The Legal Cheek View
A full service set with expertise in civil, public, and international law, 3 Hare Court can trace its roots back to former Solicitor General, Attorney General, and Home Secretary Sir Frank Soskice QC MP. After a 2000 move, the chambers now occupies a site between Middle Temple Lane and Hare Court, much to the delight of juniors!
“Chambers probably has the most stunning facade in the Temple. Inside period features sit effortlessly alongside a modern commercial feel”, reveals one lucky recruit. Another states that “every time I walk through the gate onto Middle Temple Lane, hear the noise of Fleet Street fade away and see chambers’ entrance, I remember how lucky I am to do what I do and be where I am. There are definitely grander buildings in the Temple but 3 Hare Court has charm and colour. On the inside, some rooms are very grand and feel like the drawing room of a stately home, while others are pretty cosy.” Could the rookies be any more positive?
From this (literal) temple of legal excellence, the 40 members take on some of the most significant work within their fields. One informant enjoys the “dynamic commercial Chancery work; often with a Caribbean and/or constitutional flavour”, with others praising the “highly engaging interesting work” and the “significant quantities” of it. To give a sense of the variety on offer, one rookie lays out a typical fortnight. “I have gone from drafting submissions in a Privy Council appeal from the Caribbean to appearing in the county court in a travel law application to preparing for a civil fraud trial in the High Court.” Another respondent notes that “Chambers is involved in some of the most interesting and legally significant cases around at the moment.” The juniors offer, then, an incredibly strong endorsement for joining the firm based upon the building and work alone.
It’s safe to say that there has been no exaggeration here either. Recent highlights include a plethora of Privy Council appeals, including recent cases of malicious prosecution, conspiracy to murder sentences, and the constitutional granting of citizenship, amongst innumerable High Court and Court of Appeal appearances. Not too shabby!
In order to reach these biblical heights, rookies receive nothing but the best training. “Pupillage at 3 Hare Court affords you exposure to a wide variety of commercial and civil practice areas. Unlike many sets, you also get the opportunity to develop your own practice in the second six. I found myself in court two or three times a week and was able to complete my own written work while also working on matters for my supervisor and other members of Chambers. The combination of broad practice exposure and early advocacy opportunities makes for a busy but hugely rewarding pupillage year.” Does any more need saying? Just in case you’re not already sold, you may want to note that “chambers’ pupillage programme sees pupils sit with up to six supervisors to ensure that they see the full range of work undertaken in chambers. I think this is unique and a real selling point.”
If that wasn’t enough, we’re also told that the 3 Hare Court bunch are a very supportive lot. “Senior members are always available for guidance and assistance” notes one. Another proudly states that “All my supervisors were extremely supportive and exposed me to the full gamut of Chambers’ practice areas. I had six supervisors over the course of the year, and this meant that I got to see a wide range of advocacy styles and ways of developing a successful career at the bar.” Pretty handy when you practice in a set which covers nearly the whole spectrum of public and civil law. Glowing with further positivity, recruits rave about the “open-door policy” where “there is always someone on hand to offer advice and/or answer a question.”
Surely there is some downside to this set? There must be some kind of negative somewhere? Well, not according to the rookies, or their seniors. “One of the many charms of 3 Hare Court is its friendliness, a feature which is aided by it being a relatively small set. There is a genuinely supportive and collegiate culture which runs through every area of Chambers’ life, from the clerks and the staff to the members and the pupils. People actively go out of their way to make themselves available to others.” It seems, then, that even those who are seasoned veterans at the chambers are happy right where they are. “Silks and juniors alike are extremely approachable and very happy to chat through any tricky questions. My colleagues are super smart, kind, and very sociable. Whether I have a knotty legal question or just need a good old moan, there is always someone at hand who is more than willing to listen and think through problems with me.”
This utopic scene certainly isn’t left at the temple door. We hear that the members are a sociable sort, in and out of work. “There is a Thursday lunch club in Inner Temple Hall and the juniors organise regular dinners together” notes one, another emphasising that “chambers parties are great fun and only wind down in the very early hours of the morning.” But, you say, surely such hard-working and high-achieving professionals don’t have time for this kind of enjoyment? Apparently, they do. Juniors note how the clerks are always understanding and supportive when it comes to dishing out work. One rookie praises that “there is a good parental leave policy in place”, where “members and staff are mindful that in order to get the most out you have to have a good work-life balance.”
As for the technical side of the set, junior clerk and admin assistant Scott receives high praise, juniors commenting that “he is amazing and provides brilliant IT support.” Others speak more generally of the “24/7 IT support complimented by our always accessible chambers manager” and the recent tech advancements to allow the set to operate seamlessly in an online world.
For those now desperate to throw in a (carefully prepared) pupillage application, look out for the chambers on pupillage gateway. On offer is a £65,000 award (with the potential for additional receipts), as well as a training structure which includes six supervisors, rotated on a bimonthly basis. As for the work, pupils will initially shadow their supervisors, completing written work for their cases, before moving in their second six to take on their own clients and cases. During this time, rookies are given various advocacy exercises, judged by members of chambers, and are encouraged to engage in chambers promotion and networking events. The set also emphasise the ongoing support they offer after completing pupillage during the first years of practice, including additional business support, and a favourable rent structure.
