The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence.
The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence.
Deka Chambers is a leading common law (mixed practice) set known for its core strengths in advocacy, drafting and advisory work. Clients include solicitors, local government, central government, corporate bodies and individuals.
Pupils and tenants (for at least three years after tenancy) practise in all areas of our work, an arrangement which provides enviable advocacy experience and develops an interesting and varied practice. Pupils in their second six (practising period) are routinely in court most or all days of the week in a range of civil, criminal and family cases.
Our pupillage package (which is a combination of an award and an earnings guarantee) is worth £50,000, comprising an award of £25,000 in the first six (non-practising period) and an earnings guarantee in the second six (practising period). We offer the facility to draw down part of the award in advance of the commencement of the first six in appropriate cases.
The most recent application window closed on 8 February 2023. Applications are no longer being accepted. Applicants who applied before the deadline will be contacted in due course with the outcome of the first stage of the application process.
Members of chambers work and specialise in a wide variety of areas. The largest group in chambers practises in personal injury and clinical negligence work, which is linked to work in inquests and inquiries and travel claims. There is a strong criminal team with work in fraud, sexual offences and general crime, and a regulatory team working with professional bodies and individuals. The professional negligence team accepts instructions in various fields. Members also accept instructions from the Metropolitan Police and other constabularies, as well as other Government bodies (such as the Home Office) in a variety of civil and quasi-criminal cases. The family team undertakes the full range of public and private law work, and Court of Protection work permits cross-over between the family and civil disciplines. The commercial and property team is routinely involved in cases of all levels of complexity, covering a wide spectrum of disputes from cases relating to commercial leases and construction contracts to consumer credit and insolvency matters.
In this common law set, members of chambers, and particularly junior tenants, frequently encounter and tackle a wide variety of other areas of work, including professional negligence, public and costs work.
We look for highly-motivated candidates of proven analytical and intellectual ability who demonstrate commitment to the Bar and a flair for advocacy combined with common sense and sound judgement. We look for candidates who want to have and develop common law practices.
We operate and observe a robust equality and diversity policy, including in recruitment; and for many years we have been at the forefront of E&D issues at the Bar.
We offer funded pupillages of 12 months’ duration.
We strive to ensure that each pupil sees as broad an array of work as possible, and particularly in our main practice areas. Before a pupil starts on his or her feet, he or she is placed with a pupil supervisor in each of civil, criminal and family work. During second six, a pupil will usually be assigned a fourth supervisor, often with a mixed practice.
The pupillage programme includes regular feedback, an advocacy programme and a number of assessed exercises.
For many years we have been at the forefront of equality and diversity issues at the Bar. We have robust policies on equality and diversity, flexible working, parental leave and wellbeing. All members of chambers and pupils receive relevant training and are encouraged to contribute to the work of chambers in these areas.
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. Our application system removes all identifying features from applications before they are reviewed.
All applicants are considered on the same basis, with an objective selection policy based on our criteria of analytical ability, expression and persuasion skills, practical professional skills and motivation to have and develop a common law practice.
Candidates are required to have a minimum of a second class degree (the minimum qualification level in the Bar Qualification Manual) and be in a position to have been called to the Bar by the commencement date of pupillage. Otherwise, there are no formal academic requirements to apply or be selected for pupillage with us.
Our current application round is proceeding. We advertised for up to one pupil to start in October 2023 and up to two pupils to start in October 2024. The application deadline was 8 February 2023.
Applicants who applied before the deadline will be contacted in due course with the outcome of the first stage of the application process.
In the event of any queries regarding the application process, please e-mail pupillage@dekachambers.com.
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