Survey Results - Trainee feedback on 187 Chambers
Survey Results - Trainee feedback on The lowdown - Pupils (in their own words) on 187 Chambers
We sent The Legal 500 Future Lawyers Pupil and Junior Barrister survey to pupils and juniors up to two years in tenancy at 187 Chambers. Here is what they had to say:
Why did you choose these chambers over any others?
‘Having worked at a solicitors’ firm who instructed my chambers, it was the barrister advocacy, unrivalled client care and approachability that made the difference’, ‘I was impressed by the very welcoming members of the set and the experience of the interview process. I initially applied to 187 as one of a number of chambers but by the end of the interview process they were my first choice’, ‘reputation for being friendly and inclusive; geographical area of work’, ‘good reputation, friendly and unpretentious environment, decent supply of work’
How does your training compare with what you hear from pupils/juniors at other chambers?
‘I have sadly heard horror stories, which I cannot relate to. My pupil experience and training has been excellent’, ‘my training seems to be more practically focussed than what I hear from other chambers. For example, in recent exercises we have role played the entirety of a Magistrates’ Court first appearance, including a discussion with the prosecutor, a conference with a client, and filling in the PET form and hearing record. Friends at other chambers report they have essentially been confined to the advocacy portion. I take the view that the more practical focus is of far greater use by this stage in our training’, ‘even while affected by Covid, we had a number of online sessions and good feedback’, ‘favourably – generally better work/life balance and a more manageable workload’
Best thing about chambers?
‘The people’, ‘the very welcoming members at all levels, who provide a range of good-quality work to pupils’, ‘members are, with very few exceptions, very welcoming and supportive’, ‘the helpful and supportive colleagues’
Worst thing about chambers?
‘The pupillage award is a little low, but I understand it is to be raised to the very good sum of £30,000 from the next set of pupils (2023/2024). Chambers have indicated a willingness to provide additional financial assistance should the award at any time prove problematic, but by supplementing my income with noting briefs and other work approved by Chambers, I have not needed to draw on this offer’, ‘I dont feel there are. When there are problems, for example billing needs to be completed, chambers go above and beyond to resolve them swiftly’, ‘the pupillage award’
Best moment to date?
‘Receiving feedback from the judiciary that was sent to chambers without me knowing, which provided a real confidence boost’, ‘spending a week in Lincoln with a silk in chambers on a complex trial, during which he fully engaged me in the process of the trial and asked for my assistance’, ‘Mags first appearance exercise was very helpful, including interacting with opponent, clerk and client – the whole process from start to finish’, ‘doing my first jury trial at Woolwich Crown Court’
Worst moment to date?
‘I was late to court one morning’, ‘when a witness handling session was cancelled due to Covid’
CSR/Pro bono?
‘Available to those who want to partake’, ‘from conversations with the clerks I understand pro bono work is supported by Chambers, particularly instructions via Advocate’
About Chambers
Head of chambers: Gideon Cammerman KC
Who we are: A leading set of chambers, consistently ranked by The Legal 500.
What we do: 187 Chambers is a leading set of chambers specialising in both defence and prosecution, in the areas of criminal and regulatory work, providing representation at every level, for both publicly and privately funded instructions. Our set has gained a reputation for excellence in its advocacy and advisory work, offering a first-class service to professional and lay clients alike. Chambers is regularly instructed in high-profile and leading cases and is well equipped to deal with all types of criminal and regulatory matters, in this country and abroad. We have particular expertise in serious fraud and white-collar crime, as well as homicide, terrorism, revenue cases, money laundering and all forms of serious organised crime.
We provide training and assessment for completion of both the non-practising period of pupillage (six months), and completion of the practising period of pupillage (six months), in accordance with the Professional Statement Competencies and Bar Qualification Manual.
What we’re looking for: When selecting pupils, we look for highly motivated candidates with a strong academic background, demonstrable interest in the field of criminal law and the potential to be an outstanding advocate.
A day in the life of... George Penny, pupil, 187 Chambers
University: University of Oxford
Degree: BA Jurisprudence 2(1)
Giving an accurate summary of my experience thus far through the medium of a single day is a significant challenge; each day has been so varied that it would be impossible to choose just one to represent the whole.
A typical day in the first six months saw me following my pupil supervisor to one of his regular courts in Essex, observing trials and hearings of all kinds from PTPH to sentence, playing my part with research tasks and the odd written note. On return to chambers after the court day, I would have time to work on research tasks for members of chambers of all levels of seniority, or to prepare for the various advocacy exercises run by chambers and my Inn.
Turning to the second six months, from day one I have been making independent appearances in the Crown Court, mainly across London. A typical day might see a PTPH in the morning, advising a client on their position and dealing with disclosure questions, before a sentencing hearing in the afternoon. Occasionally a last-minute instruction landing in chambers will call for some hasty prep and hopping on a CVP link, excellent training in thinking on one’s feet. Regular magistrates’ court trials and the occasional Crown Court brief round out the ordinary days.
Other days might include conducting regulatory work for the NMC, acting as a junior, undertaking disclosure review of documents for an inquiry, or catching up on papers and meeting a client at the offices of instructing solicitors.
Diversity and inclusion
Chambers conducts its recruitment process in accordance with the principles of the Equality Act 2010, the Bar Council Fair Recruitment Guide, and the BSB Handbook Equality Rules. Opportunities are open to all qualified candidates, and we seek to recruit from the largest possible pool of available talent. We welcome applications from those from non-traditional or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Interview with George Penny, Barrister, 187 Chambers
How did you find the transition from pupil to qualified barrister?
The transition was, in most ways, seamless. Relationships with instructing solicitors I had built in the practising period of my pupillage continued to develop, and the kicking-in of chambers commission was offset by the expansion of work coming into my diary. One notable difference was a change in focus from securing tenancy to building a practice, and a concomitant moving of the horizon of my professional attention from months to years.
What do you wish you’d known about being a barrister before you started?
The extent of the control granted to barristers over their cases can take some adjusting to, especially when dealing with solicitors of substantially greater experience. Knowing the extent to which my advice would be welcomed, or indeed awaited, would have served me well.
I already had some awareness (and experience) of the financial realities of self-employment, but a deeper appreciation of the nuances of legal aid billing and payment would have helped.
What do you enjoy most about being a barrister?
It is quite simply the best job in the world. The freedom of self-employment, the endlessly interesting new cases, and the possibility to effect real change in people’s lives while simultaneously serving the constitutionally essential function of the rule of law combine to keep each day fresh and exciting.
What is the most challenging part of being a barrister for you?
Providing appropriate advice to each client. In even a ‘routine’ case there are complexities which merit research to ensure correct advice is given. As barristers we are trusted to advise people at supremely difficult moments in their lives, and it is a responsibility never to be taken lightly.
Do you have any advice for aspiring barristers?
Gain a full appreciation of the area in which you intend to practise; the realities of the profession extend far beyond the courtroom and many of the most important skills are deployed entirely outside of it. Only by really understanding what skills are required will you be able to cultivate them, such as to make you a stand-out candidate for pupillage.
What do you think differentiates your chambers from its competitors?
187 Chambers has a well-deserved reputation for friendliness at the criminal Bar. While that may seem a mere nicety, practising from a respected set with such a reputation has been invaluable in interactions with opponents, who tend to presume a certain collegiate approach and conduct themselves equally. 187 also benefits from real strength in depth, with excellent advocates across core crime and a number of quasi-criminal and regulatory specialisms represented at all levels of call, rather than concentrated among the senior members.
What do you think clients are looking for from a modern chambers?
Responsiveness and flexibility. With huge pressures on the criminal justice system, and cases increasingly calling upon expertise in fields beyond strictly criminal law, the ability to respond quickly to the requests of clients lay and professional is of central importance. Turning to flexibility, clients need confidence that both individual members and chambers as a whole are equipped with knowledge of a range of adjacent fields in order to fully serve their needs.
What issues are driving change at the modern Bar? How do you see your chambers adapting to such change?
The huge quantity of work occasioned by the backlog combined with the high attrition at the junior criminal Bar over the last decade has left a glut of work, substantially impacting on conditions for barristers. Chambers has responded by expanding the number of pupillages offered from two to three, to increase the scale and strength of chambers into the next generation.
The increased digitisation of court work and the lessons of the pandemic have also changed the traditional requirement for large amounts of office space in chambers. 187 has responded by moving to a high-quality suite of rooms with just enough space for our needs, allowing us to continue to provide our existing services to our clients and appropriate workspaces to our members, without the expense and inefficiency of unoccupied rooms. Chambers also offers a series of training sessions on technology and software to enhance members’ ability to operate with such tools in and out of court.
What, if any, technology has chambers recently invested in?
As part of the move to its new suite of rooms, chambers has invested in full videoconferencing facilities which are available for CVP hearings, client conferences national and international, and chambers meetings. 187 continues to be attentive to technological developments and will no doubt continue to develop its facilities as demands change.
How has this tech changed the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
The expanded videoconferencing facilities have enhanced the ability of chambers’ members to undertake cross-jurisdictional work, where travel to chambers may be inconvenient for clients. It has also expanded the ability of chambers to play host to larger conferences in place of the offices of our professional clients, especially those involving multiple participants.