We are not like other chambers and life as a pupil at Hardwicke isn't easy. We expect you to work hard; in return we will ensure you have the breadth and depth of experience needed for a successful career at the Bar.
On this site, you find out more about what we are looking for in a candidate, what we can offer you and what pupillage at Hardwicke is like - told by:
The Barrister's View
- Tianne Goold
I chose to apply for pupillage in Hardwicke Building after a week as a mini-pupil in September 1995. I was about to start my second year at University and this was to be my first mini-pupillage. I didn't really know what to expect but from my very first day everyone was so friendly and I immediately felt comfortable.
During my mini-pupillage I saw such a variety of work that and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was a mature student at University, having previously been employed in computing, so I was particularly interested to see how attitudes would be to someone from an 'unconventional' background. I was delighted to find a number of people with previous careers and was finally sold when one member told me she used to drive HGVs!
It was this diversity of people and an attitude which valued previous experience rather than considering it as a hindrance which made me want to come to Hardwicke Building and I was very pleased to be offered a 12 months pupillage starting in October 1998. My first impressions of the relaxed atmosphere were reinforced when, in my first week of pupillage, I discovered that the silk who was head of the Injury Team was as likely to be the one making the coffee for his colleagues as anyone else.
I had for some time thought I wanted to practice in personal injury and clinical negligence but wanted to see a variety of work before I made a final decision. During my first 3 months was assigned to pupil-master whose practise was exclusively Personal Injury (PI). That gave me a good opportunity to see what the work was really like. By the end of this I was fairly sure this was the area for me but I was still keen to see other areas. I therefore spent the next 6 months with other civil practitioners in a variety of areas before returning to the Injury Team for the final 3 months.
This is not to suggest that I avoided criminal work. I had several criminal practitioners as wingers and found their work interesting as well. In my second six months I was also in court on average 3 days per week, mostly in the Magistrates' court but also in the Crown Court, County Courts and even the odd High Court appearance! There was a lot of work and sometimes it could be stressful but there was always a great deal of support on hand and always someone to ask about any difficult cases or dilemmas without any fear of being "marked down" for asking. On the contrary, an atmosphere of co-operation rather than competition was positively encouraged.
In around July 1999, the Injury Team decided that they had a vacancy for a junior PI tenant and after interview I was thrilled to be offered a tenancy on completion of my pupillage. Since then I have been steadily building a practice in PI with some clinical negligence and have found the level of work I am doing has consistently increased both in quality and quantity. My first years earnings far exceeded my expectations and I am pleased to say that they are still on the up!
On the personal front, Hardwicke has been from day one a place where everybody knows everybody (often not believed because of the number of members). Although there are specialist groups this does not make for a segregated set. As pupils we were treated with the same respect and equality as any other member of chambers and were always included in social events whether formal or just popping around the corner for a pint! As tenants I hope that we have continued in the same way so that those who come after us will form the same good impressions.