Pupillage | 39 Essex Street

• 39 Essex Street

• • General

  • Off the Record

  • Work Focus

  • What They Want

  • Pupillage

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  One of the larger barrister sets in London, the chambers at 39 Essex Street has seen significant growth and expansion, both in terms of number of people and the widening of its practice base during the last twenty-odd years.
  
  The chambers has a commendable and well-deserved reputation in areas of public and common law, with big contributions in free legal aid and pro bono cases, and a multi-pronged strategy when it comes to taking on litigation and advocacy assignments.
  
  Some of the cases the set has taken instructions for are: Makers UK Ltd v Camden London Borough Council & LVE Ltd v Templeton Insurance in commercial law; Andrew Lifely v Nicholas Lifely & Stephen Hilbert v Ministry of Defence in common law; Ronald Wates v Surrey County Council, Day v Environment Agency, Clyde Wind Farm Inquiry in environment & planning.

  “No late hours, no working on weekends and holidays” is what the chamber guarantees in its pupillage brochure, and this claim rings true. The central motif running through most of this brochure and our research is that the practice is based on common sense and pragmatism.
  
  The chamber carries a well-founded reputation for its friendly atmosphere and approachability of members, junior and senior. Pupils and staff are included in weekly gatherings held at Chambers; active participation in outside interests is readily encouraged and supported by chambers as well.
  
  On the training front, the chamber pupillage programme is a good blend of theory and practical training. Pupils get to experience and work on as many diverse areas of practice as possible, one reason why pupil supervisors change every three months, and the chamber ensures that pupils garner some experience in areas where they might have interests.
  
  Regular documented feedback and periodic written and verbal advocacy assessments ensure that pupils are kept in the loop on their progress so there is not much surprise come July when tenancy decisions are taken.
  
  Chambers also ensures those not offered tenancy at 39 Essex Street are placed elsewhere and continue their climb up the career ladder. Also interesting is the fact that most of the growth in size of chambers is organic, home-grown talent usually continues to work at the chambers.

  The set at 39 Essex Street specializes in commercial and common law, environment & planning and public law. The client list includes companies, government departments and bodies, individuals, NGOs, local authorities, trade unions, health & education authorities, trusts, insurers and professionals.
  
  Primary focus areas for the set are Advocacy & ADR, public & administrative, commercial & construction, common and environmental law.

  The recruitment criteria set by chambers is the same for both pupils and mini-pupils. Proven intellectual prowess with a high second or first class degree is paramount with examples of extracurricular activities & interests, proficiency in advocacy and persuasion and good interpersonal skills.
  
  You must obviously be confident, possess keen commercial awareness and particular interests in areas of practice where the Chamber focuses. Candidates need not necessarily have a law degree as students from other disciplines and late-starters switching from other streams are eligible to apply for a pupillage.
  
  The chamber also strongly recommends taking up mini-pupillages whilst still studying to understand and appreciate the challenges and requirements for a career at the Bar as well as getting a fair understanding of the work and ethos at 39 Essex Street.

  The chamber provides three year-long pupillage contracts every year beginning in October. Pupils will be exposed to a wide range of the chamber’s practice in private and public law during the training year. Each pupil is assigned to four different pupil masters, will sit with the supervisors and complete tasks as and when assigned to them.
  
  Two barristers each from public and private law practice are usually allocated as pupil supervisors. During the second six, pupils will appear under their own name in county courts or tribunals on small cases or interim applications. Any earnings from these appearances need not be shared with the chamber.
  
  Pupils’ work is constantly reviewed and appraised by the supervisors and regular feedback given; pupils will also be informed of their tenancy potential in relation to current performance. Tenancies are announced in July when a detailed scrutiny of pupils’ performance is provided.
  
  A shadow pupillage panel comprised of 4 – 6 members from chambers and the four pupil supervisors will provide recommendations on new tenants for a final vote. As part of the assessment, pupils will complete several written pieces of work and undergo an advocacy assessment as well.
  
  Mini-pupillages are conducted between January and June each year and last for a week each. Trainees will be assigned to a junior tenant who will supervise their schedule and ensure they get to experience the full range of work done at chambers.
  
  Trainees will also attend court and client meetings, attend discussions and lectures held during the week they spend at chambers, and interact with the current batch of pupils and members of the recruitment committee to get tips and advice on the pupillage scheme.
  
  All trainees will undertake one written assignment during the training week, and any other tasks carried out by them will also be assessed and filed for future reference should the trainees apply for pupillages.

  Pupils are provided with an annual grant of £40,000 for maintenance during the pupillage year, an amount up to £8,000 can be released during the year prior to commencement of pupillage.
  
  All pupils must complete the compulsory Bar-prescribed courses – Advocacy Training Course, Advice to Counsel Course and a Forensic Accounting Course. The chamber will fund all the course fees and expenses associated with these programmes.

  Pupillage application forms should be completed and submitted through the Pupillage Portal: http://www.pupillages.com, by no later than 30 April. Once application forms are reviewed, selected candidates are called for a first interview. Successful candidates from the first interview will move on to attend the second and final round of interviews with the selection panel.
  
  Law students in the final year of degree and non-law students and others in the last year of the conversion/CPE course can apply for mini-pupillages at the chamber. Applications can be submitted between 3 September and 30 November for mini-pupillages conducted between January and June.
  
  The selection process and communication of offers is completed during the first half of December and candidates should acknowledge acceptance or rejection of offers by 31 December. Applications are available at the chambers’ website, and for any further information or clarification, candidates can contact the chamber at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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