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Probationary Tenancy
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Described by the Legal 500 as ‘a Western Circuit Powerhouse’ and a ‘must instruct’ chambers, St John’s Chambers offers the perfect chance to build a stellar career at the Bar while enjoying the great opportunities on offer in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.
Following the deferment of a pupil who was due to start pupillage in 2026, St John’s Family Practice Group has a vacancy this autumn for a probationary tenant (also known as a Third Six) offering guaranteed earnings of £25,000 for six months.
This is an opportunity to develop your practice at the Bar within a highly regarded and specialist set with a strong reputation for excellence in family law. Our award-winning team comprises 1 KC and 33 juniors, undertaking complex and high-value work across all areas of family law. We are ranked Band 1 in both legal directories and we were named Regional Family Law Set of the Year at the Family Law Awards in 2023 and 2025 and shortlisted again in 2024.
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St John’s was founded by barristers who wanted to do things differently. We have a modern and progressive approach, with barristers, clerks and management working together as the driving force behind our success. We continue to grow as a Chambers and will move into our brand-new premises in Bristol later this year.
We actively promote a welcoming, supportive and inclusive culture, where wellbeing and diversity are genuinely valued. Most recently we updated our support for barristers returning from parental leave through a chambers-wide policy that includes up to 24 months’ rent-free leave, a further 3 months rent-free on return, a 6-month rent rebate, and professional coaching. We also were among the first sets to achieve the Bar Council Wellbeing at the Bar Certification and are members of the Bristol City Council Wellbeing Charter.
We invite applications for probationary tenancy from exceptional candidates with impressive academic qualifications. We look for people who are determined, resilient and motivated, both in respect of their own careers and in making the Bar a representative, equal-opportunity profession that properly reflects the communities it serves. As with pupillage, we offer probationary tenancy to those who we hope and expect will become a tenant. Of course there can be no guarantees, but our probationary tenants can normally expect to become full tenants of St John’s at the completion of their probation.
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If you wish to apply for this exciting opportunity, then please send an up-to-date CV, your covering letter, references from at least two past supervisors, and a summary of work undertaken so far.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis but should reach us no later than midday on Friday, 31 July 2026. Interviews will be in person at St John’s Chambers in Bristol.
St John’s is an adherent to the Bar Council's Probationary Tenancies Good Practice Guidelines.
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