Recruitment/Non-pupillage

Joining St Ives Chambers

St Ives Chambers is a boutique and modern multidisciplinary common law set situated in the heart of Birmingham and Nottingham, the first and only set with premises located in the East & West Midlands. Unlike its other major competitors, our size permits both strength in depth of advocacy and a collegiate atmosphere where members are known to one another regardless of practice area. Successful applicants will enjoy a busy and varied practice from the outset and will join a chambers with a reputation for excellence in all areas and which features:

  • A thriving team of junior practitioners
  • An experienced and tailored supportive clerking service
  • Eight King’s Counsel
  • Mentoring to silk and judicial appointment schemes
  • A competitive rent structure
  • Access to a comprehensive physical and digital library
  • Newly refurbished city centre premises in Birmingham
  • Contemporary city premises in Nottingham

Applications

How to Apply

To join our growing team, or to find out more information, please contact recruitment@stiveschambers.co.uk All applications and expressions of interest will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

Applications should be made by letter and CV together with references. References should include at least one judicial reference (or someone able to speak to the applicant’s ability as an advocate).

Please note the different considerations, below, which apply to applicants depending on the stage of their career.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed in line with following criteria (any written application being assessed on the first four criteria alone):

  • academic record;
  • relevant past experience;
  • motivation to practise at the Bar;
  • written communication skills;
  • oral communication skills;
  • interpersonal skills;
  • mental agility and analytical thinking;
  • resilience, drive and determination.

General Timescales

The following timescales apply generally:

  • Applications will be considered on the papers within 5 working days of receipt
  • Applicants will be informed within 10 working days of receipt whether they are unsuccessful, invited to interview, or offered a (probationary) tenancy
  • Should a Chambers’ vote be required on their application, the vote is anticipated to be held and the outcome known within 20 working days of receipt.

These timescales are likely to be longer during the busiest part of the recruitment year (in the pupillage season from January to May) and applicants may wish to revise their expectations accordingly.

Urgency

Chambers recognise that many applications come with time pressure.

If there are reasons of exceptional urgency at the point of application, the application should be clearly marked as such with a request for its consideration to be expedited.

Any date by which a decision is required should also be provided. Chambers will, wherever possible, work to accommodate that deadline.

Types of Applicants

Established Practitioners

St Ives Chambers invites applications from outstanding barristers at all levels of seniority, across our areas of practice, to join a successful and welcoming set. Chambers is continuing to grow and attracts high calibre work, both locally and nationally.

In certain circumstances, established practitioners of greater than 7 years’ experience in practice may be offered tenancy without the need for an interview. Chambers is acutely alive to particular issues of commercial sensitivity or expediency. Where appropriate, the application process for highly experienced candidates will be tailored to fit the applicant’s circumstances. Open dialogue—on a strictly confidential basis—is encouraged.

Probationary Tenancies (Newly Qualified Barristers)

St Ives Chambers welcomes applications for probationary tenancies from those nearing the end of their pupillage at another set, or from those who have recently been signed off for the satisfactory completion of the practising period of their pupillage.

Applicants may apply to practise in any, or all, of Chambers’ practice areas. 

Chambers is committed to ensuring that all probationary tenants receive the same level of support and guidance as our first and second six pupils receive. Probationary tenants are encouraged to utilise our in-house advocacy training sessions. Each probationary tenant will receive a tailored clerking service and will be promoted and marketed fully by our marketing team.

Chambers operates an equal opportunities policy, and adheres to the Equality and Diversity Code for the Bar. Please see our website for full details. Chambers invites those who wish to apply for a probationary tenancy to complete a Monitoring Form and return the same. Click here to download the form. All data will be anonymised and stored in accordance with our policy on the collection and use of diversity data.

 

Why join us?

Mark Cooper-Hall

Joined Chambers in 2004 from another Birmingham Set

“I often found myself against people from St Ives and I was impressed by their vast knowledge of family law. It helped that I had many friends at St Ives, so it felt like a natural place for me to build my practice.

St Ives has lived up to and exceeded my expectations. The clerks are superb and the support from other members of the team is invaluable. I am regularly instructed in lengthy and complex matters. I have numerous opportunities to be led by most of the family silks who are members of chambers or door tenants.

Being part of a large and successful team means that instructing solicitors can be confident that Chambers has strength and depth at all levels of seniority, which makes Chambers a first port of call for many cases.”

Rebecca Cross

Transferred to Chambers from another set in 2018

“I love the excellent infrastructure at St Ives, Birmingham being the second city, and access to the highest quality of work, particularly in the family law sphere where I wanted to specialise. I now have excellent practice managers, and fees clerks, who always listen and help me to progress my career in the way that I want.”

Jane Talbot

Joined in 2016 having been the head of the housing department at a national law firm

“I was initially nervous about being self-employed and whether I would have sufficient instructions to build a business. However, I was provided with excellent support from other barristers and the clerks and my workload quickly increased and I found myself doing the advocacy that I have always enjoyed so much as a full time career. It was undoubtedly daunting at first but I have never regretted my decision.

Having a young family at the Bar comes with some challenges but also a much greater degree of flexibility. The barristers and staff at St Ives Chambers made me feel immediately welcome and the housing team has a great rapport. I really feel I have found where I want to be.”

Holly Sims

Joined Chambers from the CPS in 2022

“I knew several St Ives members from the robing room and law school. Everyone was super friendly and collegiate. I wanted to be in a set where I could expand my practice from just crime and feel supported doing the same. St Ives having a big junior end was also something that I liked. Chambers is the perfect balance of friendly and professional for me.”

Diversity and Wellbeing 

St Ives Chambers is committed to the implementation and promotion of equality and diversity principles and equal opportunities. We are also committed to Wellbeing at the Bar, which applies to all members, staff and pupils at St Ives. In addition to providing a range of events during the annual ‘Wellbeing Week’ in May, we provide other wellbeing resources throughout the year including:

  • free access to various services provided by ‘Health Assured’
  • a mentoring scheme for all members, staff and pupils;
  • chair yoga and chair massages, provided by qualified specialists;
  • mindfulness awareness; and
  • much more.

 Chambers is passionately committed to maintaining its ongoing contribution to ensuring the legal profession is truly reflective of the public it represents. The richness and value of a diverse and inclusive legal profession is clear from the significant contribution made by female, LGBTQ+, black, and Asian barristers, solicitors and members of the judiciary.

Social life

The social committee organises major Chambers parties in addition to other social events during the course of the year with a view to encouraging members and staff to get-together, let down their hair and enjoy some time off from work.