Not to be confused with the period of training called pupillage or junior work undertaken by a person wishing to become an advocate in one of the English-speaking common law systems of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, and Australia.
As the profession grew, young apprentices were equally easy to blame, and thus became the replacement scapegoat for any errors.
This is one of the exceptions to the usual prohibition on fee sharing under the Code of Conduct for Barristers in England and Wales.
Additionally, the Bar Association of Australia requires devils be paid, with the official recommendation 50% of the barrister's fees.
The incumbent in the role, James Eadie was appointed in 2009 when he was already a QC, and so also holds the position of First Treasury Counsel (Common Law).