Francis Burt Chambers offers strong support for new members, and especially those who are new to the Bar and establishing their practice.

The Induction and Training Program has four pillars:

  • Mentoring as part of a pupillage program, for those qualifying for it – click here.
  • Training seminars focussing on practical skills such as legal analysis, grounds of appeal and review and pleadings – often with a judge;
  • the Francis Burt Further Training Program;
  • A “clinic service” by which assistance is provided to members, upon request, with respect to all kinds of issues that arise in the course of their work, including legal analysis, pleadings, advices, issues of law and ethics.

Francis Burt Further Training Program

Chambers is proud to offer the Francis Burt Further Training Program for new and junior members. The Program is aimed at those members who practice in civil litigation (including personal injuries litigation) but other new members are welcome to participate. The aim of the program is to supplement existing training and development programs provided for new members and help to build the professional skills of our members.

It is a requirement that all pupils joining Chambers who practice in civil litigation participate in the program, but it is open to all other new and junior members and such members are encouraged to participate. The Program is designed to be completed within the first 2 years of membership in Chambers.

The Program aims to further improve members’ skills in the areas of legal analysis and its written expression (particularly in written submissions), pleadings, grounds of appeal and review and construction of instruments, statutory and otherwise.

For each of the four subjects, there will be a paper which includes problems which participants are to examine and, in some cases, submit written work on. The papers will be followed by a seminar, at which all participants will be asked to engage in dealing with the topic and any written problems.

The seminars will be conducted in February/March each year and will be presented by silks and, on most occasions, sitting or retired judges.

More information about the Francis Burt Further Training Program is available from the CPD Coordinator

Mentoring and ‘Clinic Service’

In addition to the formal pupillage program offered by Chambers, Chambers has a less formal mentoring program for new members. Under the mentoring program, a new member is assigned a more senior barrister, in close proximity to the new member, who will be available to discuss practice management issues. Please discuss with Bettina Mangan SC whether you wish to take part in the Chambers’ mentoring program.

Mentoring and development is also available through the ‘Clinic Service’, which is offered to all junior members of Chambers by former member and eminent King’s Counsel, Chris Zelestis KC.

Through the Clinic Service, assistance is provided, upon request, to individual members, with respect to all kinds of issues that arise in the course of the work of a barrister, including legal analysis, pleadings, advices, issues of law and ethics. Further information will be provided with respect to the Clinic Service to new members.