council Guidance on Data protection and security when working from home (March 2020).
Bar Council Guidance on the use of Generative AI (January 2024).
Find all of Sam’s articles for Counsel magazine on cybersecurity at the Bar here.
Sam Thomas is a barrister at 2BR. He is the co-author of Cyber Security: Law and Practice (LexisNexis: 2019) and Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: International Legal and Regulatory Challenges (Bloomsbury: 2023). Sam sits on the Bar Council IT Panel and is Chair of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers. Sam’s practice encompasses advocacy and advice in cyber compliance and regulatory law, for which he was recognised by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, 2021-2024.
Congratulations on securing pupillage! The mini-pupillages and mooting were all worthwhile. As was studying hard on your Bar and degree courses. The next 12-18 months are going to be tough, but you will be working on interesting cases, within institutions that date back to the 16th century, and watching some excellent advocacy. There will be highs and lows, with some people looking back on their pupillage as the best time of their life.
Unfortunately, many people do not enjoy being a pupil. And those who successfully complete the process and apply for tenancy may have a sense of relief for ‘getting through’ pupillage rather than it being a life-affirming experience. A new member of Chambers once described the feeling on becoming a tenant like having Stockholm Syndrome after a hostage situation: ‘I was released from a basement, looked at the light of the sun in the sky and didn’t really know what to do. So went back into Chambers and started working again.’
Whether you love pupillage or hate it; enjoy it or endure it; think of it as the greatest time ever or a minor inconvenience that you are fairly indifferent about; what you should not do is begin your time in Chambers as a cyber risk. Middle Temple Hall was built by 1573 but you need to be aware of the potential online vulnerabilities of working at the Bar in the 21st century.
Chambers should have a policy relating to social media usage. If not, it may be worthwhile highlighting this to your pupil supervisor. (I would not advise you bringing it up with the management committee quite yet.) A chambers policy will likely reflect the Bar Standards Board (BSB) Guidance for Barristers Using Social Media, which references the BSB Guidance on the Regulation of Non-Professional Conduct.
Conversations with clients are covered by legal professional privilege. It may be very exciting that you have met someone who has confessed to murder or would like to invest tens of millions of pounds in a tax vehicle that you have helped devise. However, it should be obvious that these points should never be posted on social media. Less obvious, perhaps, are pictures, locations and comments which, if ‘jigsawed’ together, can potentially disclose advice. An Instagram post of you at a famous restaurant during business hours, followed by a post on X a week later stating: ‘Food hygiene law is really complex’, is also not acceptable.
It is worth noting that ‘social media’ includes not only your own accounts but also commenting on posts, videos or articles of others. The BSB recognises that debate and discussion on social media is common and likely to engage a person’s right to a freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). However, Article 10 is a qualified right, and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recognises that lawyers have a special status, by virtue of their profession, which justifies some restriction on their conduct:
‘… the special status of lawyers gives them a central position in the administration of justice as intermediaries between the public and the courts. Such a position explains the usual restrictions on the conduct of members of the Bar… Regard being had to the key role of lawyers in this field, it is legitimate to expect them to contribute to the proper administration of justice, and thus to maintain public confidence therein.’
Be cautious about the material you are posting. At university, or even Bar school, it may have been acceptable to post certain pictures. However, without context, these may not reflect positively upon your professionalism and could be considered as irresponsible or even illegal by a member of chambers depending upon the content.
With regard to political or religious comment, consider whether you would be willing to make the same point in person at a chambers event. The BSB Core Duty 5 states that:
‘You must not behave in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in you or in the profession.’
Sexist, racist, homophobic or intentionally offensive language is unacceptable. Be cautious before posting comments which may offend and remember as an advocate your job is to be persuasive not provocative.
Chambers should have a cyber security policy for devices accessing the chambers’ network. If your chambers does not have one of these either, it may be worth raising this with your pupil supervisor and head of pupillage. Abide by any chambers policy relating to online access but if none exists, read the Bar Council guidance Data Protection and Security when Working from Home:
Do not connect to a chambers network unless you are confident that your computer is safe, secure and, importantly, not riddled with malware. It makes a very bad impression to cause the network to collapse the first time you log on to the system, or even worse to subsequently find out that you were the source of a supply chain attack that has not only infected chambers but also several of its most important solicitors and clients.
Chambers may have training for pupils on cyber security. If so, complete this as soon as possible. If not, ensure that you are using strong passwords (‘three simple words’); activate multifactorial authentication; and be cautious in opening unknown links in emails whether sent to your work or personal accounts. If you are running Hotmail or Gmail accounts on your laptop these need to be secure as well (strong passwords; multifactorial identification). Just because it is a personal account does not mean that it is not a potential weak point for a chambers network. It may be entirely unrealistic to have a separate work and personal device but remember that hackers are unconcerned about how they deliver malware. And while there may be little interest in placing ransomware on just your laptop, there is a much bigger incentive to encrypt and ransom a set who may be willing to pay.
Chambers may have a policy in relation to backing-up data, whether this is to a central server or cloud, or a requirement that each individual is responsible for their own back-ups. Again, ensure that you are complying with the set’s IT policies.
Pupillage is hard. And you may feel overwhelmed with the amount of research you have to undertake, and the documents you are required to draft. Be incredibly careful when using Generative AI as a tool. If you do not really understand how Gen AI works then do not use it. The Bar Council Guidance on the use of Generative AI is a must-read.
AI hallucinations are an increasingly well-known risk. In Frederick Ayinde v The London Borough of Haringey [2025] EWHC 1383 (Admin), the Administrative Court was expressly critical of a pupil barrister who had cited five ‘fake’ cases found through AI searches. The court decided not to begin proceedings for contempt of court; however, the BSB was encouraged to take appropriate action.
Do not cut corners, approach online research with care and ensure you are professional throughout your pupillage.
Bar Standards Board Guidance for barristers using social media (September 2023).
Bar Standards Board Guidance on the regulation of non-professional conduct (September 2023).
Bar Council Guidance on Data protection and security when working from home (March 2020).
Bar Council Guidance on the use of Generative AI (January 2024).
Find all of Sam’s articles for Counsel magazine on cybersecurity at the Bar here.
Chair of the Bar sets out a busy calendar for the rest of the year
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Review by Stephen Cragg KC
