New pupils join Exchange Chambers

March 17, 2021

Exchange Chambers has welcomed its latest new pupils in Leeds and Liverpool.

Emily Hassell has started her crime pupillage in Leeds under the supervision of Stephen Grattage, while Caitlin Edwards has commenced her common law pupillage in Liverpool under the supervision of Chris Allen.

Exchange Chambers has been widely praised for its approach to pupillage, with Legal Cheek’s Junior Barrister Survey saying “Northern superset Exchange Chambers offers one of the most civilised introductions to the Bar around.  Rookie barristers get variety, their own caseload (rather than just little pieces of huge cases that some London sets give to their young) and a standard of living that those in the capital can only dream of in their early years.”

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the Set last year confirmed its commitment to offering six pupillages every year, covering crime, commercial and common law – one of the largest annual intakes of pupils by a barristers’ Chambers.

During lockdown, Exchange Chambers has also hosted a range of virtual mini-pupillage forums attended by aspiring barristers, including an exclusive event for Black, Asian and ethnically diverse applicants.

The feedback to all events has been extremely positive with Exchange Chambers hailed as a “standout set for pupillage as well as practice”. Participants praised “the diverse nature of Exchange” adding that “this is no ordinary set in any sense of the word; in part demonstrated by their tangible commitment to diversity at the Bar”.