3PB

All of this means 3PB’s barristers can see almost the full breadth of the justice system, should they choose to. One junior said: “I’ve had cases reported in international broadsheet, tabloid, and TV news, and appeared in a variety of tribunals including the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Even the County Court work I do is good for keeping skills active.” Members speak of going up against “the best barristers in the country”, which is hardly surprising given the calibre of work coming through the door. One rookie did mention that there “could be more appellate work”, though this may simply reflect the natural shape of a developing tenancy. A member specialising in education law describes it as “both niche and yet diverse in terms of what I see on a daily basis”, while a professional regulatory lawyer notes that even as a senior, “every case has something different.” Specialising, it seems, is no barrier to staying sharp.

For those worried that such a varied and demanding workload might be daunting, the training on offer should provide some reassurance. “Training for pupils and junior tenants is excellent,” reports one insider. “There are lots of training opportunities within chambers, and a great deal of effort is put into training.” One source did suggest the pupillage system more broadly could do with reforming to reflect the modern working environment, but added that “3PB do it well with real personalised attention on pupils’ needs.” Rookies describe a “thorough, comprehensive, and proactive” approach, with head of pupillage Cheryl Jones earning particular praise as “an absolute force of nature” who “makes each batch of pupils the best they can possibly be, with the assistance of the whole of chambers.” Beyond advocacy, 3PB has also been proactive in training tenants on topics ranging from cyber security and unconscious bias to equality and diversity, sexual harassment awareness, and effective recruitment.

The year-long pupillage programme comes with a minimum award of £60,000, along with an additional £17,000 in benefits including healthcare, training, travel expenses, and financial advice. During the programme, recruits spend time with four supervisors, take on their own workload, and are given marshalling opportunities and mock advocacy exercises.

Strong training aside, the support available within chambers is said to be equally impressive. Rookies speak of “an excellent collegiate atmosphere” that is “not competitive”, with “multiple highly experienced individuals available to assist on any issue” despite the set’s considerable size. One practitioner put it well: “Chambers is collegiate. You can genuinely call on anyone for support, whether it’s a point you are struggling with or the need for a sounding board. We also have a welfare and EDI team who can provide support to members on personal matters including physical and mental health difficulties or work-related issues. Senior members are approachable and well integrated into the set. Our CEO is also there to help and support members, and the clerking team — from junior clerks to practice directors — is supportive across both professional and personal matters.” A dedicated help hotline covers all aspects of work, meaning no one is ever left to navigate challenges alone. Some insiders do note areas for improvement, with colleagues “sometimes lacking emotional support” according to one, and another mentioning the occasional “degree of chambers politics.” But as one member put it: it really is “like a family of intelligent people.”

The balance between work and rest at 3PB also appears to be in good shape. “Members work hard and to a high standard, but do not work long hours regularly or for the sake of it, and respect members’ downtime including weekends and holidays.” Others similarly speak of “clerks and members encouraging balancing work with making sure enough breaks are taken”, alongside “lots of great wellbeing talk and info from members.” Juniors report not being overloaded to the point of exhaustion, with one noting they have “never encountered a problem taking time off work when needed.” Given the size and reach of the set, it is also reassuring to hear that members can impose geographical boundaries. The set has been “very understanding and accommodating” around parental and caring responsibilities too, with one member sharing: “I have co-parenting responsibilities for three children. I take all school holidays off (13 weeks) and sit in two part-time judicial roles totalling 12 weeks a year. The clerks have always been supportive of the way I structure my availability.” One rookie offered a note of grounded realism: “There needs to be a proper understanding that it is very hard work and difficult to succeed as a barrister. Any work-life balance has to be seen against that background.” Still, they added, “We get it about right.”

The social life at 3PB is described as “very good”, with “lots of opportunities to engage with colleagues and the clerking teams around our busy practices.” Events range from pizza and prosecco to Pride attendance, battle of the bands, and informal lunch and weekend catch-ups. Monthly Friday drinks and weekly informal gatherings within practice groups keep things ticking over, and this year chambers is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration in London with all proceeds going to the Child Brain Injury Trust. The “legendary Christmas and summer parties” also get a regular mention as highlights of the calendar.

Chambers receives mixed reviews for its various offices. Birmingham and Bristol are said to have “state of the art facilities”, while the London base is described as “tired but in an excellent location in Inner Temple.” Renovations are said to be in the pipeline for the more dated spaces, and in the meantime members continue to enjoy what one called the “character” of the old-style chambers, or, as another put it more bluntly, “Standard Temple 1860s.” Across the board, many rookies described the buildings as “excellent” inside and out, and the set has recently expanded into Manchester with a brand new office complete with decking overlooking the city.

Whether working in chambers or at home, rookies praise the IT and tech support on offer. “We have very good outsourced support on tap,” says one, with others highlighting assistance that is “only a call or email away” and a “dedicated member of staff with full access to online IT support.” One junior summed it up simply: “I cannot praise our head of operations enough.”

3PB is also unusual in being one of the few chambers to publish financial results. Its most recently available accounts show a turnover of £35.8 million and receipts of £36.1 million, representing rises of around 18% and 14% respectively on the prior year. Not a bad moment for family law silk Liz McGrath KC to have taken over as head of chambers.

Those looking to join should keep an eye on Pupillage Gateway. Following an initial paper sift, candidates can expect two rounds of interviews: the first more general in nature, and the second focused on an advocacy exercise and prepared brief. Across the application process, candidates will be assessed by up to ten members of chambers.

The pupillage experience

It’s very clichéd, but I knew I wanted to join 3PB from the moment I encountered the chambers.

Firstly, it is a top set with a great reputation, and that appealed to me — I wanted to be proud of the chambers in which I resided. It also has several centre locations, so I knew that, from a business perspective, it was successful and the work plentiful. Furthermore, it meant that if I wanted to travel further or take advantage of opportunities that were not limited to my locality, they were available.

Secondly, I put myself forward to play a ‘witness’ in a mock court hearing for 3PB’s current pupils at the time. This gave me insight into the fantastic training and resources that 3PB provides for its pupils. Whilst the training appeared demanding, it was clear that 3PB pushes its pupils outside their comfort zone and invests in them, which was what I wanted. It wasn’t simply a tick-box exercise to secure pupillage for me; I wanted to know that I would learn and be supported along the way.

Thirdly, the above insight allowed me to observe firsthand how collegiate and supportive 3PB was. Each barrister I had ever encountered from 3PB appeared to be approachable, down-to-earth and personable, which were important qualities for me. I am pleased to say that this remains true to this day. 3PB is a business, but many of its members are now close friends, and there is not a single person within the 3PB environment that I have met whom I feel unable to call upon.

The transition from pupil to tenant

I found it went well. 3PB has a pupillage process which truly means you feel supported every step of the way. Throughout the transition, it was a pleasant feeling to feel confident that I could approach any member of chambers and receive support or guidance. It is a scary step, with the slight comfort and reassurance of the ‘pupil’ signature being removed; however, I felt ‘ready’, as 3PB’s whole pupillage process ensures that by the time that stage comes, you are ready!

What is your practice like now?

My typical workweek is spent in court, three or four days per week, sometimes more. The remainder is spent drafting legal documents or attendance notes, conducting conferences or preparing for upcoming cases.

Thankfully, I am very busy, which is great, and I feel fortunate because I thoroughly love my job! However, because I love it, I am still learning to strike the correct work-life balance. It is a difficult task to take a step back sometimes, because I genuinely care about those who instruct me, my lay clients, and my reputation — I think the biggest thing is to make sure you mark out prep days in your diary if you require them, albeit sometimes that is harder to do in reality!

My confidence is continuing to grow. Today, I represented a client in the Royal Courts of Justice, which was a fantastic experience. Shortly after I completed my pupillage, I also had the incredible experience of being led by my pupil supervisor in the Court of Appeal on a notable case — the opportunity at 3PB is second to none.

My work is varied, which I thoroughly enjoy, and I have had exposure to a range of complex cases and legal arguments, which I find fascinating. I am very pleased with the direction my career is taking. I don’t have any concrete plans for my long-term future, aside from enjoying my career, continuing to build my reputation, and hopefully going from strength to strength. That being said, I remain eager to learn, never take anything for granted, and I remain wholeheartedly committed to doing my best in each and every case.

What is the culture of chambers?

The culture at 3PB is incredible, and I feel fortunate to have found the right fit for me. There are numerous events, both work-related and social, hosted in, at, or around chambers. I recently organised the Christmas party, which was a huge hit… a lot of fun and dancing was had!

The support staff, well… support and then some. Every single person within 3PB, to the best of my knowledge, is a ‘go-getter’ or a ‘doer’, however you may describe it. I don’t see anyone in different roles; we all sort of prop each other up in our own way and work together as one huge team effort where everyone mucks in to make things happen and to function. Whichever direction you turn, there is always someone willing to gently encourage, provide support and guidance or simply have a conversation with. 3PB is like a seamless cog mechanism, and the rotation continues uninterrupted.

Top tips for those wanting to become a barrister/secure a pupillage at your chambers

Some may disagree with my perspective, but one major thing I consider important is being yourself. It is so easy to lose sight of who you are when you feel like you’ve been a workhorse on a constant high-achieving cycle for several years. If you have a bubbly personality, don’t be scared to show it (within reason)! The intention is that once you have obtained pupillage, you will (hopefully) be at that set for many years to come. Make sure it’s not one where you’re scared to talk like you, act like you, or be like you. I couldn’t think of anything worse than stifling who I am every single day for the sake of my career. Yes, there is a level of professionalism that you require, but please ensure that you remain true to yourself. If you’re ‘too much’ for a set or you don’t speak in the correct way or you didn’t achieve X, Y or Z… well, find a more suited set where you do fit! It is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

The next piece of advice is self-evident: you need to work hard and do so consistently. Look at everything in bite-sized chunks and focus on the next ‘goal’. I believe that before pupillage, you will likely have to sacrifice some of your social life, and there will be moments when you feel like throwing in the towel, but that’s the easy option. Keep going! Remember, you are competing against others who have done it all, or they’re younger, or they have experiences you could never even dream of. You need to think outside the box, come up with a niche idea, and get involved with events or activities you wouldn’t usually participate in. These types of experiences will bolster your application; remember, not all experiences need to be formal or legal. Your experiences should demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual who can not only navigate the complexities of applying the law to a case’s facts, but also that you can engage in a simple conversation with another human being who is going through a difficult period in their life. Never overlook the importance of that quality.