The Realities of Undertaking a Pupillage

By: Miriam A.A Kwateng.
Pupil, Zoe, Akyea & Co.

Introduction

Pupillage (also known as devilling or supervised practice) is the bridge between law school and full professional practice. It is a structured, post-call training period in which a new lawyer works under the close supervision of a senior practitioner, gaining hands-on experience in client work, court craft, ethics, and professional judgment. It is demanding and fast-paced—yet profoundly rewarding when approached with intention and discipline.

This article outlines what to look for when choosing a chambers or firm, what to expect on a day-to-day basis, how to prepare for court, and the habits that help pupils thrive.

Choosing the right chambers or firm

Your choice of training environment will shape your skills, network, and career direction.

Clarify your aims. Decide the kind of work you want early—disputes vs. transactions; corporate/regulatory vs. private client; boutique vs. large firm; location and sector exposure.

Research deeply. Review websites, recent matters, publications, and pro bono activity. Speak to current or recent pupils. Look for structured training, a culture of feedback, and a clear seat rotation plan where relevant.

Assess culture and support. Prioritise places with active supervision, open-door mentoring, and realistic expectations around hours and wellbeing. Look for learning budgets and opportunities to publish, teach, or present.

Trust fit. If the work, people, and values align with yours, you’re more likely to do your best work and grow faster.

What to expect during pupillage

High standards and high tempo. Expect long days, shifting priorities, and tight deadlines. You will draft, research, prepare bundles, attend client conferences, and shadow court hearings, often all within a single week.

• Feedback is the engine. Good supervisors give frequent, specific feedback. Treat every draft as version 1, not “final”. Track your improvements and ask targeted questions.
• Ownership of details. Accuracy is non-negotiable: names, dates, authorities, filing times, and service rules. Build checklists and double-check everything.
• Professionalism and ethics. Confidentiality, conflicts of interest, candour to the court, and respectful dealings with other lawyers and clients are fundamental. If in doubt, seek guidance from other senior lawyers at your firm early.
• Growth mindset. You will make mistakes. Own them, fix them, and capture the lesson so you do not repeat them.
• Preparing for and conducting yourself in court
• Success in court is the result of deliberate preparation and disciplined execution.
• Know the forum. Understand the court’s structure, cause list, filing deadlines, dress code, and preferred formats. Read the applicable rules of procedure and any relevant practice notes.
• Master the brief. Identify the issues, reliefs sought, burden, standard of proof and the decisive facts. Map the record: pleadings, affidavits, exhibits, witness statements, and orders.
• Research with purpose. Analyse the governing statutes, regulations, and procedural rules. Prepare your argument outline, anticipated objections, and answers. If helpful, run a short mock to stress-test your submissions either by yourself or with colleagues.
• Perfect the papers. Ensure your brief is complete, correctly paginated, and indexed; authorities are legible and relevant; and all filings and services comply with timelines.
• Courtroom discipline. Arrive early. Announce yourself appropriately. Be courteous to court staff. Stand to address the court. Listen actively and answer the question put to you concisely and directly.

After the hearing. Record the outcome and next steps immediately, then send a brief attendance note to your supervisor and, where appropriate, update the client clearly and neutrally.

Habits of highly effective pupils

• Time management: Break work into blocks, prioritise critical tasks, and protect thinking time.
• Matter hygiene: Maintain a clean file: chronology, issues list, task list, contact sheet, deadlines, and version control.
• Writing craft: Lead with the point; use clear headings; state the rule, apply the facts, and conclude.
• Client sense: Communicate early, plainly, and with options. Never surprise a client or your supervisor.
• Wellbeing: Sleep, hydrate, move. Sustainable performance beats heroic sprints.
• Professional brand: Be reliable, prepared, respectful. Your reputation is built one task at a time.
  
  

Conclusion

• Pupillage is where academic knowledge is applied to form professional judgment.
• It demands stamina, precision, humility, and a curious mind.
• Choose your training environment carefully, prepare relentlessly, hold yourself to high ethical and professional standards, and treat feedback as fuel.
• With diligence and the right habits, you will convert potential into practice and lay a strong foundation for a successful legal career.