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• Hogarth

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  Hogarth Chambers is one of the few sets that have exclusive specialist practice areas. Created from a merger between two sets in 2001 and supplemented with a second merger in 2004 with an IP-centric set, Hogarth has developed an enviable reputation in intellectual property, IT, media, entertainment and a fair bit of chancery and commercial law.
  
  Several of its members are published authors in various subjects relating to their practice expertise, and the chamber has been in the forefront of several headline-making cases.
  
  In the recent past, cases where the Chamber has received instructions include the dispute between World Wildlife Fund and World Wrestling Federation over trademark; Nova v Mazooma, Philips v Remington, Woodhouse v Aquila, Arsenal v Reed, software patents in several cases from IGT, Shopalotto, Bloomberg & Symbian; Score Draw v Finch, Budweiser v Budvar and Sawkins v Hyperion Records.

  This is the set to join if one is interested in becoming a specialist in what are relatively complex, dynamic and techno-rich sectors in the industrialised world – IP, IT, sport, media & entertainment. You will not only get familiar with cutting-edge innovations and complicated inventions and discoveries; you will also be able to conjure brand-new legal arguments and principles in an area where old-world law may not exactly help.
  
  It takes a special kind of intellect to pick through a maze of technical information and data and come up with a simple and creative solution, which is what the set at Hogarth constantly endeavours to do. Gaining admission to the set is a tough proposition – they take only one pupil every year, though there is no guarantee that tenancy is automatic once you’ve scored a pupillage.
  
  Therefore, exceptional abilities or talents are a must for any aspiring barristers. Work-wise, the set also has a flourishing chancery/commercial practice, so it is possible to gain experience in a wider business context rather than limiting yourself to IP. The training programme is excellent in content and very flexible; the pupils interests and choice count more than a rigid adherence to chambers’ requirements.
  
  Constant guidance and support, a congenial and relaxed work atmosphere and the chance to gain experience in a fascinating subject make a pupillage at Hogarth a must-do opportunity.

  The main areas of practice at Hogarth Chambers are intellectual property; chancery and commercial law; information technology; media & entertainment; mediation, arbitration & ADR.
  
  The IP stream covers all matters of application, licensing and enforcement of IP rights in patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, software design & data protection, pharmaceutical research and discoveries and criminal matters relating to any IP violations amongst other things.
  
  Chancery/commercial experts at Hogarth work on banking, commercial fraud, partnership, contractual obligations and breaches, professional negligence, company law, shareholders rights, data protection, insolvency, liquidations and receiverships, personal bankruptcies, all matters relating to real estate and property, principles of succession, trusts, charities, administration of estates, inheritance claims, etc.
  
  Media & entertainment cover publishing, recording, merchandising, performers’ rights, agreements and contractual disputes, print media, libel and slander, copyrights, infringements and criminal disputes related to media and entertainment.

  As with all Chambers, Hogarth demands candidates with high intellectual ability; nothing less than a 2.1 will be accepted. You must be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written skills and have a long list of extra-curricular activities, many of which transferrable to the bar (i.e. mooting, public speaking, etc).
  
  An interest in a career as a barrister at Hogarth can be backed by details of mini-pupillages, if any, completed; short-term work experience or internships in a law-related or commercial undertaking will definitely add weight to your application.

  The chamber offers one pupillage each year which runs for a period of one year. Pupils have a choice between taking an IP-centric pupillage or a generic all-practice pupillage. The generic pupillage primarily focuses on chancery, IP and commercial law. Four pupil masters are assigned for a period of three months’ each during the pupillage year.
  
  Pupils, in addition to working on matters being handled by their supervisors are encouraged to seek out guidance and work assignments from other members of the chamber, should they be particularly interested in the work being carried out by that member.
  
  In addition, arrangements can be made with clerks to attend hearings in court on cases where pupils may not be assigned, but are interested in the subject-matter.
  Keeping in mind, the chambers’ largest practice area in IP, pupils will attend proceedings with their supervisors at the European Patent Office in Munich and the ECJ in Luxembourg.
  
  Pupils are also required to actively participate in internal discussions relating to prevalent legal issues or new developments. Their work is regularly reviewed both by supervisors as well as members of the pupillage committee and feedback on performance is regularly provided.
  
  Mini-pupillages are conducted in two batches between 17 March and 31 July and between 1 October and 31 January. These last for three days each and trainees will get to read and discuss current caseloads at chambers, attend court proceedings and client conferences.
  
  Performance of the trainees will be assessed and an evaluation done of the trainee’s future prospects as a pupil at Hogarth. Keeping this in mind, trainees will be required to complete a written assignment on case studies given. Law students in their final year and non-law students in the final year of their conversion course are eligible for mini-pupillages.

  An annual grant of £35,000 is provided, of this £5,000 can be disbursed during the BVC year.

  Hogarth Chambers is not a member of OLPAS and follows it own recruitment schedule and process. Application forms can be downloaded from the chamber website http://www.hogarthchambers.com in the pupillage section.
  
  Completed forms should be submitted via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by 27 June. The recruitment process consists of two interviews held during July and offers are made by the end of July. The chamber offers 16 mini-pupillages during the year for a period of three days.
  
  Applications for the sessions conducted between 17 March and 31 July should be submitted by 7 March; for the sessions conducted between 1 October and 31 January by 12 September. The CV and covering letter should be mailed to the email address mentioned above.

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