King's Bench Walk is traditionally the favoured employment chambers, but since the departure of Patrick Elias QC, who left to become Justice Elias, there has been fierce competition for work. Everybody has their favourite. Some chambers have a reputation for being better value than others. Charge-out rates vary hugely across the board and the bar is more sensitive to the market in this field than in many others. Some chambers can charge more because they have already established a reputation, whereas others still need to attract new clients.
Different chambers charge different rates for different types of clients.
One barrister says he charges trade union clients up to 50 per cent less than employers. Law firms need to be more discerning about which chambers are cost effective if they want to be confident about receiving the service for which they pay. Javaid at DLA says that some solicitors pay too much for too little because they want to maintain harmonious relationships with chambers. Most solicitors stress that at the top end it is the reputation of individual barristers that determines who they use. But Hewland says that chambers need to come up with imaginative ways of getting junior barristers in front of law firms.