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• 4 Pump Court

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  4 Pump Court is a commercial set with particular strengths in insurance, technology and construction. Staffed with sixteen silks and over 30 barristers, the chamber promises versatility and a friendly approach to clients and fresh talent alike.
  
  A major portion of its practice is conducted in the Technology & Construction Court (TCC), with several current and former members of chambers occupying numerous judicial positions.

  The first half of pupillage at 4 Pump Court is devoted to ensuring pupils receive a solid foundation in legal advisory skills – research, writing of arguments and pleadings, procedural systems in various courts and tribunals, etc.
  
  While there is focus on advocacy too, this comes into play more towards the end of the first six and throughout the second. The chamber believes in not overstretching new talent, work hours during the week are a reasonable 8 – 9 hours, and there is never a call to work on weekends.
  
  The overall atmosphere is one of friendly cooperation; there is no rigid caste system in place and the emphasis is always on an egalitarian and communal approach to work.

  The practice at 4 Pump Court is classified into practice groups each specialising in a specific area of law. The chamber has groups working on commercial law, construction, energy, information technology, insurance & reinsurance and professional negligence. The chamber also undertakes arbitration and alternative disputes resolution in addition to advocacy.
  
  The commercial law practice covers aspects of banking, finance, securities, sale & transport of goods, contractual obligations and breaches, media and entertainment among other things.
  
  Construction covers building & engineering litigation, negligence in construction, utilities and large-scale projects and residential, commercial and public infrastructure construction.
  
  Professional negligence includes insurance surveyors and other related professional services, solicitors & barristers, financial advisors, accountants, auditors, IT professionals and medical professionals.

  The selection criteria employed at 4 Pump Court for pupillage candidates is the same set applied when looking for potential tenants. A minimum degree requirement of 2:1 is necessary, law and non-law students are both eligible.
  
  Other qualities sought for by chambers consist of confidence, enthusiasm, keen perceptiveness, ability to think creatively and quickly, good oral and written advocacy, and excellent time and people management skills, ambitious and thrive on challenges, and be committed to a career as a barrister.

  Pupils are assigned to two supervisors during the first six and a third supervisor for the second six. The work and training provided will be a mix of both advice and opinion driven cases and advocacy-rich matters.
  
  Pupils are also required to complete 2 assessed advocacy and 2 assessed written assignments during the first six months. These four assessments will be reviewed by a panel independent of the pupil supervisors.
  
  A formal appraisal is held at the end of the first six where pupils are provided with an in-depth review of their performance so far, areas requiring further improvement and areas where pupils have been exceptionally proficient. The second six is spent in handling small cases such as appearances in county courts or before tribunals, court attendances being made at least twice each week.
  
  Tenancy decisions are taken around the end of June of the pupillage year, and for those who are not offered tenancy, the chamber will assist in placement at other chambers.

  The chamber provides an annual grant of £ 42,000 for the pupillage year; of this an amount up to £ 14,000 can be disbursed in the BVC year. Any income received from paid work done for other members in chambers or by pupils themselves during the second six are paid out without any deductions for chambers’ contributions.

  Application forms for pupillages beginning in October each year can be accessed at the chambers’ website http://www.4pumpcourt.com in the section dealing with pupillage. Completed forms should be submitted via post or email latest by 31 January. The mailing address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  
  Candidates should also provide two detailed references, in the prescribed format; one reference should be from an academic lawyer. Completed references should be submitted by 11 February.
  
  Candidates for assessment are picked after a review of applications and verification of references, selected candidates will attend an interview conducted in March and offers will be made to successful candidates as soon as possible.
  
  Applications for mini-pupillage should be sent via email, consisting of a detailed CV and covering letter to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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