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  Essex Court Chambers currently has 35 silks and 42 juniors which include leading academics, and a number of former judges, including Lords Millett and Steyn and Sir Anthony Colman. Other well known former members of chambers include Lords Mustill, Lord Saville, Dame Rosalyn Higgins (former President of the International Court of Justice in The Hague) and Professor Christopher Greenwood, the new British Judge of yhe ICJ.
  
  
  As one of London’s leading commercial sets, Essex Court Chambers and its members, are one of a very small number of sets, which are recognised as true specialists in the full spectrum of modern commercial practice, both in the UK and internationally.
  
  Annual market research and award ceremonies confirm that Essex Court’s members are consistently recognised as leading individuals by clients and peers in many areas.
  
  The strong international nature of chambers also differentiates it from other chambers. Some members of chambers, at all levels, frequently appear in other jurisdictions and in international arbitrations outside England.

  With a history grounded in shipping and insurance, over time the set at Essex Court Chambers has forged an expertise in areas such as employment, banking & finance, tax, media and entertainment. Considered to be one of the blue-chip sets currently practising at the Bar, Chambers has around 75 barristers of which roughly 50% are silks.
  
  Given the rarefied atmosphere one can expect with such a composition of tenants, it is indeed surprising that the work culture at Essex Court Chambers is friendly and convivial and there are no established hierarchies.
  
  The pupillage at Essex Court Chambers is extensive and rigorous, continuing the trend established first during the selection process. After a relatively serene first quarter, things get hectic during the second three months where pupils will find themselves working with as many as half a dozen barristers of varying pedigree.
  
  An early tenancy decision at the end of six months sees unsuccessful candidates heading elsewhere for brighter prospects and the lucky ones begin to settle down and consolidate their learning & experience of the first six, venturing out into the field with client secondments or placements with solicitors’ firms.
  
  Essex Court is where you should set your sights on if you are looking for a top-notch and first-class experience in being a commercial barrister.

  The set’s areas of practice constitute a long list including: international commercial arbitration; commercial litigation; energy; shipping; public international law; insurance/reinsurance; civil fraud; aviation; banking; employment; media and entertainment; professional negligence; civil liberties; agriculture; VAT; Immigration; EU and Competition; Insolvency and Sport. Members also practice in other areas, as listed on chambers’ website.

  They also do a lot of work in employment, EU law, foreign investment, fraud, immigration, tax, insolvency & corporate recovery, insurance, international trade, media & entertainment among other things.

  A minimum 2:1 degree in law or any other discipline is the minimum educational qualification Chambers look for. Candidates must have outstanding intellectual abilities, with a quick and flexible brain to assess any situation or problem, strip it down to the basics and then build up a coherent, logical and brief argument in favour or against the issue at hand are preferred.
  
  You must be able to demonstrate excellent communication and negotiation skills, sound commercial awareness and an aptitude for advocacy and commercial chancery work are also crucial.
  
  Other important qualities are confidence, enthusiasm, controlled aggression (in court!), strong oral and written advocacy capabilities and the flexibility to blend and work as part of a team with common goals.

  All pupils are assigned to a pupil supervisor for the first three months and are usually junior barristers with over five years’ call. During the first term pupils will carry out a variety of tasks such as research, drafting of statements, application notices and witness statements, attend conferences with clients and solicitors and accompanying the supervisor to court hearings.
  
  The second term of the first six will see pupils undertake tasks for other members of chamber in addition to pupil supervisors. The idea is to ensure that pupils are exposed to a variety of practice areas and styles during this time. Formal training sessions are conducted regularly on advocacy and specialised areas of chambers’ practice.
  
  The chamber follows the Bar’s General Commercial Law Checklist and there is continuous assessment and feedback provided to the pupils. Tenancy decisions are made by the selection committee based on reviews taken from supervisors and all members of chambers for whom the pupil has done work.
  
  Tenancy offers are made immediately after Easter, and pupils who’ve accepted tenancy offers spend the second six,polishing and honing skills and experience learnt in the first six under their first pupil supervisor.
  
  During this time they will also start taking up their own cases or assist other members, or could also be seconded for short periods to gain different viewpoints, such as in a solicitors’ firm or a client’s office, insurance brokers or Lloyds.
  
  Pupils will also complete training programmes conducted by their respective Inns and the “Advice to Counsel” programme conducted by the Bar Council. Mini-pupillages are conducted during June and July and usually last for a period of one to three days depending on options picked by the mini-pupil.
  
  They will spend time with at least two members of chambers, and get an idea of the range of practice at the set. These are not assessed and are not a prerequisite for applying for a full pupillage, but are recommended for students to get an idea of what life at the Bar entails and if this is something they wish to pursue.

  Chambers currently provides funding of £55,000 for the pupillage year, payable in two equal instalments at the beginning of each six. Students attending mini-pupillages will be paid a certain amount for travel expenses.

  Chambers is a subscriber to OLPAS and registered for both the summer and autumn schemes for recruitment. Application forms, submission dates and other schedules can be downloaded from http://www.olpas.co.uk. Interested candidates should apply either one or two years in advance based on the current timetable for completion of studies. Law students can start applying from their second year onwards and non-law students once they’ve enrolled or started on the CPE/Diploma in Law course.
  
  Interviews are held in June and July and will assess academic & intellectual ability, communication skills, organisational skills, etc. Candidates will also be asked to complete an advocacy exercise on a case-study given to all. Further candidates will be shortlisted from this group and are invited to spend one day at Chambers. Here, they will meet with members and staff and undertake one more advocacy exercise.
  
  Selected candidates will be informed about their offers as per OLPAS rules.
  Mini-pupillage applications are available online at the chambers’ website http://www.essexcourt.net/pupillage/mini_appform.asp. Completed forms can be submitted between 1 November and 31 May for sessions conducted during June and July. Law students in their second year of study and non-law students enrolled for the conversion course are eligible to apply.

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