Barristers' chambers
A comparison of pupillages and size at the leading barristers' sets.
Set |
Location |
Number of KCs/juniors |
Pupils per year |
Application received |
Pupillage award |
|
If you’re jumping at the chance to work in matrimonial finance, then 1 Hare Court might just be the one. |
Temple, London |
14/34 |
2 |
Undisclosed |
£50,000 (£10,000 BPTC award) |
|
Headline government proceedings, staple employment and public law practices lead the march down 11KBW. |
Inner Temple, London |
20/50 |
4 |
250 |
£75,000 |
|
With a mix of children work with matrimonial finance, 1KBW possesses a breadth of family law prowess. |
London |
14/49 |
2 |
86 |
£42,500 (plus expenses) |
|
Meet the rapidly diversifying personal injury kings of King's Bench Walk. |
Temple, London |
13/83 |
3 |
91 |
£75,000 |
|
2 Bedford Row is like a seasoned detective: knows criminal law like the back of its hand and ready to tackle the complex cases. |
Bedford Row, London |
15/70 |
4 |
280 |
£40,000 |
|
Setting the bar high with its insurance work, this mixed civil and commercial outfit gets pupils on their feet quickly. |
London |
16/46 |
2 |
320 |
£82,500 (can advance £20,000 for the BPC) |
|
Three is a magic number, and 3 Verulam Buildings definitely casts a spell in banking, fraud and international arbitration – and it’s even conjuring up a crypto practice… |
Gray's Inn, London |
33/63 |
Up to 5 |
Less than 150 |
£80,000 |
|
The combination of transparent feedback with a full spectrum of commercial practices at this “forward-thinking” set means it’s not quite out with the old, but certainly in with the New. |
Lincoln's Inn, London |
34/58 |
4 |
239 |
£85,000 |
|
A full-blown commercial chancery set, 4SB might be sporting a smaller headcount, but it’s not set in Stone. |
Lincoln's Inn, London |
9/30 |
2 |
181 |
£80,000 |
|
5 Essex Chambers is continually at the forefront of major police and public law cases. |
London |
6/48 |
2 |
300 |
£65,000 (including £30,000 guaranteed earnings + can advance up to £10,000 for BTC) |
|
“A sense of harmony and excellence” drives commercial kingpin 7KBW’s rich insurance and shipping law practices. |
Temple, London |
24/47 |
3 |
Undisclosed |
£80,000 (can advance £25,000 for BPTC) |
|
For those looking for civil work at one of the biggest sets in London, The Only Way is 39 Essex. |
Lincoln's Inn, London |
56/106 |
3 |
387 |
£70,000 (including £5,000 guaranteed earnings and £15,000 for BPTC advance) |
|
Atkin sets the (commercial) Bar high in construction, energy and infrastructure, with a supportive culture to match. |
Grays Inn, London |
23/35 |
2 |
Undisclosed |
£80,000 |
|
This heavyweight set doing “cutting edge” work on “important and influential cases” shows no sign of slowing down. |
Middle Temple, London |
59/62 |
4 |
533 |
£90,000 (can advance £30,000 for BPC) |
|
Meet the commercial, competition and public law powerhouse where “the biggest draw is the breadth of what you can do here.” |
Essex Street, London |
52/64 |
5 |
Undisclosed |
£80,000 |
|
If you’re looking to ask “fundamental questions about discrimination and human rights,” Cloisters’ exemplary employment, clinical negligence and personal injury practices might just be for you. |
Middle Temple, London |
16/40 |
2 |
180 |
£60,000 |
|
Crown Office Chambers holds court over a medley of civil and commercial matters. |
Inner Temple, London |
26/73 |
3 |
126 |
£75,000 |
|
At Devereux, “you have massive advantages to the overlap in the core areas” – tax, employment and personal injury law. |
Inner Temple, London |
12/43 |
2 |
224 |
£75,000 |
|
“Company law becomes a vehicle to see quite a lot of life” at Erskine Chambers, with plenty of restructuring work oiling the wheels too. |
Chancery Lane, London |
11/19 |
2 |
198 |
£75,000 (£45,000 first six, £30,000 second six) |
|
More is more at this giant of the Commercial Bar, where exposure to all sorts of top-tier practices means that the ball is always in your Court. |
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London |
53/117 |
4 |
232 |
£75,000 |
|
Searching for a perch that will give you a bird’s-eye view of property law? Look no further... |
Fleet Street, London |
14/33 |
Up to 4 |
Undisclosed |
£75,000 |
|
Building your practice with Farrar’s: there’s plenty more to this London set than a penchant for personal injury. |
Inner Temple, London |
7/45 |
2 |
Undisclosed |
£27,500 + £27,500 guaranteed earnings (can advance up to £10,000 for BPC) |
|
A true commercial heavyweight, Fountain Court is simply overflowing with work for pupils to get involved in as they navigate the uncharted waters of the Commercial Bar… |
Middle Temple, London |
45/60 |
4 |
175 |
£80,000 |
|
A license to skill: Francis Taylor Building equips pupils with the tools they need to succeed in planning, environment, and licensing work. |
Inner Temple, London |
23/39 |
2 |
74 |
Not less than £75,000 including £15,000 guaranteed earnings) |
|
Gatehouse Chambers is making a name for itself as a progressive set, offering up experience in construction, property, insurance, and commercial litigation. |
Grays Inn, London |
13/85 |
2 |
Undisclosed |
£70,000 |
|
All hail clinical and professional negligence powerhouse Hailsham for its medical law and costs litigation prowess. |
Temple, London |
11/47 |
2 |
100 |
£60,000 |
|
Located in Mid Temple, but a long way from Mid-level, Henderson Chambers excels in product liability, health and safety and group actions. |
Inner Temple, London |
17/38 |
3 |
Undisclosed |
£85,000 (can advance £40,000 for the BPC) |
|
With top-of-the-range construction work and an eclectic mix of clients, it’s fair to say pupils at Keating are building in more ways than one. |
Temple, London |
34/40 |
2 |
202 |
£85,000 |
|
Aspiring barristers who want to make their mark in areas such as planning, property and public law should land at this set. |
London (Fleet Street), Birmingham |
36/61 |
3 |
c.300 |
£65,000 (can advance £25,000 for BPC) |
|
A Little closer to tenancy whilst learning a Ton, if it’s a friendly employment set you’re looking for then we may have found the one… |
Temple, London |
17/36 |
2 |
201 |
£75,000 |
|
Making the most of Maitland: Commercial chancery prowess, a host of international work, yet still “a set full of normal people!” |
Lincolns Inn, London |
20/51 |
4 |
150 |
£85,000 (can advance £20,000 for BPC) |
|
An inherent focus on public law and human rights, Matrix’s practice diversity could have you hitting new heights. |
Gray's Inn, London |
46/Undisclosed |
2 |
Approx. 250-300 |
65000 (which includes £15,000 BPTC advance) |
|
Monckton members sit atop the European, procurement, and competition pile, but pupils can get access to a broader commercial offering to boot. |
Grays Inn, London |
21/44 |
1 |
c.150 |
£75,000 (can advance £20,000 for BPC) |
|
No5 by name and number one by scale, this bumper set allows pupils to choose their practice. |
Brimingham, Bristol and London |
38/238 |
Up to 8 |
302 |
£55,000 (BPTC advance available upon request) |
|
With numerous opportunities to “get out and about,” there are no square eyes at Old Square. |
London, Bristol |
20/59 |
2 |
155 |
£70,000 (+£20,000 BPTC advance) |
|
This connoisseur of the commercial Bar was “ditching suits long before it became trendy!” |
Middle Temple, London |
52/67 |
3 |
c.260 |
£80,000 |
|
There’s nothing Outer-the-ordinary going on at this high-flying set: it continues to demonstrate its capacious expertise across the spheres of health and business law. |
Temple, London |
See website |
Undisclosed |
Undisclosed |
&70,000 (with up to 25% available for draw-down during the BPC year) |
|
If tax gets you pumped up, Pump Court is the place to be. |
Bedford Row, London |
13/21 |
2 |
121 |
£75,000 (can advance £30,000 for the BPC) |
|
Is it a boat? Is it a plane? It’s both! Meet Quadrant, a top commercial set specialising in shipping and aviation work, and more… |
Fleet Street, London |
27/51 |
3 |
Undisclosed |
£75,000 |
|
Stuck in the Middle with you: Meet the Middle Temple set where family is the most important thing (in every sense of the word). |
Middle Temple, London |
7/31 |
2 |
178 |
£35,000 |
|
If you think Chancery is rad, say hello to Radcliffe, the set offering an even split of top commercial and traditional work at the Chancery Bar. |
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London |
12/59 |
3 |
198 |
£70,000 |
|
This commercial-chancery set is known for its “truly practical pupillage,” (Sel)borne out of its supportive culture and growth at the junior end. |
Essex Street, London |
8/37 |
2 |
63 |
£75,000 (can advance up to £25,000 for BPC) |
|
Chancery law is the plat du jour at Serle Court, which has a new, female director. Here come the serles! |
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London |
27/45 |
Up to 3 |
Undisclosed |
£85,000 (can advance £25,000 for BPTC) |
|
Where there is demand for insolvency and restructuring expertise, this set continues to be there and be South Square. |
Gray's Inn, London |
18/33 |
2 |
75 |
£80,000 |
|
St John’s star status in the South West is underpinned by top practices in personal injury, clinical negligence, family, commercial, and Chancery law. |
Bristol |
7/78 |
Up to 6 |
140 |
£50,000 |
|
Looking for a successful career at the Bar outside of London? Time to St-and on the shoulders of this Midlands giant. |
Birmingham, Leeds |
11 + 8 door tenants /140 |
6 |
202 |
£50,000 |
|
Setting sail for international waters, Twenty Essex is a growing commercial set with a penchant for public international law and a top-tier shipping practice. |
London, Singapore |
33/57 |
4 |
65 |
£80,000 |
|
This set is synonymous with Chancery law. Wilber-force be with you? |
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London |
36/45 |
2 |
145 |
£75,000 (can advance up to £30,000 for BPTC) |
|
XXIV Old Buildings introduces pupils to its top-tier commercial Chancery practice and international expertise with plenty of bespoke training opportunities. |
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London |
10/34 |
3 |
219 |
£85,000 |