Women at the Bar

For the past seven years, One Essex Court has been running a “Women at the Commercial Bar” programme. As part of this initiative, events have been organised to inform students about life and work at the Commercial Bar, in the hope that more women will consider what we think is a fulfilling, rewarding and female-friendly career.

• In 2016 and 2018 we arranged panel discussions in London, Oxford and Cambridge by members of Chambers about life and work as a woman at the Commercial Bar. These were followed by receptions at which students could speak with barristers, clerks and pupils from One Essex Court. In each year we reached over 100 students across the events. Photographs from the 2018 London event are below.

• In 2017 and 2019 we hosted students for an Open Day in Chambers, during which students attended panels, had lunch in Middle Temple Hall, made arguments in an advocacy workshop and met with Mrs Justice Carr at the Rolls Building.

• In 2019/2020, One Essex Court collaborated with Brick Court, Essex Court and Fountain Court chambers in a series of events at a number of universities directed at gender diversity at the Commercial Bar. At each event, women from all four sets gave short presentations about their working lives and work/life balance, and students had an opportunity to network with barristers.

• In 2019, 2020 and 2021, One Essex Court offered a mentoring scheme, pairing aspiring barristers with a female member of Chambers who shared their experiences and provided career guidance. Our mentees on this scheme have said:

“My objective was to learn more about this career path, to gain the confidence it takes to succeed at it and to understand how to make better applications. I can safely say my mentor helped me to achieve all these goals.”

“Thank you so much for providing this opportunity. The mentoring scheme has been a huge help and I would definitely recommend it to future applicants thinking of a career at the commercial bar.”

“I really enjoyed the scheme and found the skills day invaluable.”

• In 2022/ 2023, One Essex Court offered a careers programme similar to that being offered in 2023/ 2024. Female members of chambers gave careers guidance to a total of 90 women students in online “clinics” and the pair of workshops to assist in preparing for pupillage applications were each attended by about 50 women.

The feedback we have received from students at every stage of the programme has been encouraging and we hope that we have convinced some of those who have participated in the Women at the Commercial Bar programme to aim for a career at the Commercial Bar.

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As part of the Women at the Commercial Bar programme, in the 2023/2024 academic year, One Essex Court is offering aspiring female barristers an opportunity to participate in two forms of activity: online career clinics and online skills workshops. To find out more about each of the opportunities on offer, click on the headings below.

A poster about the scheme can be downloaded here.

The career clinics will provide an opportunity for a 20-minute one-to-one confidential chat with a female member of chambers, to discuss any issue in relation to applying to or working at the Commercial Bar.

Applications for the career clinics are open to anyone potentially interested in a career at the Commercial Bar, regardless of subject of study. We particularly welcome applications from those under-represented at the Commercial Bar, including people of minority ethnic origin, people with disabilities, LGBT+ people, and people who attended state schools or are first-generation university students.

On both dates, the clinics will run from 12pm to 2.30pm.

Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

To attend a career clinic, fill in the application form found here and return to careerclinics@oeclaw.co.uk. In order for these career clinics to be as useful as possible, we ask that, prior to submitting an application, applicants first check whether they would likely meet our selection criteria at the time they applied for pupillage. Our selection criteria are here and more information about how they are applied can be found in our Pupillage FAQs.

If you have any questions, please email Sophie Biggs on sbiggs@oeclaw.co.uk.

The Pupillage Applications Workshop will focus on how to present yourself to best advantage in pupillage application forms.

This afternoon workshop will involve:

• A talk from a barrister with advice on the substance and presentation of application forms
• A live, practical exercise in small groups, with individual feedback
• A Q&A session with a panel of female members of chambers

Applications for the Pupillage Applications Workshop are open to those applying for pupillage at the Commercial Bar in 2024. We particularly welcome applications from those under-represented at the Commercial Bar, including people of minority ethnic origin, people with disabilities, LGBT+ people, and people who attended state schools or are first-generation university students.

Applications for the Pupillage Applications Workshop are now open and can be found here. Once complete, please return to applicationsworkshop@oeclaw.co.uk.  

If you have any questions, please email Sophie Biggs on sbiggs@oeclaw.co.uk.

The Pupillage Interviews Workshop will focus on how to prepare for and perform in pupillage interviews.

This afternoon workshop will involve:

• A talk from a barrister with tips and advice on interview skills
• A live, practical exercise in small groups, with the opportunity for individual feedback
• A Q&A session with a panel of female members of chambers

Applications for the Pupillage Interviews Workshop are open to those applying for pupillage at the Commercial Bar in 2024. We particularly welcome applications from those under-represented at the Commercial Bar, including people of minority ethnic origin, people with disabilities, LGBT+ people, and people who attended state schools or are first-generation university students.

Applications for the Pupillage Interviews Workshop are now open and can be found here. Once complete, please return to interviewsworkshop@oeclaw.co.uk.

If you have any questions, please email Sophie Biggs on sbiggs@oeclaw.co.uk.