We’re pleased to bring you the fourth edition of GRL Legal’s #ChambersInsider. Another legal term begins and, once again, the Bar moves at pace. What stands out today is a quiet but powerful shift across Chambers: a move from reactive management to deliberate, structured planning.
Chambers are thinking more commercially, acting sooner, and taking greater care when it comes to talent, structure, wellbeing and long-term competitiveness. It feels mature, measured and necessary. For a profession built on resilience and rigour, it is encouraging to see strategy now working hand-in-hand with heritage.
In this month’s #ChambersInsider:
- GRL’s Market Insights: Consultancy becomes business-critical, Chambers broaden their horizons, Attraction and retention of the best staff, The Importance of Wellbeing, and Benefits are still a hot topic
- #OfftheRecord: with Sam Carter – Chief Executive & Director of Clerking at 33 Chancery Lane – insights on building a Chambers and overseas markets
- Inside the Bar: Digital etiquette reminder, Has LinkedIn gone too far? November legal calendar, and Pro Bono initiatives in the spotlight
- #GRLrecruits: Recent appointments and current opportunities across leading Sets
GRL’s Market Insights
Consultancy is More Important Than Ever
Demand for strategic consultancy has never been higher. Increasingly, our clients are seeking objective guidance on everything from senior leadership structures to remuneration frameworks, role definitions, succession planning, workflow design and wider organisational health.
There is a growing recognition that internal experience, while invaluable, benefits from an external perspective. The profession is evolving – technology expectations, hybrid working, member support structures and business planning all look different today than they did five years ago. Chambers want to sense-check their assumptions, benchmark their approach and ensure they are keeping pace, not catching up.
We’ve always believed that the strongest Chambers combine tradition with objectivity and a willingness to adapt. The best Sets are now doing exactly that.
We offer bespoke consultancy services, find out more here: https://grllegal.com/consultancy/
Chambers Are Diversifying
Another clear theme this year is diversification. Chambers are sensibly widening their horizons – whether breaking into emerging practice areas, strengthening international workstreams or developing more collaborative client support models.
This isn’t reinvention; it’s evolution. Modern clients face increasingly complex, cross-disciplinary challenges, and Chambers are positioning themselves accordingly. Sports and media matters, regulatory and tech-driven disputes, crypto advice and litigation, ESG and environmental mandates – these are no longer niche sidelines, but are becoming core practice areas.
The Sets that are embracing these emerging markets and thinking beyond traditional boundaries – while remaining firmly rooted in excellence – are being recognised as thought leaders and are set to thrive in the decade ahead.
The Drive to Attract and Retain the Best Staff
Attracting and retaining the best staff has become one of the most defining concerns in Chambers management. Turnover of staff is costly – not only financially, but in operational strain, cultural disruption and lost momentum. Chambers are responding sensibly by seeking advice on benchmarking at the Bar and the wider professional services market. Candidates tell us that benefits are a priority when seeking a new role. If employees feel valued, supported, and the benefits are competitive, they will be less likely to look elsewhere.
We are seeing clearer development pathways (for example, business management courses are offered at all levels), more active conversations around future career steps, and greater attention to fair reward. Salary benchmarking is no longer a periodic exercise; it is becoming routine and data-led. It’s one of our largest growth areas. Chambers appreciates that strong people have options, and the most successful Sets are working to ensure those options remain internal.
This is not a market driven by panic, but by foresight and strategic planning. Chambers want to protect capability and continuity. They are investing in stability rather than reacting to loss – and that shift in mindset is significant.
Wellbeing is Moving from Concept to Culture
Wellbeing has shifted from empty words to lived practice. Not in a performative sense, but through sensible operational design: reasonable workload planning, healthier communication norms, and clearer expectations around availability and support.
Chambers now understands burnout risks and are more open to discussing and implementing work-life balance. More frequently, Chambers do not expect people to simply “push through.” There is greater acceptance that a Chambers cannot retain talent if it exhausts it. Resilience still matters, as it always has, but it is now paired with realistic leadership. That is progress – practical, overdue, and grounded in long-term thinking.
Benefits are still on the radar
We are finding that financial and non-financial benefits are key. This hasn’t gone away since our first newsletter. Still really prevalent. From a candidate perspective, a set that offers a robust benefits package that exceeds the minimum requirements will always be a bigger draw than one that doesn’t. Indeed, those Chambers who continue to offer the bare minimum (there are many examples) will be considered less favourable than other opportunities available or even dismissed by some candidates who report that they don’t feel the lack of consideration here isn’t sending the right signal.
We must be alert to the significant opportunities presented outside of the bar (legal and professional services consultancies, law firms, overseas opportunities, etc.), where very generous benefits are offered as standard to all employees.
We frequently offer advice and guidance to our clients on this important topic, and it’s good to see that most sets consider this relevant to their success.
#OfftheRecord
We’re excited to continue our interview series, where we sit down with the people shaping the future of Chambers. In our latest instalment, we speak with Sam Carter, Chief Executive & Director of Clerking at 33 Chancery Lane, who reflects on a transformative first 15 months at the set.
Sam shares candid insights on:
- Steering rapid strategic growth – strengthening civil capability, refining systems, and positioning the set for long-term expansion
- Building a credible, sustained international presence, particularly in Dubai and the wider Middle East
- Balancing recruitment, internal operations, and practice development against increasingly sophisticated client expectations
- How structure, data, and emerging technologies – including AI – are reshaping the modern clerks’ room and influencing market competitiveness
Read Nick’s full #OfftheRecord interview with Sam here.
Inside the Bar
Teams & Zoom Etiquette
The horror stories continue… the number of stories we have heard from clients and candidates sharing their experiences of nightmare Zoom calls continues. Hybrid working is now part of professional life, but standards remain unchanged.
A remote meeting should reflect the same professionalism as a room at Chambers: clear background, correct display name, appropriate attire and a distraction-free environment. These may sound simple, but small details continue to make a strong impression. Since these types of meetings are often your only time to connect with the person, first impressions matter.
Has LinkedIn Gone Too Far?
LinkedIn remains the leading professional forum – yet, increasingly, it risks blurring into the realms of performance and personal broadcast. While authenticity matters, discretion still has value in a profession that prizes judgement. Before posting, many are sensibly asking: Would I want my Head of Chambers, my client or my future employer reading this? It’s not old-fashioned to take that view – it’s prudent.
November Legal Calendar
November has already been a mammoth month – where any thought of calm before the storm of December has been replaced by a full-on programme for the Bar – we pick up on some of those events that have taken place and look at those still to come – hat off to anyone who will be able to claim a ‘clean sweep’!
A standout date this term is the IBC Conference on Saturday 22 November at The Corinthia, where the focus on AI – and the human judgment that must sit alongside it – promises to be both timely and substantive. We are proud once again to support the event as Silver Sponsors. We’re looking forward to another great conference.
A cornerstone of the UK’s legal calendar, the British Legal Awards return on 26 November for their 16th year. Widely regarded as the benchmark for excellence across the profession, the awards once again feature many of our clients among the shortlisted firms and individuals – a testament to their consistent performance and reputation.
Pro Bono Week took place from 3rd to 7th November and remains an important moment to recognise the depth of service provided across the Bar to those who would otherwise struggle to access justice. Many Chambers continue to commit significant time and expertise in this space – often quietly, without fanfare. Here are some examples of outstanding initiatives taking place across the profession.
Cloisters took an active role in UK Pro Bono Week 2025, highlighting the impact of their work across the Bar. Imogen Brown’s successful pro bono support in a challenging employment case was showcased on social media, and Charlotte Tosti was recognised by Advocate as a “Pupil Pledge” completer. The theme, Pro Bono in Action, underscored the real difference their barristers continue to make.
Harcourt played a prominent part in Pro Bono Week 2025, with several members named on the Pro Bono Recognition List. The set supported events and clinics alongside Coram Chambers and the Dad’s House Family Law Clinic, focusing on domestic abuse and helping parents navigate the family courts. Jonathan Sampson KC also spoke at a Middle Temple panel on domestic abuse in family and children law. Advocate later featured Harcourt in a case study showcasing how their pro bono efforts helped a father regain contact with his child.
Several members of Coram Chambers have been recognised on the Pro Bono Recognition List 2025 for contributing over 25 hours of voluntary legal support in the past year. This year’s honourees include John Paul Cregan, Sophie Hill, Dr Bianca Jackson, Sophie Kay, Lucy Taylor and Alice Thornton. Coram continues to play an active role in pro bono work, particularly through its ongoing collaboration with Dad’s House, providing vital support to individuals navigating complex family issues. Their inclusion on the list highlights both the set’s commitment to access to justice and the tangible impact of their efforts across the community.
#GRLrecruits: Current Opportunities
Your next career move could be just a click away. Here are our hand-picked positions with Leading Barristers’ Chambers:
- Practice Director – Criminal Chambers
- Practice Manager (Family Team) – Multi-Disciplinary Chambers
- Billing & Fees Clerk – Civil Chambers
- Marketing Assistant – Criminal / Fraud Set
- Junior Clerk – Multi-Disciplinary Chambers
We have seen an increase in part-time and fixed-term roles, which is nicely matched with requests from those seeking flexibility in their next role.
- Junior Clerk (6 months) – Civil Set
- Front of House (2 days per week) – Commercial/Chancery Chambers
- Chambers Administrator (part-time) – Criminal / Regulatory Set
- Fees Clerk (hybrid, full-time 3 days working from home) – Public Law Set
We’re proud to have recently completed several significant placements across the legal sector. Our recent successful processes include:
- Chief Executive Officer – Leading Chambers in Bristol
- Practice Director – Leading London-based Chambers
- Director of Clerking – Crime, Fraud and Professional Discipline
- Marketing & Business Development Manager (Leeds/Newcastle) – Criminal/Regulatory Set
Recent Articles
Missed our latest insights? Catch up on our latest thought pieces and industry analyses.
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- Silver Sponsors at the Prestigious IBC Conference 2025
- Flexible Chambers: Leading the Way in Talent Acquisition
Subscribe to our #ChambersInsider newsletter for insider tips on Chambers careers, expert advice on attracting and retaining top talent, recruitment insights for those exploring opportunities outside Chambers, breaking industry news, and exciting collaborations with familiar faces from across the Bar. We promise to keep it relevant, practical and jargon-free.
If you’re looking to hire for your team, seeking a new position yourself or would be interested in business consultancy services, please reach out to one of our team.
Nick Rees, Paul Reece, Matt Curness
Connect with us: GRL Legal | www.grllegal.com
