Please note that we are not accepting applications for Probationary Tenancy at this time.
About Probationary Tenancy
We seek individuals who:
- have completed pupillage elsewhere (usually within the last 12 months);
- have experience of practising in the criminal courts; and
- are able to demonstrate a real talent for advocacy, a commitment to our practice areas, and the determination and potential to excel at the Bar.
Red Lion Chambers is a busy set with its most junior members practising predominantly in the criminal courts, acting for both prosecution and defence. Tenants also work in related areas such as Fraud & Business Crime, Regulatory & Professional Discipline, Health & Safety, Environment, International Criminal Law and Inquests & Inquiries.
As a result we’re able to offer successful probationary tenants the opportunity to diversify into allied areas of work in the future, should they wish.
Probationary tenants can expect:
- A probationary tenancy of six months’ duration, at the conclusion of which they may apply for tenancy
- An allocated supervisor, to assist with ongoing training, development, and wellbeing
- Opportunities to develop their drafting and legal research skills by doing work for other members of Chambers, building support for their tenancy application and ensuring that they are able to meet and work with a cross-section of Chambers’ members
- The opportunity to participate in Chambers’ in-house advocacy programme with our 18-month pupils/probationary tenants
- To be in the Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court most days
- To join Chambers’ ‘Saturday Court Rota’ alongside pupils, any other probationary tenants, and our most junior tenants.
Probationary tenants at Red Lion Chambers are not required to pay rent or clerks commission on any earnings.
We pride ourselves on being a friendly, approachable set, and there will be regular opportunities to meet and mingle with members at all levels, including in an informal context. There are regular events in Chambers, including talks and social networking events organised by our juniors, lectures and CPD sessions, monitoring groups that meet to discuss developments in a variety of areas of law and IT, dinners and celebrations.
We provide excellent support, training and development to our pupils and probationary tenants, with a view to recruiting those who meet our standards of excellence.
Applications for Probationary Tenancies
Please note that we are not accepting applications for Probationary Tenancy at this time.
Applicants are asked to email the following to probationarytenancy@18rlc.co.uk:
- A covering letter explaining why the applicant is seeking a probationary tenancy at Red Lion Chambers and how they meet the above criteria, including experience relevant to and understanding of the work of a probationary tenant
- A CV
- A diary extract covering the last 6 months of practice.
- Applicants may submit references in support of their application. You can assume that we will contact any members of Red Lion Chambers mentioned in any part of your application, and will ask them to keep your application confidential.
Applicants will wish to note that Red Lion Chambers operates from two locations – London and Chelmsford. Although there is a crossover in work in any event, applicants are encouraged to indicate in their written applications if they have a preference for being based in London or at our Chelmsford Annexe, or if they do not have a preference.
All applications for tenancies are treated in confidence. As the application progresses, you may be asked to provide further information.
We ask all applicants to complete our Diversity Monitoring Form. This information is collected solely for the purpose of enabling us to monitor equality, diversity and inclusion. It will remain confidential and will be destroyed after all applications have been processed. You are not obliged to complete all or any part of the Form. Any queries relating to your diversity data can be directed to the Diversity Data Officer at diversitydata@18rlc.co.uk.
In the event of being forced to choose between two candidates of equal excellence and ability, we will select the candidate who has had a less advantaged path to the Bar on the basis that they have displayed the greater achievement.
