Remote chambers The Barrister Group (TBG) has laid claim to the biggest-ever intake of pupils at the bar. The private equity-funded business, formerly Clerksroom, has recruited 10 pupils after over 500 candidates completed initial screening.
All ten have been told that they will have an opportunity for tenancy after completing their pupillage. ‘Provided that the pupils achieve requisite professional standards, there will be no competition or a limited number of tenancies,’ the group said.
Exactly a year ago, LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, committed at least £10m to TBG in what was believed to be the first time private equity had turned to the barristers’ profession. TBG said today that this backing enabled the group to develop ‘a rigorous and unique blind recruitment process’, which also offers ‘extensive feedback’ for unsuccessful candidates and support for them to reapply.
The first stage of the application process required candidates to complete an anonymous questionnaire that tested standards and competence. Some 509 did so, of whom 77% passed. At stage two, candidates had to complete another anonymous questionnaire, on their suitability to be a self-employed practitioner and to work at TBG.
Of the 285 who completed this stage, the top 10% were interviewed. The 30 candidates chosen had to provide a mini-business proposal, or skeleton argument, about a practice area they wanted to work in, which they then presented to a selection panel.
Co-founded by Harry Hodgkin, a former barrister, and businessman Stephen Ward, TBG enables barristers to operate remotely without the need for a physical chambers. The business now hosts 240 barristers, including seven KCs.
Hodgkin said: ‘This is a new dawn for bar recruitment. We are now in a position to invest in recruiting the best people from the most diverse range of backgrounds possible and ensuring they receive the work and experience they need to kickstart their careers. We believe that TBG in many ways heralds the future of the bar.’
