Move to the provinces pays dividends for ex-Temple set

A HOME counties chambers which has just opened a new set in St Albans says it has not looked back since leaving the Temple 11 years ago.

When Tindal Chambers moved out of King's Bench Walk to set up shop in Chelmsford it had eight tenants.

Now the general common law set boasts 35 barristers and has an annual fee income of £1.5 million.

Tindal Chambers has an annexe in London and is basing nine barristers at its latest set in Hertfordshire.

Deputy head of chambers David Moore, who was behind the set's move out of London in 1985, says that he is posi-tive about the prospects for provincial chambers, even in towns like Chelmsford and St Albans which are relatively near London.

Moore said that the Bar had been the slowest of all the professions to recognise the need for barristers to travel to the clients rather than the other way round.

"Our clients want a good local service," he added.

"And the set in Chelmsford has been so successful, Tindal Chambers wanted to expand into bordering catchment areas."