Cornerstone Barristers

Recent high-profile member appearances include the Post Office IT scandal and subsequent public inquiry, an examination into the largest solar farm in the UK, challenges to the government’s decision to allow an expansion of Bristol Airport, Uber’s London licensing appeal, the Shoreham air crash disaster, and advising South Lakeland Against Climate Change regarding plans for the first new deep coal mine in the UK for decades. Other notable cases have included the Grenfell Inquiry, the UK’s first “buffer zone” outside an abortion clinic, and advising the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and the Constitution’s inquiry into the Clapham Common protests. Dr Christina Lienen, who has a PhD in constitutional law, is part of a legal team working to overturn a ban by a French Bar Council (the Lille Bar Council) that prohibits French lawyers from wearing the hijab or other markers of faith in court. Such varied and challenging work means that “there is rarely a boring day in the office”. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have put Cornerstone Barristers’ expertise in high demand. “We are acting for local authorities at a time when the pressure on them has never been more acute,” explains one member. The set acted in the judicial review of the A-Level algorithm introduced during the pandemic, for example. 

An insider describes the career progression at Cornerstone Barristers as tending to start with “quick summary possession hearings in the County Court” but then progressing to “pick up opportunities to broaden and deepen your practice”. The set also provides “good opportunities to undertake led work”. 

The supportive nature of the set means that “Cornerstone is rightly recognised as one of the most collegiate and supportive sets of chambers at the bar”, says one proud tenant of the set, which prides itself on its open-door policy. One member tells us that having a supportive atmosphere is a specific strategic objective of the set: “Being able to pick the brains of an experienced practitioner on a key point not only makes your work better, but it also makes doing the job significantly less stressful, which is very welcome, especially when approaching new areas.” We are told that the female members of Cornerstone have their own designated WhatsApp group where they celebrate each other’s successes and offer advice. 

One junior reveals that they recently “developed an autoimmune condition which meant [they] needed to go slow for a while”. Apparently “both the staff and other members of chambers have been reassuring, understanding, sympathetic, everything you can expect… and the best of all, not surprised or patronising as [they] have rebuilt [their] practice and strength”. As one happy tenant sums up, Cornerstone is apparently home to the “best bunch of people you could ever work with”.

In terms of work/life balance, one member comments that “our clerks are really open to allowing members to control our diaries and arrange our working schedules in a flexible way”. The clerking team is said to be “sensitive to members’ needs”. Aspiring barristers should not, however, forget that “this job is not for the faint hearted or the work-shy” and that “there are of course times when litigation tilts the balance more towards work”. 

When it comes to the social side of chambers, one member exclaims: “Where do I start? Our numerous chambers’ charity cycling trips across the UK and France? The holidays I’ve taken abroad with friends from chambers? The weddings and housewarming parties and personal events we’ve attended together? Our chambers book club? Our Friday cocktails at Catalyst on Gray’s Inn Road? The Christmas dance parties?” We hear that there are also a number of upcoming celebrations, including for Estelle Dehon KC taking silk and Sam Fowles’ book launch. The set really lives by the work hard, play hard mantra. For those who are less active socially, there is still “always a colleague to have lunch or coffee with” and a “lively chat on WhatsApp”. One junior does, however, lament that the social side of chambers “is not as good as before Covid”. 

Cornerstone takes its wider commitments seriously with more than half of its members committing an average of 50 hours pro bono each year, possessing an active corporate social responsibility committee, and being a member in the Bar Council’s newly established Sustainability Network.

In terms of the buildings, the traditional Inns of Court building which houses the set backs onto Gray’s Inn Gardens and had a substantial facelift in 2016, meaning it now “boasts a modern, client-facing, air-conditioned conference suite” and so “the building is not only comfortable for members, but inviting to clients”. Apparently, clients visiting the set describe it as “special”. Some juniors are a little less impressed by the building, however, calling it “comforting rather than impressive”. In terms of members’ rooms, a large room is specifically set aside for the newest tenants to share, which one member says “was an important feature of my first years in chambers and a setting where several friendships were cemented”. Technology-wise, “members are well connected to chambers’ IT infrastructure, both in chambers and remotely, and are supported by well-informed and helpful IT staff”, though one junior comments that “there is room for improvement”. Other facilities on offer are hot desking, a well-supplied library, and showers for those members who cycle to work. 

Cornerstone Barristers offers two pupillages each year, with a generous award of £70,000. Training at the set is highly-rated. One junior comments that they “think back often to lessons learned and experiences gained during pupillage”. The learning continues into tenancy, with one member commenting that, whether leading or being led, they “have the opportunity to learn from and with [their] colleagues in Chambers and find the benefits of collaborative working invaluable”. The set facilitates continued training by laying on “a plentiful and varied programme of seminars, webinars and conferences”. 

Pupils at Cornerstone sit with at least three pupil supervisors during the first nine months of pupillage, who “go above and beyond in making sure that you develop with each and every piece of work” and together cover the set’s core practice areas. One pupil reports: “Throughout my pupillage, I have received thoughtful and carefully considered feedback… supervisors are keenly invested in pupils’ development and enthusiastically celebrate pupils’ progress and achievements.” During the first six, pupils can expect to accompany their supervisors, who are “at the peak of their careers”, on trips to Planning Inquiries, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and even the Supreme Court, as well as lower courts and tribunals. In their second six, pupils will be on their feet and representing in court themselves. Decisions as to tenancy are made on the basis of the qualities of individual applicants, as well as whether there is a vacancy for a junior tenant. 

Cornerstone Barristers recruits through the Pupillage Gateway. After application sifting, 20 candidates are invited to a first-round interview, which is general in nature and lasts around 15 minutes. 10 candidates will then be invited to a more extensive second-round interview, which lasts around 30 minutes and typically involves an advocacy exercise and a case analysis exercise. 

Cornerstone Barristers emphasises on its website that it welcomes pupillage applications from everyone and “would particularly encourage candidates to apply from backgrounds that have not traditionally been represented at the Bar”. Indeed, in September 2021, alongside Field Court Chambers, Francis Taylor Building, Kings Chambers, and Landmark Chambers ― all other specialist Planning, Property and Public Law sets ― Cornerstone Barristers launched a mentoring scheme for underrepresented groups at the Bar. The scheme is intended to encourage individuals from groups that are not well represented at the Bar to consider becoming barristers. Cornerstone also recently joined the 10,000 Black Interns programme “in order to play [their] part in making the Bar a profession of equal representation and opportunity”. 

The pupillage experience

Pupillage is well-structured in chambers. I had three supervisors in four-month seats which spanned chambers’ specialist areas of planning and housing. I got to do work relating to lots of interesting cases, often in the context of judicial reviews, statutory appeals or appellate-level cases. Everyone was really friendly and accommodating, and I was struck by the degree to which people were keen to give me their time and wisdom. A normal week involved a substantial piece of written work such as a skeleton, an advice or a summary of facts and grounds, and then a few smaller research tasks or opportunities to shadow barristers to interesting cases, often in the High Court or Court of Appeal.

Cornerstone takes feedback quite seriously and after every piece of work you do for your supervisor, you will get written feedback which you will discuss. The idea is that you know where you stand at all times. The feedback was always constructive and helpful. You do three advocacy exercises throughout the year in planning law, licensing law and housing law respectively. The exercises are not formally assessed and are intended to be a learning exercise.

Throughout pupillage I had the chance to do pieces of written work for members of chambers other than my supervisors, as and when the opportunities arose.

During my second six, I was in court a lot (at least 2-3 times a week). Most of the hearings are relatively straightforward county court matters such as first possession hearings and gas safety injunctions. I had the occasional more unusual cases (sexual entertainment venue licensing sub-committee hearing, anyone?). Mostly, the court work is to build confidence on your feet and to begin to build a junior practice. I still did a lot of work for my supervisors throughout my second six.

We take two pupils every year and in recent years most pupils have been taken on. I know first-hand that there is plenty of work at the junior end!

The transition from pupil to tenant

It is quite daunting to take off the stabilisers and ride into tenancy. In reality, the transition was quite straightforward and members went out of their way to answer my endless questions. People understand that you are new and doing a lot of things for the first time. I felt really encouraged by members and the clerks to try everything and take on different types of challenge. I have been pleasantly surprised by how quickly one can begin to develop close working relationships with clients, and I have always sought feedback from the clerks as to how I might improve from one case to the next. I’ve tried to say yes to pretty much everything, and if ever something has seemed a bit daunting, there’s always been someone willing to talk it through.

What is your practice like now?

I take a very detailed approach to professional development and have a one-year, three-year and five-year plan, which I discuss with the clerks on a regular basis.

My first full year of practice involved a mix of court work (I was involved in a couple of substantial injunction applications which culminated in multi-week trials), advisory work and non-contentious drafting.

I’m now almost 18 months into tenancy, and I have a very busy caseload with a mix of led and unled work. In the past three months, I have been led in the Court of Appeal on two occasions, and in the High Court in an ongoing judicial review matter. I have also been doing a lot of my own advisory and inquiry work in relation to both housing and planning matters.

My working weeks are varied. Some weeks I’ll have a few bits of paperwork and some small hearings (injunction applications, committal hearings etc) or maybe a short trial. Other weeks I’ll be assisting a more senior member of chambers on a more substantial cases by, for example, drafting a skeleton argument or carrying out some research. My practice has taken me all over the country, and it’s worth noting that you can spend a fair bit of time away from home – I’ve probably had around ten weeks where I’ve been staying away from home over the past year.

I try and get involved with the housing and planning team’s marketing activities, either by writing articles or contributing to webinar events. It is a way of building exposure and a good opportunity to work with others in chambers.

I have a reasonable work/life balance. I’m into running and cycling, and I prioritise fitting some exercise in every day. I often do some work on a Sunday evening but that’s a personal choice rather than an obligation, and I find it works for me and means that I can often leave earlier and have proper evenings on weekdays.

What is the culture of chambers?

Chambers is collegiate. At the junior end, we have frequent socials and there are quite a few set-piece chambers events throughout the year. The clerks and staff are great and have solved my issues on countless occasions. People wander into my room all the time and it’s a good opportunity to run a point past them or catch up on their recent war stories. There is always someone around for a coffee or a pint and a chat. Despite some people being about forty years older than me, lots of the senior members are very approachable and I feel I can openly raise any problems I’m having and know it will get sorted. Chambers has modern facilities, with showers, changing rooms and ample storage, which is good for me because I often run or cycle to and from work.

Top tips for those wanting to become a barrister/secure a pupillage at your chambers

My main advice prior to applying for pupillage or doing a mini-pupillage would be to do your research. Most chambers put a lot of material online, and cases are often widely publicised. It’s not that difficult to have a sense of what each place specialises in, and having a good grasp of that goes a long way in showing that you are serious about pursuing a career at the relevant set.

Also, read the criteria against which applications are assessed as published on our website, and make sure your paper application shows how you meet those criteria. Turn up at interview with clear examples of why you would be a great addition to the team. Do your research into what sort of work we do, and what sort of work we don’t do! The website is the place to start, but you will be able to get a sense from the cases that members are involved in.