One of the features of this chambers which appealed to me was just how eclectic were the backgrounds of the tenants, many with previous successful careers, and a substantial number with degrees in disciplines other than law. Although all pupillages are for 12 months, if it were thought that you have no realistic prospect of tenancy after six months you would be told discreetly. It would then be up to you to decide whether to stay on for the second six months or go elsewhere. This is a deliberate policy to ensure that as many people in chambers as possible get to see their work before the tenancy decision. Successful candidates can expect some of their own work in their last few months of pupillage.
Chambers runs advocacy training evenings to mitigate the loss of opportunity to practise in court.
In the latter stage of pupillage, these also operate as yet another form of assessment relevant to the tenancy decision. The tenancy decision is made around July, which now feels distinctly near at hand. There is no question that 2 Hare Court is a quietly confident chambers, and considers itself likely to continue to grow successfully. Chambers does not have a quota each year for tenants and stresses that it takes on new tenants according to ability not arithmetic. Some fellow pupils from Bar School, perhaps more canny than me, indicated that they chose their chambers with an eye to how likely they would be to get tenancy.