Goldsmith Chambers

ABOUT US

Client Care

Goldsmith Chambers is committed to implementing and delivering the best standards of working practice and client care which are consistent with the professional obligations of barristers under the Code of Conduct for the Bar of England and Wales.

Quality Assurance

Our policy is to maintain accreditation under nationally recognised schemes for quality assurance.

We aim to deliver a service that is reliable, efficient, cost-effective, flexible and friendly. These objectives are achieved by our provision of first-class representation at all times and our operation of a system for quality assurance.

Quality Assurance at Goldsmith Chambers arises from the policies, procedures and systems described in our chambers practice manual.

Members of Chambers, together with support staff, share the responsibility for meeting our objective of continually improving the quality of service we offer. To this end, members of Chambers and staff are involved in planning, implementing and reviewing our policy of quality assurance, which embodies the core values and aims of Chambers.

The standard by which our services are provided complies with the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales, the Consolidated Regulations and the Practice Management Guidelines.

Equal Opportunities Policy

It is the policy of Goldsmith Chambers to ensure that no client, member of chambers, pupil, member of staff or user of Chambers' services receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, social background, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, HIV/AIDS status, religious or political persuasion, whether by way of direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation or any other basis.

Chambers will comply as far as it is able with all the legislation and codes of practice that relate to Equal Opportunities to ensure that equal opportunities are provided for all members, pupils, staff and all those who use its services.

Complaints

By complying with our quality assurance and other policies we aim to achieve client satisfaction. Nonetheless we recognise that complaints may arise from time to time and when they do they must be addressed promptly and efficiently. Chambers has a documented procedure for receiving, investigating and responding to complaints.

Any user of Chambers' services who is aggrieved by the conduct of any member of chambers, or of any pupil or member of support staff may make a complaint. All members of Chambers and staff are under duty to report any complaints received to the Head of Chambers. If not resolved informally, the complaint will be referred for investigation. If it is substantiated, this may lead to internal disciplinary action in addition to redress for the complainant.

Historical Notes

Goldsmith Building was built in 1861 on the site formerly known as Church Yard Court and 9 Inner Temple Lane, three years after Dr Johnson's Buildings on the opposite side of Inner Temple Lane. It is named after Samuel Johnson's friend, Oliver Goldsmith, Anglo-Irish writer, poet, and physician (1728 - 1774) who is buried nearby and whose epitaph, by Johnson, includes the line: Nullum quod tetigit non ornavit (He touched nothing that he did not adorn). The architect of the present building was James Piers St Aubyn (1815 – 1895), who was surveyor to the Middle Temple from 1851 until 1885. (The following year, 1862, St Aubyn was responsible for restorations to Temple Church, which stands immediately to the south of Goldsmith Building.) The coat arms carved on the corner of the building are those of the Treasurer of Middle Temple, James Anderson.