Commercial law chambers bands

Is it possible to work your way up the bands?
For example could you start off on a band 5 chambers and eventually progress to a band 1 chambers.

It doesn't work in the way you might be thinking, where you go from Band 5 to Band 4 to Band 3 etc. The 'Bands' you're talking about are just directory rankings anyway. In reality it's not as simple as saying that progressing one band higher will mean better work and a better career. You're self employed. Every barrister has a separate practice, will do different work and bill different amounts. A higher band set might not be as strong in the particular specialism you have, and there are many other variables such as clerking which may affect your work, or work life balance, and may cause you to decide to stick where you are. Decisions to move sets are complex and not as simple as moving up the bands. But al of that said, moving to a 'better' set to further your career, or to move to a set that you're better suited to, is absolutely possible and pretty common. Plenty of barristers do it.

Reply 2

Butterflywings24

OP

11

Original post by Crazy Jamie

It doesn't work in the way you might be thinking, where you go from Band 5 to Band 4 to Band 3 etc. The 'Bands' you're talking about are just directory rankings anyway. In reality it's not as simple as saying that progressing one band higher will mean better work and a better career. You're self employed. Every barrister has a separate practice, will do different work and bill different amounts. A higher band set might not be as strong in the particular specialism you have, and there are many other variables such as clerking which may affect your work, or work life balance, and may cause you to decide to stick where you are. Decisions to move sets are complex and not as simple as moving up the bands. But al of that said, moving to a 'better' set to further your career, or to move to a set that you're better suited to, is absolutely possible and pretty common. Plenty of barristers do it.

wow interesting! I didn’t think of it like that before. I just would think that being in band 1 was like the end all be all. But what if you are in a lower band but it’s appropriate for your specialism doesn’t that mean you earn less or get less better work?
similarly, can you charge the amounts that is charged from a band 1 practice.

Original post by Butterflywings24

wow interesting! I didn’t think of it like that before. I just would think that being in band 1 was like the end all be all. But what if you are in a lower band but it’s appropriate for your specialism doesn’t that mean you earn less or get less better work?
similarly, can you charge the amounts that is charged from a band 1 practice.

Broadly, yes, if you are in a lower band set in a particular specialism that you practise in, you probably have access to less quality work and earn less than someone at your level of call doing the same work in a higher band set. But not necessarily. There are a lot variables as to which set is right for you and whether or not a move would amount to career progression, as I've said. And again, the amounts you charge won't necessarily be higher all the time, or at all. It depends not just on your relevant hourly rate (which can change depending on the nature of the work or your client), but whether your fee is billed hourly or fixed.

Reply 4

Butterflywings24

OP

11

Original post by Crazy Jamie

Broadly, yes, if you are in a lower band set in a particular specialism that you practise in, you probably have access to less quality work and earn less than someone at your level of call doing the same work in a higher band set. But not necessarily. There are a lot variables as to which set is right for you and whether or not a move would amount to career progression, as I've said. And again, the amounts you charge won't necessarily be higher all the time, or at all. It depends not just on your relevant hourly rate (which can change depending on the nature of the work or your client), but whether your fee is billed hourly or fixed.

I think i need to be in a set that provides good quality work but is not so overwhelming that it is intimidating. i know that grades wise and also as i did not go to oxbridge. Russell group yes, but not oxbridge that i probably wont end up in band 1. but i'm not sure if i would necessarily even be happy there are some sets arent very ethnically diverse which is important to me. perhaps i'll get more of a feel for it when i do more commercial minis.

Have you heard of the likes of Lord Pannick?, how does someone like this get to this level of 'prestige'. Is it just through doing numerous cases?

Lastly, completely unrelated but i am taking the criminal litigation mcq exam on monday. do you have any tips for passing?

Original post by Butterflywings24

Have you heard of the likes of Lord Pannick?, how does someone like this get to this level of 'prestige'. Is it just through doing numerous cases?

Lastly, completely unrelated but i am taking the criminal litigation mcq exam on monday. do you have any tips for passing?

I expect every barrister knows who Lord Pannick is. He is probably the best known barrister in the entire country, and quite possible the best advocate of his generation. Aiming for a Band 1 commercial set is one thing, but aiming to be Lord Pannick is quite something else. You get to his level of prestige by not only being technically exceptional, but having everything else fall your way in terms of opportunity, good support, clerking etc. Being frank, it likely also required a degree of sacrifice in other aspects of his life, but I don't know him so can't know that for certain.
I don't have any tips for criminal litigation I'm afraid. It's a long time since I took that exam.

Reply 6

Stiffy Byng

19

Lord Pannick KC was my first pupil master. He has a highly organised brain, he works four times as fast as most people, he has enormous self confidence, he is an effective self-publicist, and he has few distractions. He has been a Fellow of All Souls since the late 1970s, and has maintained a profile as a columnist since the beginning of his legal career. He is very focused on his family, but does not engage in the lifestyle choices that other very successful lawyers pursue (skiing, golf, flying, opera, classic cars, collecting wine, and so on). For my money, Dinah Rose KC is the best advocate currently in practice, but there are many others at the top level.

Original post by Stiffy Byng

For my money, Dinah Rose KC is the best advocate currently in practice, but there are many others at the top level.

Big fan of hers as well. Most established barristers will know of very high profile advocates in their own areas of practice who can be said to just be on that other level. There are quite a few in Employment Law certainly.

Commercial law chambers bands

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