Bermudian Law Students are invited to apply for the Criminal Pupillage Award
Application deadline 30 April 2023 for October 2023 start date.
The Bermuda Bar Association in conjunction with Mountford Chambers (formerly Carmelite Chambers) in London, England invites Bermudian law students intending to practice criminal law to apply for the prestigious Dame Lois Browne-Evans Pupilage Award. This is a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience which is not generally available to Bermudian pupils.
To date and which includes the 2018 candidate Ms. Caines, no less than 10 successful Barristers & Attorneys listed as follows are practising at the Bermuda Bar due to the combined commitment of Mountford Chambers, the UK Bar Council and the Bermuda Bar Council’s support with this offering. Bar Council is very grateful to Mountford Chambers and the UK Bar Council for continuing to support our initiative to build up the Criminal Bar of Bermuda:
- Mr. Antoine Lightbourne, BPTC (Award October 2009 - October 2010)
- Mr. Richard Ambrosio, BPTC (Award October 2010 - October 2011)
- Ms. Kenlyn Swan, BPTC (Award October 2011 - March 2012)
- Ms. Alison Hollis, BPTC (Award October 2012 - October 2013)
- Mr. Javone Rogers, LPC (Award October 2012 - March 2013)
- Ms. Vanessa James, BPTC (Award October 2013 - October 2014)
- Ms. Cyle Bianca Allen, BPTC (Award October 2014 - October 2015)
- Mr. Clyde Darrell, BPTC (Award October 2015 - October 2016)
- Ms. Courtney Outerbridge, BPTC (Award October 2017 - October 2018)
- Ms. Ariana Caines, BPTC (Award October 2018 - October 2019)
- Mr. Payton Goodred (Award October 2021 - October 2022)
Link to Mountford Chambers website
Link to Dame Lois Browne-Evans Tribute
Bar Council were deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Lois Browne-Evans. She was a mentor, a friend, and an advocate to many a Bermudian who dreamed of a future in Law; she is greatly missed.
Bar Council decided it would be most befitting and appropriate to provide a Criminal Law Pupilage to a Bermudian in her memory; The Dame Lois Browne-Evans Award.
Bar Council and the elite Mountford Chambers of London put forward a proposal to the Bar Council in the UK seeking permission for a Bermudian to receive training through Mountford Chambers. We are pleased to say we were successfully granted permission.
Many thousands of students apply for pupilages each year in the UK, and due to very few spaces being available many will not be successful. Receiving permission for the Bermudian to receive training is without a doubt a great privilege. The pupil upon completion of the training will return to Bermuda and become a member of the Criminal bar.
The Dame Lois Browne-Evans Award provides the opportunity to an outstanding Bermudian candidate to have 6 or 12 months pupilage at Mountford Chambers, a leading criminal set in London, England. We are also very pleased to announce that exceptionally we are able to open this opportunity to LPC as well as BVC candidates.
All applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing the LPC or BPTC course and have the current intention to practice in the field of criminal law. The applicant must also be eligible to apply for or be in possession of a EU or UK passport.
The successful applicant will receive:
BPTC Pupil: Bursary $25K. Full 12 month pupilage with salary in the second six payable from Mountford Chambers.
LPC Pupil:
Option 1: Bursary $12, 500K. Six month extensive training/mini pupilage at Mountford Chambers where the LPC pupil (applicant would be required to do a further six month articles/pupilage in a Bermuda or equivalent jurisdiction firm in order to be called to the Bermuda Bar under section 51(1)(a)(ii)(aa) of the Supreme Court Act.)
Option 2: Bursary $25K. Full 12 month Extensive training/mini pupilage at Mountford Chambers. NB the applicant as a non BPTC candidate will not be in a position in the second six months training to undertake any work in their own right, and will only shadow a Barrister in Chambers. No salary is payable from Mountford Chambers. The candidate will not be called to the UK Bar but would be eligible to be called to the Bermuda Bar under section 51(1)(a)(ii)(aa) of the Supreme Court Act.
Mountford Chambers is one of the largest and longest established sets in the United Kingdom and its barristers are regularly instructed in high profile criminal cases both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Competition for pupilage places is incredibly fierce and a pupilage at Mountford Chambers is a once in a lifetime training opportunity for the successful Applicant.
The Award Committee is presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bermuda and the Award Committee will be looking to assess academic and intellectual abilities, skills in oral and written communications, and an understanding of and an interest in the practice of criminal law.
Applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing the LPC or BPTC course and have the current intention to practice in the field of criminal law.
Applicants should submit the following documentation:
- Covering letter indicating why the Award Committee should grant the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Pupilage Award to the Applicant;
- Copies of professional degrees, transcripts, and an up to date curriculum vitae;
- One academic reference (LPC or BPTC Lecturer)
- One personal reference
- Certified copy of proof of Bermudian status
Address your application to:
Annwen Stirling, Executive Secretary
Bermuda Bar Association
2nd Floor, Swan Building
26 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM 12
Tel: 295-4540
