Frequently Asked Questions

 

Who are you?

For twenty years, Chambers has published the leading directories of the legal profession. Our reputation is based on the independence and objectivity of our research.

 

What are the Chambers guides?

We identify and rank the world's best lawyers and law firms. Each guide offers in-depth analysis of the legal market within a specific region (the UK, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the USA), whilst the Global guide offers worldwide coverage, ranking lawyers and law firms with leading international practices.

 

And the Student Guide?

We've been publishing the Chambers Student Guide for 13 years to give you the information, tools and confidence to help you make a sound career decision.

The Guide is the only publication to offer these three key ingredients:

 

> The True Picture: an insight into the training schemes at over 125 law firms, based on in-depth interviews with hundreds of trainees. The trainees were selected by us, not by their law firms, and they spoke to us freely and frankly under the protection of anonymity.

 

> Chambers Reports: a look at life inside 24 barristers chambers. These reports were written after visites to each of the sets and interviews with pupils, barristers and clerks.

 

> Law school reviews based on feedback from students who have completed courses at each of the schools, plus interviews with course directors.
 

Click the link on the right, appropriately called "How we do our research" to see how we put the Student Guide together.

 

All the guides we publish have one thing in common - they are independent. In a market flooded with publications for law students we take great pride in this fact. No-one's money influences what we say about them.

 

I see lots of references to rankings. What's that all about?

Our research teams identify the world's leading lawyers and law firms and rank them in bands from from 1-6, with 1 being the best. Within each band, firms and lawyers are listed alphabetically.

 

The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.

 

This is all great, but the bright computer screen hurts my eyes. How do I buy a printed copy of the Guide?

Please visit the online shop.

 

I'm a trainee who has been contacted by a Student Guide researcher for an interview. What can I expect?

     

How was I chosen?

> All the law firms give their permission for us to interview their trainees and send us a comprehensive list of their names.

 

> We randomly choose people from that list. The firm does not ask us who we speak to and will not be told.

 

What do you ask questions about?

> The feature is designed to allow current trainees to speak directly and frankly to students about the pros and cons of training at their firm.

 

> We cover all sorts of topics. We might ask about the seats you've done, what the office is like, the mentoring program, the firm's future, the social life and who fits in well.

 

> Our features are only as good as our interviews so the more frank you are the better it is for our readers. Don't be afraid of saying too much as we always go with the consensus. Nothing rests on your shoulders alone!

      

> Interviews normally last around 30 minutes but we always like chatty trainees who go on for longer!

 

> We are not evil journalists looking to trick you into saying bad things about your firm! We're very proud to have built up a reputation for being accurate and fair. All we want to do is provide the best possible information for our readers. We simply want your honest opinions on things, not bland cliches from the firm's marketing brochure.

 

What goes into the feature?

> The feature is written after analysing the trainees’ comments as a whole. We go with the consensus views, not lone-wolf comments.
 

> Trainees' names do not appear in the feature.

 

> No one gets to see the feature before the book comes out.

 

> We do check facts and figures with the firm before going to press – eg retention statistics, which seats are on offer, salaries etc.