Maitland Chambers

  • Head of chambers: Mr Christopher Pymont QC
  • Apply through: Pupillage Gateway
  • Deadline date: Pupillage Gateway deadline
Maitland Chambers
Meet the Lawyer
Meet the Lawyer - Hannah Ilett

I very much enjoy the variation, both in the type of work and the subject matter, and I like being able to work on my own and decide when I work.

Overview

Pupillages offered: Up to 3
Tenants: 71
Tenancies in last 3 years: 5
Mini-pupillages: Yes
Minimum qualification: 2.1 degree

Description of chambers

We are a leading set of chambers in commercial chancery litigation ranked at the top of our field in the legal directories. Our appeal to you at the start of your career is the combination of the high-quality instructions we receive, the breadth of our work (from major international litigation to domestic contractual and property disputes) and the volume of advocacy that we do. The majority of our work is done in London, though we frequently advise and appear for clients in other parts of the UK; and much of our work has an international aspect, involving acting for clients and appearing in court overseas.

Areas of work

We undertake a full range of commercial chancery work, which is essentially concerned with business, finance and property. Our core areas of practice include commercial litigation, banking, financial services and regulation, civil fraud, insolvency and restructuring, media law, pensions, professional negligence, real property, charity law, trusts and tax. Most of what we do is concerned with dispute resolution (advising, drafting court documents and appearing as advocates); but we also do some noncontentious work in the private client field.

Who should apply

Our typical recruit has a first-class mind and a sense of commercial practicality, and will enjoy and be stimulated by the challenge of oral and written advocacy. Academically we look for a first or 2.1 degree. You must have an aptitude for and general enjoyment of complex legal argument (demonstrated by mooting). Not all of our barristers have law degrees: of our ten most junior tenants, the majority read subjects other than law and we recognise that training in other academic disciplines can be a good preparation for a legal career. We encourage applications from people from all sections of society, regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or age.

Pupillage programme

We offer up to three 12-month pupillages. You will sit with different barristers during your time in chambers and so have the opportunity to see a wide range of practices; however, you will spend your first three months with one supervisor, so that you can find your feet and establish a point of contact. At regular intervals during your pupillage you will participate in advocacy exercises that take the form of mock hearings, which are prepared in advance from a set of papers, just as in practice. Senior members of chambers act as the tribunal, probing your argument during the ‘hearing’ and then providing detailed feedback afterwards. There is no limit to the number of tenancy offers we can make in each year; as a general rule, if you are of the requisite standard, you will be offered tenancy.

How and when to apply

Please see our website at www.maitlandchambers.com for details about how and when to apply.

Mini-pupillages

Applications are considered three times a year; please see our website for current deadlines and details of how to apply.

Sponsorship details

A pupillage award (£65,000 for pupillage starting in October 2021) is offered to all pupils in chambers. Up to £20,000 of the award may be drawn down in advance for BPTC fees or during the BPTC year. We operate a cashflow assistance scheme during the early stages of practice.

Work areas

Meet the Lawyer

Maitland Chambers

Maitland Chambers

  • Hannah Ilett

I very much enjoy the variation, both in the type of work and the subject matter, and I like being able to work on my own and decide when I work.

Back to top