Chambers News
08.03.2010
Adam Solomon and Martin Palmer appear in City bonus case >more
05.03.2010
Chambers is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of 'Termination of Employment' >more
04.03.2010
Charles Samek QC acts for internationally-renowned computer games producer, Codemasters Software >more
03.03.2010
The shape of things to come - electronic working at the RCJ >more
02.03.2010
WARNING: Fraud / financial scams >more
26.02.2010
Naomi Ellenbogen to be appointed Queen's Counsel >more
24.02.2010
Prof Erika Szyszczak to speak at the CLT Equality Law Conference >more
18.02.2010
Ian Mayes QC joins the Board of IKOS >more
17.02.2010
Jonathan Cohen successfully obtains injunction to prevent dock workers strike >more
11.02.2010
Andrew Clarke QC and Naomi Ellenbogen succeed in the Court of Appeal in the leading NHS equal pay multiple, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust v Fox (formerly known as “Potter”). >more
10.02.2010
Court of Appeal rules that loser does not have to pay costs of appeal: Martin Fodder acts for respondent >more
03.02.2010
Daniel Tatton Brown appears for the Respondent in the Equality and Human Rights Commission backed appeal, J v DLA Piper UK LLP. >more
29.01.2010
Martyn Barklem successfully defends ex-Newcastle FC striker, Obafemi Martins against £300,000 contract claim. >more
Recently recognised as Employment Set of the Year by Chambers and Partners,
Chambers prides itself on the skills of its tenants, not only as top-quality academic lawyers and advocates, but also for their practical and unstuffy approach. This creates an environment which is industrious, supportive and down to earth. Our tenants feature in many of the leading cases in our practice areas and regularly appear in the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and the ECJ.
We take a considerable amount of care in choosing our pupils. We like to take on pupils who not only have excellent academic skills, but who show a flair for advocacy, have the ability to understand practical commercial issues and, importantly, have the interpersonal skills to provide the qualities that are expected of the modern day Bar.
Many former candidates have commented positively on the thoroughness of our selection procedure, which is designed both to test the aptitude and abilities of candidates and to allow candidates to get a real feel for what makes us stand out as a set of chambers. Having invested time and effort into this selection process, we support our pupils throughout pupillage in the strong hope that they will be successful in their applications for tenancy in due course.
You can find more information on various aspects of pupillage using the links below:
A summary of chambers’ main areas of work is set out below. Click on the hyperlinked text to see more detailed information on our work in these areas in the main website.
Employment law encompasses a vast range of disputes between individuals and their employers whether in the Employment Tribunal or in the civil courts. Employment cases, particularly in the discrimination field, frequently make the headlines, and this is a fast-moving and exciting area of law with plenty of opportunity for advocacy from a very early stage. As well as disputes with individual employees, members of chambers are frequently instructed in large-scale collective employment disputes between trade unions and employers. More senior practitioners undertake a large amount of injunctive work where urgent court intervention is necessary, for example to prevent a former employee wrongly soliciting colleagues and customers, to ensure that a professional disciplinary process is not conducted without adequate safeguards, or even to prevent an unlawful strike.
We were named Employment Set of the Year for 2009 by Chambers & Partners and are ranked in the top band in both of the leading legal directories (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500) for our employment work. The directories note that “this set demonstrates quality throughout its ranks, offering “top-drawer specialist barristers” and “excellent junior juniors””.
Commercial law incorporates banking, commercial fraud, company and insolvency disputes, litigation arising in the entertainment, media and sports industries, as well as public law claims. These claims are often very high value, with well-informed and successful clients demanding incisive and thorough advice grounded in a ‘real world’ commercial sense. Complex commercial litigation, often involving a team of lawyers led by a silk, requires intellectual rigour, detailed analysis and an unflappable approach from all those involved.
Professional negligence includes claims against legal, financial and medical professionals. Often involving insurers, this area of work requires excellent judgment to be able to give sound advice as to prospects at all stages. Depending on the subject matter of the case, barristers also require the mental agility to quickly get to grips with an unfamiliar area of professional expertise.
Mediation and arbitration are alternative forms of dispute resolution designed to avoid the need for cases to be litigated in court.
We offer up to two fully-funded pupillages each year. As we seek to recruit only pupils that we perceive to be strong candidates for tenancy, we will occasionally offer only one pupillage.
Chambers is a member of the Pupillage Portal. Please go to www.pupillages.com for details as to application requirements and timetable.
Many applicants, particularly those who have studied law at degree level, prefer to apply in the spring prior to commencement of the BVC. Successful candidates in this position can undertake the BVC with the benefit of an advance of part of their pupillage award (if desired) and in the knowledge that they have a place at which they can complete the vocational stage of their training. We are, however, equally happy to receive applications from candidates who have commenced or completed the BVC.
Our process generally comprises the following stages:
We appreciate that our selection process is fairly rigorous. This is because we only recruit pupils whom we think are very likely to be offered tenancy at the end of the pupillage year.
Offers will be made as early as possible, in accordance with the Pupillage Portal timetable.
Our usual minimum academic requirement is a 2:1 degree. We will consider applications from candidates who have not attained this standard only in exceptional circumstances. Any such circumstances should be clearly identified and explained on your application form.
We value equality and diversity and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and all sectors of the community. Candidates for pupillage and for tenancy are assessed solely on the grounds of merit. If you are disabled and require any adjustments to be made at any stage of the application and selection process then please inform us of this and we will attempt to accommodate your needs.
We believe that fair remuneration and financial certainty are important. Our pupils receive a pupillage award of £45,000, of which up to £10,000 can be drawn down up to one year in advance.
Our pupils keep all earnings received during their second six. This will typically amount to something in excess of £10,000. In addition, Chambers supports pupils by paying for external training courses undertaken during pupillage.
If you are successful in being offered tenancy at
Pupils at
Working with a pupil supervisor is the principal form of training. Our pupils spend time with at least two, and sometimes three or four, pupil supervisors in order to obtain exposure to a variety of different practices. Your pupil supervisors will provide support and guidance to you throughout your pupillage, ensuring that you understand not only the nuts and bolts of a barrister’s work, but also the ethical constraints which are such a distinctive feature of our professional life.
You will be asked to draft statements of case, prepare written Opinions and Skeleton Arguments, and to conduct legal research. Your pupil supervisor will give you access to the papers in the case and will expect you to prepare as if you were the barrister instructed by solicitors. The strengths and weaknesses of your work will be discussed with you, and your pupil supervisor will show you how he has completed the work. You will have the opportunity of seeing your pupil supervisor conduct cases in court or tribunal.
In addition to performing work for your pupil supervisor, you will also be asked to undertake work for other members of chambers. You will be set a number of formal assessed pieces of written work, and receive graded feedback on your performance.
A number of training courses have been set up within chambers to focus on the development of your knowledge and skills:
External training is provided by the Inns of Court and pupils are encouraged to attend the various lectures and seminars offered by the specialist bar association. We regard this training as an invaluable supplement to the training which we will give you.
After the first six months of your pupillage, you will be eligible to take on your own work. Typically, pupils in
We view each pupil whom we recruit as a potential new tenant. There is no element of internal competition. By this we mean that if a pupil achieves the requisite standard to be offered tenancy, a tenancy will be offered irrespective of the number of other pupils who also achieve that standard. Nevertheless, our standards are exacting because our aim is to recruit people who will contribute significantly to the success to
We aim to make tenancy decisions early enough to give any unsuccessful candidate a good opportunity to secure a third six pupillage at an alternative set. However, the precise date of the decision will depend on the circumstances in any particular year.
Tenancy decisions are made by chambers as a whole and consideration is given to:
We do not expect that a person completing pupillage will be “the finished product”. However, we will not offer tenancy to someone in whom we do not have complete confidence.
Your final pupil supervisor will guide you in managing the transition from pupillage to independent practice and you will be given accommodation alongside more senior practitioners who will be able to offer support in the early days of practice.
I remember clearly spending long hours looking through chambers’ websites, brochures and pupilage guides a few years ago. I, like most people, was looking for that ‘dream ticket’ combination: interesting and intellectually stimulating work, plenty of oral advocacy, lots of contact with varied clients – and all of this in a friendly, unstuffy environment where you are going to earn a healthy amount of money. All sets ticked some of the boxes. It seemed impossible to find one that ticked them all.
When it comes to second six (and tenancy), these areas of specialism also mean advocacy. Chambers understands that most people do not come to the Bar with aspirations of reading papers for the first four years of their career. My pupil supervisors gave me as much responsibility as I was comfortable with. I also received a structured training, including a formal advocacy program and written exercises with lots of feedback to ensure I wasn’t thrust too far in to the deep end.
On my first day of second six I was on my feet in the
As for the atmosphere – people in Chambers are leaders in their fields, yes, but they are also friendly and down-to-earth. Modern day clients – whatever their circumstances – have no time for pomposity or self-importance, and people here realise that.
In terms of remuneration, you will earn £45k in a pupillage award and however much you can in the second six on top of that. In recent years second six pupils have typically earned in excess of £10k.
Most sets of chambers will tell you why they are good places to start your career. It’s a very difficult choice to make. But if you want high quality, challenging work, lots of advocacy, good remuneration and all in a relaxed, friendly environment then you should think seriously about applying here.
Alexander Robson was a pupil at
From time to time we will consider applications for Third Six pupillage. In order to be considered candidates must have an outstanding academic background, have completed pupillage at a top ranking set of chambers and have excellent references from that set.
Enquiries should be made in the first instance to