Hello and welcome to our first edition of GRL Legal’s #ChambersInsider. As specialist recruiters for the Bar, we’re launching this monthly newsletter to share practical insights about the ever-changing world of Chambers, recruitment and operations.
Our team brings a unique perspective, having held senior leadership positions within Chambers before moving into recruitment consultancy well over a decade ago. This blend of operational experience and recruitment expertise allows us to understand the nuances and challenges of Chambers life from both sides of the fence. After years of working closely with Chambers across the UK, we’ve gathered some interesting perspectives we know you’ll find valuable.
In this month’s #ChambersInsider:
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GRL Market Insights: The rise of regional Chambers, revenue management focus, salary transparency, the interview evolution, and exclusive partnerships
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Inside the Bar: Leadership appointments, AI innovations, and pro bono recognition
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#OfftheRecord: RAF officer to award-winning CEO – Rob Wagg shares his story
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#GRLrecruits: Recent placements and exciting opportunities with leading Chambers
GRL Insights
Regional Chambers: Closing the Gap
Gone are the days when the London Bar commanded all the attention. We’re witnessing a significant surge in regional Chambers up their game and asserting themselves on the national stage. The gap that once existed between London and regional Chambers has narrowed considerably, with Sets in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Bristol ramping up their services, recruiting exceptional Clerks and bringing in experienced Chief Executives with strategic vision.
What’s particularly encouraging is the ambition we’re seeing. These Chambers are experiencing remarkable growth, securing complex, high-value cases in their own right, and expanding their reach well beyond their traditional geographic boundaries. The North, in particular, has established itself as a powerhouse in the legal landscape.
Recently, we’ve enjoyed an influx of projects working with regional Chambers who are spotting opportunities and looking to formalise their standing. These sets aren’t just content with local work -they’re actively competing for high-profile cases and strategically positioning themselves to attract work from across the country. Our recent collaborations with Chambers in Bristol, Birmingham, and Leeds highlight this trend, with each set taking proactive steps to enhance their market position.
Read more here – ‘Leeds: The Beating Heart of the Northern Legal Hub”.
Revenue Management: A Growing Focus
Another significant trend we’re observing is the Bar’s increasingly serious approach to revenue management. There’s been a substantial increase in recruitment for fees-focused roles across chambers of all sizes. Sets are recognising the need for specialised expertise in maximising revenue streams, with many creating new positions dedicated to financial management and business development.
This strategic shift reflects the evolving business maturity of the Bar, with Chambers increasingly operating with the financial sophistication of commercial enterprises while maintaining their traditional values and expertise.
Salary Transparency: A Competitive Advantage
We’ve noticed an interesting trend: Chambers that are upfront about salaries are consistently winning the race for talent. Yes, we know it’s contentious. We’ve heard all the arguments against advertising salaries – “it’ll drive up costs,” “we prefer to be flexible,” “it’s not the done thing,” “we don’t want our internal staff knowing what we’re paying.” But here’s the reality: candidates are increasingly refusing to engage with positions that don’t disclose salary ranges.
A short while ago, we engaged with an outstanding candidate who had previously withdrawn from Senior Position in a top Commercial Set purely because they wouldn’t discuss compensation until the offer stage. The candidate’s view: “if they’re not transparent about something this basic, what else aren’t they being straight about?” GRL negates this at all costs. Our approach is to give the candidates the salary banding for each role and then ask them where they sit, remaining transparent throughout the whole process. There isn’t a one size fits all. We offer guidance to candidates about their unique value, when required.
The Interview Evolution
Here’s a tough truth: the days of putting candidates through the wringer with aggressive questioning are over. We’ve spoken with too many strong candidates who have walked away from opportunities because they felt the interview process was unnecessarily confrontational. Interview panels need to be aware that candidates often have multiple opportunities at one time. Candidates will simply withdraw their interest to wait for an more compatible cultural fit. Yes, rigorous assessment is important, but there’s a difference between thorough and hostile.
Look at how Chambers treat pupils during recruitment – they showcase their best features, highlight development opportunities, ethos and personality of the business, and really sell themselves. Why should it be any different for employees?
What’s Working Now
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Remote working isn’t just a Covid hangover, its absence is often a deal-breaker for many top candidates. 360-degree benefits include:For employers: significantly reduced sick days, increased productivity, wellbeing and staff happiness, visible progressive attitudeFor individuals: travel cost and time, wellbeing, less wasted holiday, job satisfaction, trusted relationships
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Sets offering clear career progression paths are seeing significantly better attraction and retention rates
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Intangible benefits such as, birthday holiday days, flexible working and, CSR days, enhanced paternity leave pay showcase a caring attitude for their team
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Regular staff feedback (and development) sessions are becoming as important as formal reviews
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Investment in modern practice management systems is paying dividends in staff satisfaction
The Power of Exclusive Partnerships
Exclusive partnerships between Chambers and recruiters deliver superior results for everyone involved. When a recruitment firm works exclusively with a set, they can invest proper time in understanding the Chambers’ culture, values, and what makes them unique. This deeper relationship leads to better outcomes: faster placements, higher-quality candidate matches, and long-term hires that genuinely fit the environment.
The benefits for Chambers are clear: significantly reduced time-to-fill, higher candidate engagement rates, deeper understanding of requirements, and a more streamlined recruitment process. When candidates see a role is being handled exclusively, they often perceive it as more serious and prestigious – increasing application rates from high-calibre professionals.
Exclusivity creates a true partnership where the recruiter becomes an extension of the Chambers’ team, understanding not just the stated requirements but the unstated cultural nuances that make for successful placements. At GRL, this exclusive approach is a cornerstone of our success, allowing us to deliver consistently superior results that keep our clients coming back time and again.
Inside the Bar
LinkedIn Life: The Dark Side of Legal Social Media
New research reveals a concerning trend, with two-thirds of legal professionals reporting harassment on LinkedIn and 44% facing unwanted advances. The impact is clear – many are now thinking twice before making new connections, prompting for stronger safeguarding policies.
Former Clifford Chance Lawyer Secures £1.3m for AI Paralegal Start-up
WilsonAI, founded by former Clifford Chance associate Gus Neate, has secured £1.3m in funding to develop an AI paralegal system. Launched in August 2024, the technology aims to automate repetitive legal tasks, allowing lawyers to focus on strategic work. Neate commented: “In-house legal teams face increasing pressure to do more with less. Our AI augments teams by handling routine work.” This comes as nearly half of lawyers reportedly believe their firms are too slow in adopting AI technologies. (add hyperlink & link to business)
WhatsApp messages constitute a contract, judge rules
Deputy High Court Judge Roger ter Haar KC has ruled that WhatsApp exchanges can form binding contracts. In a dispute between Jaevee Homes and contractor Steve Fincham, the judge determined their casual messages created a legal agreement despite Jaevee’s claims that only formal documents count. The Technology and Construction Court’s decision reinforces that contractual validity depends on content rather than format—significantly impacting how digital communications are viewed legally.
UAE turns to AI to draft the laws of the future
The UAE is revolutionising governance by implementing AI in lawmaking through its Regulatory Intelligence Office. Announced by Sheikh Mohammed (Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai), this system will draft legislation and revise existing laws based on real-world outcomes, cutting processing times by 70%. The initiative aims to create accessible, multilingual regulations for the emirate’s diverse population. Legal expert Hesham Elrafei calls this “a fundamental shift” from traditional approaches, prioritising efficient problem-solving over lengthy political deliberation. Check it out here.
Just Launched: #OffTheRecord
Pulling back the curtain on Chambers life through the eyes of those who know it best.
We’re excited to launch our new interview series where we’ll be sitting down with the people who make Chambers tick. We have kicked off the series with an exclusive interview with Rob Wagg, Chief Executive of New Park Court Chambers. From RAF officer to award-winning Chambers leadership, Rob shares candid insights on:
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His journey from military service to chambers management
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Leading New Park Court to ‘Chambers of the Year 2024’
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Pioneering initiatives in sustainability and pupillage preparation
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The future of Chambers leadership
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Balancing tradition with innovation
Check out Nick’s candid conversation with Rob in our #OfftheRecord interview here.
Want to share your Chambers story? Whether it’s about operational transformation, overcoming hurdles, or pioneering new approaches, we want to hear from you. Connect with us to be featured in #OffTheRecord.
#GRLrecruits: Current Opportunities
Your next career move could be just a click away. Here are our hand-picked positions with Leading Barristers’ Chambers:
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Director of Practice and Business Development – Drystone Chambers (London)
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Marketing and Business Development Manager (Leeds/Newcastle)
We’re proud to have recently completed several significant placements across the legal sector. Our recent successful processes include:
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Chief Operating Officer – Common Law Chambers (their first-ever COO)
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Director of Client Services – Bar Council
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Director of Clerking – Multi-Disciplinary Chambers
Recent Articles
Missed our latest insights? Catch up on our latest thought pieces and industry analyses.
Here’s the link to all our recent articles – https://grllegal.com/insights-events/
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
