Second six pupillage: What I would do differently if I could go back
This is a reflective piece about my second six pupillage, written from the perspective of someone now more than one year into practice. It is aimed at pupils about to start their second six, and those who are curious about what life on your feet is really like.
Second six is exciting, daunting and often overwhelming. You go from observing and assisting to being responsible for cases, clients and outcomes. Looking back, there are things I am glad I did, and things I would absolutely do differently if I could go back.
1.First six is not just about learning the law
In first six, I put a lot of pressure on myself to know the law. Of course that matters, but something just as important is watching how your supervisor practises.
Family law is deeply personal. You are dealing with clients in distress, professionals who may be opposed to your client’s case, and emotionally charged situations. By the end of first six, you have seen how your supervisor:
Responds to an upset client
Handles judicial pressure
Manages opposing advocates
Keeps control of a hearing
I didn’t copy those approaches directly, but I built a mental “playbook” of responses. I often found myself thinking, “This is how I would handle this situation.” That observational learning was just as valuable as black-letter law.
2.Crib sheets: Start early and be systematic
If I could give one practical piece of advice to pupils heading into second six, it would be this: create crib sheets early and keep them updated.
I had a list of topics split into:
Public children
Private children
Financial remedies
Injunctions
Against each topic, I would:
Tick when I had observed that type of hearing
Tick when I had created a crib sheet
Tick when I had practised or conducted that hearing
This structure helped me see clearly where my gaps were and what I needed more exposure to before going on my feet.
What a crib sheet should include
A crib sheet does not need to be long. For me, it was usually a single page covering:
The basic law
The purpose of the hearing
Key authorities (only the essentials)
Practical “top tips”
For example, on fact-finding hearings, my crib sheet included:
How different barristers I observed opened cross-examination
How they built up to key allegations
How they adapted questioning for vulnerable witnesses
Language that worked well (and language that didn’t)
At Unit, we were expected to produce crib sheets for the core areas of family law, and I found them invaluable. Once you are in second six, you will often be instructed on urgent, last-minute cases. In those pressure moments, even if you are prepared, being able to glance at a crib sheet to check the law and key points is incredibly reassuring.
3. What if a client asks a question you don’t know?
Even senior barristers do not have all the answers immediately. Clients generally are not critical if you don’t know something on the spot. What matters is how you respond.
Sometimes the answer is:
You need to check and come back to them
The question is outside your role as counsel
They need to be sign-posted elsewhere
The important thing is not to leave them hanging. And if it is something you should know, that is where your crib sheets become invaluable.
4. Difficult characters in court: Don’t let it undermine you
You may encounter other professionals in court whose approach can knock your confidence and make you question your experience or ability.
What helped me was reminding myself:
You have been selected for pupillage for a reason
You have completed rigorous training
Everyone else in that courtroom has been through the same process
In court, everyone is doing their job. Your role is to put forward your client’s case clearly and professionally.
The first time this happens is the hardest. When it happens again and you do well, it becomes easier to remind yourself that you are capable.
In family law especially, taking an overly aggressive stance is not always the right approach. Understanding people and working towards resolution, where appropriate, is often more effective.
5. Managing the reality of second six life
Second six is often the first time you have had a role like this. You are still a pupil, but you are also:
Self-employed
Responsible for your diary
Managing fluctuating workloads
Some weeks are quiet. Others are relentless, with back-to-back hearings and late nights. It is very easy for work to consume everything if you let it.
I learned quickly that I had to be intentional about:
Eating properly
Exercising
Spending time with family and friends
If you do not prioritise these things, they will disappear.
6. Even in second six, ask for help
Even when you are on your feet, you should still ask for help.
Speak to your supervisor or other members of chambers:
Before a hearing, if you want to sense-check an approach
After a difficult case
If something did not go your way
If a case has been emotionally challenging
The shift in responsibility during second six is significant. Talking about cases and experiences genuinely helps, and most people are far more willing to support you than you might expect.
7.Get organised before second six starts
Finally, something I wish I had done earlier: get organised with admin before second six begins.
Practical steps that helped me:
Creating a spreadsheet to track cases
Recording filing deadlines and orders
Keeping on top of billing
It is also important to prepare properly for self-employment:
Register for self-assessment
Register for VAT if required
Instruct an accountant early
Having systems in place from the outset makes billing, tax returns, and general admin far less stressful.
Final thoughts
Second six is challenging, but it is also where everything starts to come together. You will make mistakes, you will learn quickly, and you will grow in confidence faster than you expect. If I could go back, I would be kinder to myself, more organised earlier, and less afraid to ask for help. If you are heading into second six now, you are probably more prepared than you think.
