Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservative) on Monday, 23 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. It was answered by Ellie Reeves (Labour) on Thursday, 26 March 2026 on behalf of the Attorney General.

Government Legal Department: Barristers

Question

To ask the Solicitor General, how many pupil barristers who undertook pupillage with the Government Legal Department left upon completion in each of the past five years.

Answer

The Government Legal Department’s (GLD) Legal Trainee Scheme lasts for two years in total. Those who join the GLD as pupil barristers qualify as barristers at the end of Year 1 of the Training Scheme (the pupillage period). They then remain on the Training Scheme for a further 12 months, during which they gain wider experience of GLD’s legal work.

The number of pupil barristers who left upon completion of the two‑year Training Scheme in each of the past five years is as follows:

  • Out of the 5 pupil barristers that completed the scheme, 3 pupil barristers left upon completion in 2021.
  • Out of the 5 pupil barristers that completed the scheme, no pupil barristers left upon completion in 2022.
  • Out of the 5 pupil barristers that completed the scheme, 1 pupil barrister left upon completion in 2023.
  • Out of the 3 pupil barristers that completed the scheme, 2 pupil barristers left upon completion in 2024.
  • Out of the 3 pupil barristers that completed the scheme, 1 pupil barrister left upon completion in 2025.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
123078
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Barristers Training Termination of employment Government Legal Department
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk