Overview
Essex Court Chambers is distinguished by:
- work of the highest quality;
- its broad range of commercial specialisms.
Chambers offers up to 4 competitively funded pupillages a year (£60,000, payable in two instalments, part available for the BVC year). Lateral cross-recruits are rare and we are seeking to expand at a faster rate at the junior end.
The pupillage and tenancy system is designed to be fair and open. Chambers looks for pupils with the potential to be excellent future practitioners regardless of background. Criteria for selection include problem-solving ability, intellect, organisation and drive, judgement, integrity and commercial aptitude.
The size of chambers and the full spectrum of its specialisms, allows junior tenants the chance to develop a practice in areas which they might not have even have considered as students.
Members
Essex Court Chambers currently has 36 silks and 38 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, Sir Christopher Greenwood and Dame Rosalyn Higgin.
Chambers work
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 but most notably: 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.
International
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.
Applications
Essex Court Chambers offers up to four 12-month tenancy-seeking pupillages starting in October.
Applications from both law and non-law graduates are welcomed. Candidates are expected to have, or to be predicted, at least a high 2:1.
Mini-pupillages are available but are limited. Chambers’ experience is that prospective pupils are more likely to wish to do pupillage in chambers if they have previously done a mini-pupillage. Accordingly, although they are not required and are not assessed, potential pupils are strongly encouraged to apply for mini-pupillage. Applications are not currently being admitted but details of the application process will be posted here in due course.
Chambers is a member of the Pupillage Portal. Pupillage decisions are taken using a combination of assessment of the paper application and (for some candidates) interviews, which include discussion of a legal problem and a prepared advocacy exercise.
For further information on pupillages at Essex Court Chambers see our Guide to Pupillage, or contact us.
