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• 4-5 Grays Inn Square

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  4 – 5 Gray’s Inn Square (GIS) is counted one among the best sets practising administrative & public law, local government, planning and professional negligence. Many former members have moved on to accept various judicial appointments, and are numbered among the leading luminaries in the legal world.
  
  The set has also built up a considerable reputation operating in overseas jurisdictions, many of its members hold accreditation with the bars in Australia, Singapore, South Africa, etc.

  More than half a century old, Gray’s Inn Square still remains young in its focus and approach, shifting from a pure common law set to a reputed player in commercial and public law.
  
  With a first-class practice in public law and local government and administration, GIS has appeared for a number of local bodies and authorities on some very big and highly publicised cases.
  
  Some recent outings for the set – Soper v Secretary of State, Poole v Secretary of State, Massey v Parole Board of England and Wales, HMRC v Total Network SL to list a few.
  
  Aiming more for quality than volume, the chamber reduced its annual pupil intake from six to three and brought in a comprehensive programme of training which is fair, transparent and effective in picking up fresh blood.
  
  Apart from the excellent training offered at Chambers, the work-culture is open, congenial and friendly, with new pupils receiving a formal welcome at a social gathering of all members. Trainees are always encouraged to mingle and interact with as many members of chambers as possible during the pupillage year.
  
  Handling of individual cases during the pupillage keeps trainees focussed on learning and mastering the basics – documentation, providing relevant advice to clients, etc.
  
  In essence, it will involve all tasks that would form the bulk of an average barrister’s work. In conclusion, a good place to learn and to work.

  Grays Inn Square’s core areas of practice are: (a) administrative law – judicial review, planning, public health, welfare, education, local government, etc; (b) commercial law – arbitration, insurance & reinsurance, banking, insolvency, aviation, shipping, etc; (c) common law – negligence, consumer protection, credit; (d) employment law – discrimination, dismissal, equal pay, industrial action; (e) environment law – EU & international jurisdictions, appeals; (f) local government – elections, highways, housing, licensing, etc; (g) media, entertainment & sports law; (h) planning & property law; and (i) regulatory & disciplinary law.

  The chamber looks for candidates who have an outstanding academic background – nothing less than a high second or first class degree will be considered from law and non-law backgrounds.
  
  It is preferred that candidates looking for a pupillage at chambers ideally undertake a few mini-pupillages during their undergraduate studies, whether at GIS or elsewhere to get an idea of the effort and activities involved for a career at the Bar.
  
  Additionally, candidates should be confident, enthusiastic, creative, have excellent interpersonal skills and be proficient in oral and written communication. You should also have been active participants in extracurricular activities during school and college, particularly in public speaking, debating and the like.

  The chambers offer three one-year pupillages annually. In the first nine months, pupils will be assigned to three pupil supervisors for a period of three months each. The final tenancy decision is made at the end of nine months, and the pupil may stay on with the last supervisor or move to a fourth supervisor.
  
  During the first six, pupils work exclusively for supervisors and in the next term they can accept work from any members across chambers. All work done by pupils is assessed by supervisors and written feedback is provided.
  
  The tenancy selection process consists of a series of written and oral advocacy tests, beginning from the seventh month of pupillage. The tests are reviewed by a tenancy selection committee.
  
  The test results and written feedback reports from the supervisor form the basis of recommendation the committee makes to Chambers for the final decision. Pupils receiving a two-thirds vote by all members of the chamber will be offered tenancy.
  Mini-pupillages are conducted in two batches during October – February and March – July.
  
  The training can be for three or five days, during which mini-pupils will shadow members from chambers and read through case documents, pleadings, carry out research and otherwise assist barristers to whom they’ve been assigned. Law students in their second year and upwards and non-law students undergoing the CPE are eligible to apply for mini-pupillages.

  The chamber offers three pupil placements each year, with an annual maintenance grant of £34,000. All compulsory training programmes prescribed by the Bar Council may also be funded at the discretion of chambers, as also any expenses incurred for travel on work outside London. Mini-pupillages are not paid placements.

  Candidates desirous of obtaining a pupillage at chambers should apply through the OLPAS system at http://www.pupillages.com. Completed forms can be submitted between 8 March and 1 May; notifications of offers will begin from 31 July and are valid for 14 days of receipt of offers.
  
  Application forms for mini-pupillages are available online at the chambers website: http://www.4-5graysinnsquare.co.uk/recruitment. Applications for the mini-pupillage sessions during October – February should be sent between 1 April and 30 June; for the March – July session between 1 October and 31 January.

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