Survey Results - Trainee feedback on 23 Essex Street

The lowdown - Pupils (in their own words) on 23 Essex Street

We sent The Legal 500 Future Lawyers Pupil and Junior Barrister survey to pupils and juniors up to two years in tenancy at 23 Essex Street. Here is what they had to say:

Why did you choose these chambers over any others?

‘I felt the most comfortable and got on best with members of chambers during interviews’, ‘they do the work I most wanted to do, including running an advocacy training programme to prepare for practice; I got a great impression of them throughout the interview process; and I had only heard good things about them from others in the profession’

How does your training compare with what you hear from pupils/juniors in other chambers?

‘I think the in-chambers advocacy training is very good quality and detailed compared to what I hear from other pupils’, ‘our training compares incredibly well. Our training has been regular, reliable, thorough and we have had the benefit of a different member of chambers attending each week, in addition to the organisers. We have been trained in a wide range of criminal advocacy, including breaking down a trial and discrete applications’

Best thing about the chambers?

‘The culture: everyone is supportive, friendly and they genuinely want to help me develop into the best advocate I can be’, ‘the people – they are friendly, supportive, helpful and sociable’

Worst thing about chambers?

‘People don’t come in to chambers quite as often as they used to pre-pandemic, which has made it a bit more difficult to get to know everyone’

Best moment to date?

‘Vulnerable witnesses training in chambers was extremely helpful’, ‘my first day on my feet’

Worst moment to date?

‘Dealing with train strikes and trying to get to courts outside of London has been an additional stress’