The Legal Cheek View
With an office in Geneva as well as London, XXIV Old Buildings is one of the more international chambers at the bar. Barristers at the set regularly appear in offshore courts and tribunals in locations such as British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Hong Kong. Much of the work is chancery. Notably the chambers has been instructed on behalf of the Additional Liquidator for the Cayman Islands based Herald Fund, one of the biggest Bernie Madoff feeder funds, and also acted in a US$180 million (£135 million) claim arising from the Kaupthing Bank liquidation in Guernsey’s Royal Court.
XXIV pupils can expect to be involved in intellectually rigorous work. They are encouraged to immerse themselves in their supervisors’ practice in order to develop their technical understanding of chancery matters. For those with the aptitude, the work at the set is a highly stimulating experience — as evidenced by the A which XXIV receives for work in the Legal Cheek Junior Barrister Survey 2020-21.
Similar to pupillage in other chambers, pupils spend three months with each of their four pupil supervisors. During this time pupils attend court and conferences with members of chambers and are involved in legal research, writing advices and drafting statement of case. Due to the very technical nature of the work, opportunities for pupils to obtain their own cases can be limited at first. Instead, the set emphasises professional development. Pupils focus on becoming familiar with the day-to-day essentials of pleading, drafting arguments and correspondence, and researching novel points of law in overseas jurisdictions.
Members of XXIV receive an A in Legal Cheek’s survey for colleague supportiveness, with pupils apparently relaxed about seeking their advice. This friendly atmosphere spills into a lively social scene with regular lunches and drinks after work provided for its members. The chambers also holds marketing events and conferences across the world, in locations such as Dubai, the Caribbean and Geneva.
Insider Scorecard
Insider Scorecard Grades range from A* to D and are derived from the Legal Cheek Junior Barrister Survey 2020-21 of over 600 barristers at the leading chambers in England.
Key Info
*Figure is for the five most junior members of chambers; does not include postgraduate studies