Education

We are proud to have embarked on a number of initiatives to provide a greater awareness of the legal profession as well as helping to shape the barrister of the future.

Such initiatives include participation in the 10,000 Black Interns programme. The 10,000 Black Interns Programme aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries, as well as world-class training and development.

We recognise the importance of education in equipping people with the tools to achieve their potential. There are a wide range of schemes in which Kings Chambers Barristers are involved in.

A number of members are involved with the Bar Council Mentoring Scheme aimed at assisting aspiring barristers, barristers with parental obligations and those considering furthering their career in silk or the judiciary.

Many barristers who have children in school invariably volunteer to give talks at careers events or be involved in mock trials.

We have members involved in the Pembroke College Oxford outreach programme whose aim is to encourage pupils from non-traditional backgrounds to apply to the UK’s top universities including Oxford.

Kings Chambers and four other sets specialising in Planning, Property and Public Law, Cornerstone Barristers, Field Court Chambers, Landmark Chambers and FTB Chambers, have set up a mentoring scheme for underrepresented groups at the Bar.

The scheme is intended to encourage undergraduates and postgraduates from groups that are not well represented at the Bar to consider becoming barristers. It will run from October 2021 to June 2022 and aims to provide advice and guidance to suitable candidates on the process of becoming a barrister specialising in planning, property and public law.

PEBA and each of the partner Chambers recognise the importance of driving equality and diversity in the Bar and hope this Mentoring Scheme can lay the foundations to creating a profession that is representative of all and for all by introducing those from a non-traditional background into the profession. It is inspired by a similar scheme launched by a collection of commercial sets.

In addition to our participation in various external schemes, we host our own annual Mini Pupillage Programme internally. Our programme includes court visits, workshops, talks from Kings Chambers Barristers and Clerks, visiting Judges and other guest speakers. Previous years have seen us welcome 20 or so aspiring barristers into chambers for our unique 3-day event which provides an extensive introduction to a career as a barrister. Undeterred by the pandemic, we decided to continue our 2020 and 2021 programmes virtually. Holding these events virtually meant we could accommodate significantly more students with aspirations of a career at the Bar. Our virtual fairs were very successful and almost 200 University & A-Level students, as well as other prospective pupils, attended.