11KBW - True Picture

Chambers profile

We are a specialist civil law set providing high quality advice and advocacy to a wide range of private and public sector clients, both claimants and defendants.

Types of work undertaken

Pupils can expect to gain a range of experience across the following areas: public law and human rights; employment and discrimination law; commercial law; European community law; data protection; information law, media and data privacy, public procurement, partnership, professional discipline and regulatory law and sports law.

Pupillage

The great majority of tenants are recruited from those who have done a 12-month pupillage here. We offer pupillages only to those who we believe have the potential to become tenants and our policy is to offer tenancy to all pupils who meet the required standard during their pupillage. We place a high premium on outstanding intellectual ability, but we are also looking for strong advocacy skills, determination and practical common sense that will lead to a successful practice.

11KBW is a member of the Pupillage Gateway. Applications for pupillage commencing October 2024 should be made in the new Pupillage Gateway Spring round in 2023 (although we accept deferred applications). Chambers has a four-stage process for pupillage applications (subject to reasonable adjustments):
(i) All applications for pupillage are reviewed by the Pupillage and Tenancy Committee. Applicants will be expected to have a first or good upper-second class degree (in any academic field), subject to mitigating circumstances;
(ii) Selected candidates are invited to complete a piece of assessed written work, intended to be completed in the second half of March 2023. This piece of work may be completed remotely, unless the circumstances of the applicant are such that completing the application in Chambers is preferable;
(iii) Following the assessed written work, selected candidates are invited into Chambers for an oral assessment and mini-pupillage day. It is envisaged that this will take place in mid-April 2023;
(iv) Selected candidates from the third stage will be invited for a final round interview in the first week of May 2023.

Offers to successful candidates will be made through the Gateway in May 2023.

Mini-pupillages

Chambers requires applicants for pupillage through Pupillage Gateway to do a one week assessed mini-pupillage in chambers. The deadline for applications for mini-pupillage is 9th November 2020 for those applying through Pupillage Gateway for pupillage commencing in October 2022. We will invite candidates for assessed mini-pupillages to a short interview in chambers in December 2020. If that causes particular difficulties, we will consider applications for alternative arrangements, such as interview by video conference. Assessed mini-pupillages will take place between January and March 2021. In exceptional circumstances, applicants for pupillage may ask to submit a written answer to a mini-pupillage problem instead of doing an assessed mini-pupillage in chambers. Any such application should also be made by 9th November 2020 for those applying for pupillage commencing in October 2022.

Awards

We offer a Pupillage Award of £75,000 (up to £20,000 of the pupillage award may be paid to prospective pupils as an advance in their BPTC year).

Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Statement

11KBW is deeply committed to equality and human rights in all aspects of its work. In particular, we are committed to ensuring that pupils, tenants and employees are selected without discrimination, that discriminatory considerations play no part in the allocation of work within Chambers, and that no instructions are accepted from solicitors who seek to select Counsel on a discriminatory basis. Our Equality and Diversity Statement underpins this commitment. In addition, members and staff are regularly trained in fair recruitment and unconscious bias.

Pupils and new tenants are given mentors in order to help them settle in to chambers. Chambers was one of the first sets to agree to join the Women in Law programme, with targets for representation of women in leadership roles in chambers. We have set up a Parents Forum for working parents to share their experience and support each other. This group was particularly active during the pandemic lockdown when members and staff with caring responsibilities needed support. We have a Parenting and Flexible Working Policy which helps all tenants should any want to take a career break or change the way in which they work. One member of chambers recently returned to full-time practice having had a 10-year career break. Another, Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing, having taken a 8-year career break, returned to chambers, became a High Court judge, and was recently elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Chambers has an Equality and Corporate and Social Responsibility committee that is actively involved in outreach programmes and initiatives to encourage and support people from diverse backgrounds to develop a career at the Bar. We work closely with schools and offer student placements for those interested in the legal profession. We are also members of the Pegasus Trust, a scholarship scheme offering gifted young lawyers the opportunity of work experience in a first-class set of chambers.

We take the emotional and mental wellbeing of everyone at 11KBW very seriously. We have a dedicated Wellbeing Committee which regularly “takes the wellbeing temperature” of members and staff via questionnaires and conversations, and provides access to professional help if requested. We have regular training sessions from professionals on mindfulness, how to manage stress, and how to recognise stress in others. We have an Anti-Harassment Policy which ensures that all members and staff work in a safe and healthy environment, free from bullying or harassment.