Combar runs a number of schemes which aim to assist those who are considering a career at the Commercial Bar and those who are already established members of Combar.

COMBAR Member Mentoring Scheme

With effect from November 2020, COMBAR launched a mentoring scheme for all of its membership.  We consider mentoring to provide a valuable means for members to derive support and assistance from other members with relevant experience, on a confidential basis and outside the framework of existing chambers relationships.  There are a range of particular issues on which mentoring may be of help, such as applications for silk or judicial appointment, coping with stress, or maintaining practice after a period of leave; but the relationship need not be targeted at a specific issue, nor limited to a particular period of time.

Applicants for mentoring are asked to fill in a short application form (link below), providing details that will help us match them with a suitable mentor.  Applicants to be mentors should likewise fill in a form (link below), indicating in what areas they have experience that may be of assistance.  A panel of COMBAR members will then match mentors and mentees, and put them in touch with each other.  Mentors and mentees can then decide together how best to develop the mentoring relationship.

This scheme is open to all Combar members.  It is intended to be a platform for a wide and flexible range of mentoring relationships, led very much by the mentors and mentees.  It sits alongside other more issue-specific mentoring schemes, in which Combar members are also involved.

Linked below are copies of the application form for mentees, the application form for mentors, an equality and diversity monitoring form (a voluntary form which mentees and mentors are invited to consider completing), and a set of FAQs which it is hoped addresses some questions that may arise about the scheme.  Completed application forms should be returned to admin@combar.com.

For any questions about or comments on the scheme, please contact the Chair of the Mentoring Committee, David Mumford KC, care of admin@combar.com.

Mentee application form
Mentor application form
Equality and diversity monitoring form
FAQs