Devereux Chambers

There are certainly plenty of exciting cases taking place in Chambers. In just this past year, Andrew Burns KC gave evidence on the employment and industrial relations obligations of employers to joint Select Committees investigating the legality of P&O Ferries’ dismissal of 800 workers, Harriet Fear Davies was part of a counsel team appearing in the Court of Appeal of the Caymans Islands in relation to a landmark fraud claim, Robert Weir KC appeared in the first ever Supreme Court case to consider the Consumer Protection Act 1987, and Peter Edwards represented claimants, all police widows entitled to ongoing pension payments, in a Judicial Review Application worth £198 million. Certainly plenty for the members to get stuck into! 

Even with all these big cases going on, Devereux Chambers is notably a friendly and collegiate place. The “lack of egos” is a particular like of one Devereux insider while another tells us simply “we work as a team”. This means there is always someone willing to lend a hand if you get stuck on a tricky point of law. “From the junior end right up to the most senior silk — if you have a question that touches on someone else’s experience or expertise, everyone tries to help,” one junior at the set tells us. Another comments: “I regularly take any knotty problems to other members and inevitably come away with the answer, or with something much closer to the answer.” 

With so much hard work going on, it’s inevitable that work-life balance is “not perfect”. Members comment that it may not always be possible to have weekends and holidays off, but this is normal at the top end of the Bar. As one tenant puts it: “The volume of work does eat into evenings and weekends but that is the price of a successful practice.” Often, long hours are “a matter of personal choice”. As one barrister says: “I have never felt under pressure to work longer than I want to, either from the clerks or more senior members. You have to work hard (and sometimes long) to maintain a practice anywhere, but at Devereux you feel in control.” The clerks are especially praised for helping the barristers to manage their time. We are also told by one tenant who has recently taken a substantial period of paternity leave that Chambers have been very supportive of this.  

When there is some downtime, Devereux’s building is perfectly positioned next to The Devereux Pub meaning there is scope for after work drinks. We are told bonds at work are strengthened further by regular lunch in Middle Temple Hall, and sponsored charitable activities such as walks, fun runs, cycling contests, and quiz nights. The pandemic has taken a toll. One junior tells us “there are still people that do not come to chambers regularly”, whilst another adds that social life is “still taking some time to recover post-pandemic”. Generally, however, “the spirit of camaraderie” at the set remains strong. 

Talking of location, Devereux has an ideal position within Middle Temple. Overlooking Fountain Court (which does contain a fountain) and with a pub next door and the Royal Courts of Justice just across the street, what more can you ask for as a barrister! Inside, we hear the set is redecorated every year and that it’s currently looking “very smart” and “makes a good impression”. We hear the rooms are “generously spacious” though one tenant moans, “I do wish the carpets were nicer.” Technology wise, there are conference rooms, permitting hybrid conferences — especially useful these days. The IT support is said to be “amazing” within Chambers, with Jacki Muirhead — director of operations — getting a particular shoutout, but some support, we’re told, is outsourced. One tenant tells us that this can be “patchy”, whilst another exclaims that it is “awful” — I suppose there have to be some downsides to everything!

Devereux Chambers offers two pupillages per year, each coming with an award of £75,000. The assessed part of pupillage is split between three pupil supervisors, and pupils can express a preference for seats, choosing from employment, tax, personal injury/clinical negligence, and commercial. There is also a possibility of a fourth unassessed seat, during which the pupil can gain experience in another practice area, if desired. As a result of working for different members of Chambers, pupils “are able to observe, learn from and draw upon the broad spectrum of strengths, skills, and styles held within Chambers”, according to one tenant. In the first six, pupils will undertake legal research, work on client papers, draft advice, pleadings and skeleton arguments, and accompany their supervisor to conferences and to court. In the second six, pupils will start to take on their own cases, usually in tribunals and the county court. Throughout pupillage, there will be a number of written and advocacy assessments.  

Pupillage at the set is highly praised. One former pupil notes that it is “carefully planned and well executed” albeit with the caveat that “some areas are better taught than others”. One junior tenant who recently went through pupillage at the set describes it as “second to none. It was rare among my cohort of pupils to have supervisors at such a high level of call. That, combined with the willingness of even the most senior silks to involve pupils in, for example, appeals to the Supreme Court, meant that I started practice with an excellent understanding of both the work that I would be doing immediately, and the work that I hope to do when I reach the pinnacle of my career”. Even beyond pupillage, the learning continues. As one senior junior puts it: “Every day is a school day, even after over twenty years of experience.” 

Applicants to Devereux Chambers should apply through the Pupillage Gateway. Paper applications are marked and narrowed down to around 40 candidates who are invited to a first round interview. This interview is fairly relaxed and only lasts around 15 minutes. Those scoring highest in the interview, around 10, will be invited to a final round interview where they will be given a legal problem 30 minutes before the interview and asked to prepare. The interview will then take place in front of a panel. Throughout the process, the criteria on which applicants are assessed are: intellect and analysis, a good approach to problem solving, communication and presentation skills, and an aptitude for chambers’ core areas of practice. 

Devereux Chambers participates in access and social mobility schemes, such as the Pegasus Access Scheme run by the Inner Temple and the Social Mobility Foundation Bar placement scheme. Additional mini-pupillages to the ones typically on offer are available through such schemes.