The market for legal services, including advocacy, is a developed and competitive one. With the imminent and wide-ranging changes under the Clementi reforms, it is also one which faces great upheaval. As always in such times of change, lawyers are trying to position themselves to both maximise their current business and be best placed to take advantage of future opportunities.
There has been much talk of the reforms heralding large numbers of barristers going to work as in-house advocates for solicitors’ firms. There have been various high-profile appointments. What has been less commented on is the flow of talent the other way from solicitors’ firms into chambers. At 13 Old Square, Chris Jarman is a former partner at Payne Hicks Beach, while many other chambers could boast similar examples and other solicitors are in the process of making the move.
