For AETOs

Welcome

On this page:

What is the Pupillage Gateway?

The Pupillage Gateway is the Bar Council’s online system for aspiring barristers to apply for pupillage. Authorised education and training organisations (AETOs) can advertise pupillages and track applicants through the recruitment process. All AETOs must advertise vacancies for pupillage on the Pupillage Gateway, as required under the Bar Standards Board Bar Qualification manual.

In addition to advertising pupillage, AETOs can use the gateway to manage their pupillage recruitment process. This is optional and carries a fee, but there are many benefits to doing so as detailed below. The Pupillage Gateway is a cost-effective way to manage your recruitment processes. It’s designed to be an easy and all-in-one platform.

Benefits and features

Key features of using the Pupillage Gateway to manage your recruitment:

Streamlined recruitment process – benefit from an organised online space with recruitment automisation
See a clear overview of every stage of the recruitment process – be ready for each step
Upload documents and video content – giving you more ways to present information to applicants
Create up to 7 bespoke applicant questions and set your own word count
Fair recruitment – anonymise application forms making the recruitment fair and unbiased
Share your preferred applications with colleagues – send PDFs of your preferred version of the applications forms for review
Access customisable email templates – designed to support your recruitment process
Schedule interviews with candidates – a scheduling system where the applicant can pick from a selection of times that work for you
View live, anonymised and aggregated reports relating to equal opportunities monitoring and contextual data.

The Pupillage Gateway is fully compliant with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act. Read more in the system terms and conditions

Use the Pupillage Gateway

You have two options:

Advertise pupillage vacancies only (free)
Sign up to manage your pupillage recruitment through the gateway (for a fee)

Advertisement only

Under the Bar Standards Board Bar Qualification Manual, all AETOs are required to advertise vacancies for pupillage on the Pupillage Gateway
If you are managing your pupillage recruitment outside of the Pupillage Gateway, you still need to advertise your vacancies on the Pupillage Gateway

To advertise your vacancy:

Complete a Vacancy information form (Word, 153KB)
Return it to [email protected], in accordance with the dates set out in the mandatory recruitment timetable

Managing recruitment on the Pupillage Gateway

£1,100 per annum plus VAT plus

Use the Pupillage Gateway’s centralised applicant tracking system (ATS)
Manage the recruitment process
Discounts are available to Annual Chambers Management Package subscribers. An additional £100 plus VAT per vacancy will be applied if you wish to run multiple recruitment processes through the Pupillage Gateway in any given year

We provide a virtual demonstration of the system - email us at [email protected] to arrange.

How to use the Pupillage Gateway

See our step-by-step guidance on using the Pupillage Gateway.

Timetable

Outlining the key stages for AETOs when using the Pupillage Gateway application system.

Monday 01 September 2025

Applicant account set up: aspiring barristers can start setting up their accounts on the Pupillage Gateway and upload their academic and work experience history, and referees.

Monday 13 October 2025

Authorised education and training organisations (AETO) advertisement and account set-up on the Gateway: AETOs must start registering their accounts and submitting applications for approval.

Friday 21 November 2025 , 11:59(pm)

AETOs publish advertisements on the Gateway: AETOs must register their accounts and submit applications for approval by this deadline. All approved vacancy advertisements will be published for prospective applicants to browse.

Monday 24 November 2025 , 12:01(am)

Applicants view advertisements: applicants may access the Pupillage Gateway to browse vacancies.

Monday 05 January 2026 , 11:00(am)

Applicants can apply: the submissions window for applications opens and applicants can start, edit, and submit their applications. AETOs will not have access to the applications until the submissions window closes.

Thursday 22 January 2026 , 11:59(pm)

Applicants must complete their applications: the submissions window for applications closes and no further applications or amendments to applications are allowed. AETOs can begin to download and assess applications and acknowledge receipt of applications. They can also begin to sift through applications, shortlist applicants and conduct interviews.

Friday 23 January 2026

AETOs can access Gateway applications: AETOs using the Pupillage Gateway to administer their recruitment process will be able to download candidate applications and begin the shortlisting and interview process from this date at the latest.

AETOs may be able to access applications any time between Friday 23 January and Monday 26 January 2026, pending the approval of the Bar Council’s Director of Services.

Monday 26 January 2026

AETOs start shortlisting applications made outside of the Gateway: AETOs not using the Pupillage Gateway can begin the shortlisting and interview process from this date.

Friday 08 May 2026 , 09:30(am)

AETOs make offers to applicants: AETOs will make offers either through the Gateway system, by phone, or by email. All offers will be made on the same day at the same time.

AETOs are not able to make offers to applicants in advance of this date. They must not make informal or indicative offers in advance.

Friday 15 May 2026 , 09:30(am)

Applicants' deadline for accepting initial offers: all applicants have a 7-day deadline to communicate acceptance of an offer (if any). Applicants will be able to accept an offer anytime up to the deadline.

If an AETO’s offer is declined by an applicant within the 7-day deadline, then they may immediately make a second-round offer.

If the 7-day deadline passes without the applicant accepting the offer, AETOs should send out second round offers within a reasonable time period.