Barrister (Level 1)

The Role

Following growth in the wider business, Express Chambers is looking to recruit a qualified barrister or solicitor-advocate in the very early stages of their career (i.e. up to 2 years of post-qualification experience).   The role is primarily that of a typical civil barrister in that your practice will involve being instructed to undertake advocacy and written work in a vast range of civil litigation.  The core practice areas are personal injury, clinical negligence, and costs, but we are also instructed in other areas such as civil liberties, housing disrepair, and consumer claims litigation.

The successful candidate will be clerked by our experienced clerking team.  Significant efforts are made, usually successfully, to restrict the workload to that which can be completed within core working hours (i.e. time for preparation will be factored in).  Whilst nationwide travel is required, this will be limited to ensure a healthy balance with home/office working.  Your reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be borne by the business, as will the cost of renewing your practising certificate.  You will not require your own separate professional indemnity insurance.

You will be supported by Chambers in every sense. We are a friendly team, always willing to discuss issues and ideas. You will be mentored by an experienced barrister.  Significant training material and legal resources are available, and you will be provided with a laptop and tablet for your sole use.  Mandatory policies are in place to ensure that instructions and papers are received in a timely and organised fashion.

We would like to bring on board a candidate who is looking to add value to the wider business whilst also progressing their own practice.  There is a recognised career pathway and the wider business is ready to instruct you on increasingly complex and higher value cases as your career progresses.  We are keen to meet with candidates who are open to new challenges, and who are interested in developing their skills such that they can work towards the long-term goal of becoming a pupil supervisor.

We will consider candidates based anywhere in England and Wales. 

Express Chambers has a clear and achievable growth strategy; it is an exciting time to join us and assist with its implementation.

Responsibilities

• Court advocacy.

• Attendance at conferences, settling papers.

• To keep up to date with procedural changes, case law, and developments in legislation.

• To assist with the training and mentoring of less experienced advocates.

• Provide a high-quality service.

Person Specification

Essential

• Current practising certificate.

• Higher Rights of Audience (if applicable).

• Exceptional attention to detail.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

• The ability to work both independently as well as part of a team.

• Resilience

Desirable

• Experience of personal injury litigation

• Working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules

• Good level of IT literacy.

Salary & Hours

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience (in the region of £60,000 to £70,000)

• Flexible working hours

Closing date: 30th April 2026