Students from Durham visit the open day at One Essex Court, a prestigious legal institution in London.
One Essex Court Open Day Offers Insights into Commercial Barrister Life
On July 9th, 2025, Durham students Jack Ashurst and Min Thant Nyi attended an Open Day at One Essex Court, the Chambers of the year 2025. The day was filled with informative sessions and interactive activities, providing valuable insights into the life of a commercial barrister and the unique pupillage process at One Essex Court.
The day concluded with an interactive session focusing on advocacy, where Min Thant Nyi spoke to Alexander Brown KC about difficulties in breaking into the commercial bar and the differences in applying for a training contract versus a pupillage. The session offered practical advice and insights into the challenges faced by aspiring barristers.
The Rt Honourable Lord Neuberger, former President of the Supreme Court, delivered a key-note address in the mid-afternoon. His speech focused on his career as a property barrister and his transfer from practice to the judiciary. Lord Neuberger discussed two challenges for future barristers; the future of the rule of law and artificial intelligence.
Alyssa Stansbury, Micha Lazarus, and Sabrina Nanchahal delivered a talk on the pupillage process and life as a pupil at One Essex Court. The talk focused on the role of a commercial barrister, life at One Essex Court, and the risks and uncertainties associated with the Bar.
The afternoon included an interactive case study session where attendees discussed a real contempt of court case and its key questions. Attendees were then questioned by barristers on their submissions.
During lunch, attendees had the opportunity to network with current members of the set. Jack Ashurst spoke to William Gelley, a current pupil, about various career paths leading to the Bar, the importance of academics, and necessary soft skills.
The event, which had 27 attendees, took place at Inner Temple. Jack Ashurst and Min Thant Nyi would like to extend their thanks to One Essex Court and Durham Law School for this opportunity.
One Essex Court's unique pupillage process notably includes giving pupils the opportunity to be "on their feet" during the second six months (the "second six") of their pupillage. This means they actively practice advocacy and courtroom work rather than solely shadowing more senior barristers. This hands-on experience strengthens their skills in real casework early in their career development.
In addition, One Essex Court offers a competitive pupillage award of £90,000, reflecting its commercial success and ability to invest in high-caliber pupillage training, which further supports pupils financially during their development year.
In summary, One Essex Court’s pupillage gives early and substantial courtroom experience combined with strong financial support, benefiting pupils by accelerating their advocacy skills and career readiness in a competitive market. The Open Day offered a unique opportunity for aspiring barristers to gain insights into the life of a commercial barrister and the unique pupillage process at One Essex Court. The day concluded with a group discussion with Alexander Brown KC and Daniel Hubbard, providing insights into how a barrister can find strong arguments or rebuttals from seemingly minor details within the facts.
During the Open Day, Jack Ashurst and Min Thant Nyi learned about the education-and-self-development opportunities offered by One Essex Court, such as the hands-on courtroom experience during the second six months of the pupillage and the competitive pupillage award. The day also provided insights into the career paths leading to the Bar and the importance of academics and soft skills for aspiring barristers. Additionally, Alexander Brown KC offered practical advice on how to overcome difficulties in breaking into the commercial bar and navigate the differences between applying for a training contract versus a pupillage.
