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Pupillage

Essex Court Chambers is distinguished by work of the highest quality and its broad range of commercial specialisms. Chambers is offering up to four competitively funded pupillages starting in October 2013. Chambers is also accepting applications for pupillage commencing in October 2014. The award is £60,000. £40,000 is payable in the first six months of which up to £20,000 may be drawn down for the BPTC year. There are guaranteed minimum earnings of £75,000 in first year of tenancy and no Chambers' expenses are payable on fees received in the first quarter. Lateral cross-recruits are rare and Chambers is seeking to expand at a faster rate at the junior end.

Chambers is committed to providing equality of opportunity without discrimination and offers of pupillage and tenancy are made strictly on merit, by reference to objective criteria. Those criteria include intellectual ability, problem solving ability and communication skills, as well as commitment and drive to become a commercial barrister. Chambers wishes to recruit pupils with the potential to be excellent future practitioners and its practice is to make offers of tenancy to those pupils who demonstrate that potential during pupillage.

Members and Chambers' work

Chambers was founded in 1961 when the then five members of chambers included the future judges Lord Mustill, Lord Justice Evans and Lord Justice Kerr. Other distinguished alumni include Lords Saville and Steyn, Lord Justice Thomas, Sir Anthony Colman, Mr Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Eder, as well as Dame Rosalyn Higgins (former president of the International Court of Justice) and Sir Christopher Greenwood (the current British judge on the ICJ). Chambers now comprises about 70 silks and juniors, including leading academics.

Among London's leading commercial sets, Essex Court Chambers is one of a very small number of sets whose members 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 Chambers' members are consistently recognised as leading individuals by clients and peers in many areas. Reference may be made to online legal directories for details.

Chambers' core areas of practice include international commercial arbitration; commercial litigation; energy; shipping; public international law; insurance/reinsurance and banking.

Many individual members have developed a specialist practice in other areas, as listed on Chambers' website. The size of chambers and the full spectrum of its specialisms allow junior tenants the chance to develop a practice in both Chambers' core areas and more broadly. 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.

Application details

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.

Applicants for pupillage are expected to undertake a mini-pupillage (of 1–3 days). This is not a condition of interview and interviewees who have not completed mini-pupillage will be offered one. There are a limited number of mini-pupillages available each year and not everyone who applies can be accommodated.

Chambers is a member of Pupillage Portal. The application procedure comprises consideration of the paper application and a single round of interviews (for a limited number of candidates).

For further information on pupillages at Essex Court Chambers please read our Guide to Pupillage or contact us.

Third Sixes

Exceptionally, Chambers may make an offer of third six pupillage. Applications should be made in writing as early as possible in the applicant's second six pupillage and addressed to the secretary to the Pupillage Committee.

Applicants exempt from the Vocational Stage of Training

Exceptionally, Chambers may make an offer of pupillage to an applicant who is exempt from the Vocational Stage of Training (as defined in the Bar Training Regulations). Applications from (i) solicitor applicants having PQE of three years or less (whom Chambers will require to complete twelve months pupillage) and (ii) applicants required by the BSB to complete twelve months' pupillage must be made through the Pupillage Portal. Other applicants should apply in writing to the Committee on Cross Recruits and Door Tenants.