On Wednesday 9th July, two Durham students, Jack Ashurst and Min Thant Nyi, were given the opportunity to attend an Open Day hosted by One Essex Court, a leading set of commercial chambers and The Lawyer’s winner of Chambers of the year 2025 award. There were twenty-seven attendees in total, and the event took place in Inner Temple.
The day began with an introductory talk delivered by Alexander Brown KC, Daniel Hubbard and Jade Fowler. The talk focused on key questions which are commonly asked including the role of a commercial barrister, life at One Essex Court and the risks and uncertainty associated with the Bar. The panel gave practical advice to consider during a career as a barrister and gave insight into the specific strategies they use to achieve excellence.
Next, the focus shifted to the pupillage process and life as a pupil. This talk was delivered by Alyssa Stansbury, who serves on the pupillage committee, Micha Lazarus, a current pupil, and Sabrina Nanchahal. The panel gave insights into the unique pupillage at One Essex Court which gives pupils the opportunity to be on their feet for the second six. To strengthen one’s CV, the panel recommended pursuing excellence in any area and demonstrating why this can be advantageous for a career at the bar.
Over lunch, attendees were given the opportunity to network with current members of the set while enjoying delicious food at the Inner Temple Hall. Jack Ashurst spoke to William Gelley, a current pupil. They discussed the variety of career paths which lead individuals to the Bar, the importance of academics and the necessary soft skills to succeed at the Bar. Min Thant Nyi spoke to Alexander Brown KC, gaining insights into difficulties one may experience when trying to break into the commercial bar and the differences in applying for a training contract as compared to a pupillage.
The afternoon began with an interactive case study session. In this session, attendees were given a summary of facts to a real contempt of court case and asked to discuss answers to key questions based on this summary. This event culminated in a group discussion with Alexander Brown KC and Daniel Hubbard, and it was particularly informative to see how a barrister can find strong arguments or rebuttals to the opposition from seemingly minor details within the facts.
In the mid-afternoon, the Rt Honourable Lord Neuberger, former President of the Supreme Court, delivered a key-note address. In this wide-ranging speech, Lord Neuberger focused on his career as a property barrister and his transfer from practise to the judiciary. The speech was particularly insightful when Lord Neuberger highlighted the many challenges he faced in his time as a barrister and judge, focusing on the need for perseverance in one’s journey at the Bar. His lordship concluded by discussing two challenges for future barristers; the future of the rule of law and artificial intelligence.
The day concluded with another interactive session focusing on advocacy. Attendees were given a case summary with a brief overview of the relevant law relating to contractual interpretation and misrepresentation and asked to make short submissions based upon it. Attendees were then questioned by barristers on their submissions.
Jack Ashurst and Min Thant Nyi would like to extend their thanks to One Essex Court and Durham Law School for this opportunity and to all those involved with the event on the day from both Inner Temple and One Essex Court. It was an insightful experience that clarified many of the questions they had about the commercial Bar and allowed them to gain an understanding of the culture at One Essex Court.
More about One Essex Court here
More about Durham Law School here