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Why is jumping ship or leaving 'Chambers' such a bad thing? (ep2spoiler)

posted 11 years ago by user-847-318571
1 reply | jump to latest

Sorry I know someone asked this before but I didn't really grasp the answer (something to do with reputation?) So far this is what I understand: 'Chambers' is like a network or group of people in the office that share administrative resources. Since it's not a firm or company or partnership, so why can't one barrister just leave and go someplace else? That network can just hire another barrister right? Do they get a bad reputation for leaving one place? If they do, why? What if they just don't like the workplace and prefer a different change of environment? Why would one's career be "finished" just for trying to go someplace else? Does that leave some kind of negative mark on a permanent record? Is there an external body keeping a "loyalty" record? Who's doing that?
- confused American viewer

[–] beary08-517-817915 11 years ago

A professional reputation thing. Especially if with an exceptionally credible chambers. For example, on par with large law firm (USA, Canada) of notable status - if you leave, and can't get higher position of status in equally reputable competitor firm, it can hurt your career. And you cannot take your clients with you except very very carefully and without pursuing them. Your clients are your business. You leave chambers, you lose all past and existing clients typically.

Also chambers are as good as the solicitors giving them quality cases. Certain chambers become known as best, smartest, based on the barristers working there. Another reason not to randomly leave chambers once you've built your reputation there - it can hurt the whole chambers and every self-employed attorney working there can be affected. You get a bad rep if you're just out for yourself and conduct yourself unprofessionally and/or discourteously.

More at wiki might help explain it better:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barristers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambers_(law)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Counsel