Hammonds set to be first firm offering pupillages

TRAINING: In-house prospects for future barristers

Hammonds Suddards Edge's advocacy department has taken a major step towards becoming an in-house chambers by becoming the first law firm to offer barristers training.

The national firm has approval for full 12-month pupillages through itsin-house advocacy unit, Hammonds @dvocacy.

There will be a good chance of a job offer to become an employed barrister at the end.

'We take the view that both professions have qualities to bring to the legal process,' said Patrick Walker, Hammonds' director of advocacy.

Hammonds has also hired Eversheds partner and Californian-qualified attorney Penny Belcher as assistant advocacy director in Leeds.

Her recruitment will allow Mr Walker and partner Simon Miller to expand the firm's advocacy capability from Leeds to Manchester, Birmingham and London from next month.

Mark Humphries, chairman of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates and a Linklaters partner, said: 'It's not one that we have looked at.

I don't think we will go down that route because the tradition here is to grow our own.' But he acknowledged: 'It's quite an interesting idea...

It's a very good example of movement between the two branches of the profession.'

SJ Berwin partner Alex Leitch agreed that the distinction between the two sides of the profession was becoming more blurred.

He added: 'Hammond Suddards Edge are pushing solicitor advocacy very hard and that is to the good and that is the way things are going to go in the future.'

Anne Mizzi