The Legal Cheek View
An expert in all things consumer law and finance, Gough Square is a highly specialised set with one of the biggest pupillage awards in the market. Guaranteeing a whopping £100k between direct payments and guaranteed earnings in the second six, recruits can expect to be trained well, worked hard, and invested in from day one. On the smaller side with 27 juniors and 3 KCs, the set is only looking to take on up to one pupil.
This rookie will, however, get the full attention that Chambers can offer. “I had three pupil supervisors who were all highly invested in my development”, reports one, noting how “two of them still lead me in cases today.” “All my supervisors had different specialisms, so I was exposed to all of chambers’ work”, another notes, with a further junior reporting that “my practising second six was invaluable, with lots of instructions from clients who still instruct me now.” Beyond this set and structured training, “chambers also provide regular training to clients and all are welcome to attend thus helping to increase their knowledge base.” Impressive stuff!
The investment doesn’t stop there, however. The tenants at the set, whether supervisors or not, are willing and able to continually help rookies’ development. “Members are always available at the end of the phone or in chambers, where doors are kept open. Members eat lunch together on Wednesdays which always provides an opportunity to ask questions. Individual successes are always celebrated and there is a genuine sense of camaraderie.” This junior isn’t alone in their overtly positive comments either. Another reports that “all members of chambers are ready and willing to assist others with work-related and non-work-related issues, there is always someone to turn to if you need support.” Sounds idyllic! Did we forget to mention that “Chambers is collaborative and knowledge is shared around chambers informally so everyone can keep up to date”? As one recruit aptly put it, “this is a very friendly set and everybody is very supportive of everybody else.”
All of this preparation, training, and support seems very necessary when you consider the quantity and quality of work that tenants are involved with. “Members are in the privileged position of operating from a specialist set but working in litigation across the civil and criminal jurisdictions. This means that the work is very varied and by virtue of being true specialists, always at the cutting edge of legal developments within our specialisms. One day I might be working on a high value financial services dispute, and another on advising government agencies on prosecuting a rogue trader.” Another happy member simply notes that “the work I do is varied and interesting”, and that “chambers has been instrumental in increasing my practice.”
It’s not all work here though, tenants do have a (very enjoyable looking) life too. “There are always impromptu trips to the pub or out for lunch. Members go for runs together and practice yoga. Personal life events are frequently celebrated with the whole of chambers often invited to wedding celebrations and birthday parties.” We even hear rumours of annual trips within chambers, including an annual conference in Puglia, which is said to “provide the perfect opportunity to socialise and learn from each other.”
Not all of the fun happens in Chambers though. “Members are encouraged to have a life out of work and the clerks are always keen to facilitate life outside of work where possible” chimes one, another noting that the “clerks are always willing to assist to help achieve a work-life balance. Members of chambers are all aware of the need to maintain a work-life balance and none place pressure on others to work excessively.”
To strike this balance, however, rookies will need to drag themselves away from the office. One junior notes how the set’s HQ “shares Gough Square’s charm and refinement.” Others rave about the “beautiful red brick building”, and the recent renovations (with more to come). Situated in historic Gough Square, the home of Dr Johnson, famous 18th century poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer, “chambers is a small building but tastefully maintained and decorated to a high standard. The facade of chambers is imposing and in keeping with the area.”
As for the tech and IT offering at the set, juniors again have nothing to complain about. We’ve had reports of Chambers being “responsive and helpful”, with the online libraries being “very useful”.
For those roused to throw their hat into the ring for the coveted single pupillage spot, you can find the set on Pupillage Gateway. Applications consist of two rounds of interviews in front of a diverse panel of members, with candidates typically encountering up to eight members across the two panels.