Paul assists with the practice management of the Commercial & Chancery team and has specific responsibility for Wills & Trusts practice group. He has been with St John’s since 2007, having previously worked at sets in Lincoln’s Inn and The Temple.

Paul is consistently praised for his high standard client service in Chambers UK and The Legal 500:

  • “The clerking team is exceptional and second to none. Paul Bennett, Simon Lyons and Rob Bocock in particular are fantastic.” Chambers UK 2026
  • “Paul Bennett is always very responsive and very helpful. He is a go-to clerk.” The Legal 500, 2026
  • “Paul Bennett is always very friendly and helpful. When you need to book a conference with counsel, he has full control of the diary and he is able to do this then and there on the phone. Paul always follows through on any requests so you rarely ever need to chase.” The Legal 500, 2026
  • “The service provided by St John’s clerks is consistently exemplary. Specifically, Paul Bennett and Simon Lyons provide an excellent service and are on hand to assist with any queries that arise either at the outset or during the progression of a case.” The Legal 500, 2026
  • “Clerks Paul Bennett and Paul Nuttall respond promptly and helpfully and provide accurate timescales for completion of work.” The Legal 500, 2026
  • “Paul Bennett delivers exceptional service. He is responsive and you can trust that he will always gets back to you in a timely manner. Paul is an extension of the legal team and keeps everything moving forward.” The Legal 500, 2026
  • “Paul Bennett is a standout clerk but the others also provide an exceptional service. They are accommodating, helpful, clear on fees, quick to assist and also open to discussing BD initiatives” The Legal 500, 2026
  • “Paul Bennett looks after instructing solicitors well.” The Legal 500, 2025
  • “Paul Bennett is always available and good at finding solutions to any problem.” The Legal 500, 2025
  • “The clerks are excellent. In particular, Paul Bennett is always prompt to respond and extremely helpful.The clerks are always available and willing to help.” The Leagl 500, 2025
  • “St John’s Chambers has an excellent and efficient clerks’ room. Clerks go out of their way to assist. Of particular note are Paul Bennett, Paul Nuttall, Simon Lyons and Rob Bocock.” The Legal 500, 2025
  • “Paul Bennett and Simon Lyons are exceptional clerks and understand the specialisms of their barristers.” The Legal 500, 2025
  • “Paul Bennett is very responsive and easy to deal with.” The Legal 500, 2025
  • “The clerks are excellent. In particular, Paul Bennett is always prompt to respond and extremely helpful.” The Legal 500, 2025
  • “Simon Lyons, Paul Bennett and practice manager Rob Bocock are good clerks who are all very friendly.” Chambers UK 2025
  • “The clerking is excellent and Paul Bennet, practice team leader, is my go-to and always responds in a timely manner.” Chambers UK 2025
  • “St John’s Chambers’ clerking team is the most efficient and knowledgeable in Bristol. Paul Bennett in particular is excellent.” The Legal 500, 2024
  • “St John’s Chambers’ clerks’ room is dynamic, efficient and especially helpful.  In particular,  Paul Bennett is always prompt to respond and incredibly helpful when there are any queries that need addressing urgently.” The Legal 500, 2024
  • “St John’s Chambers’ clerking team is the most efficient and knowledgeable in Bristol. Paul Bennett in particular is excellent.” The Legal 500, 2024
  • “Simon Lyons and Paul Bennett cannot be faulted, and the clerks generally are always friendly, helpful and accommodating and broadly speaking very quick to reply to enquiries and/or work schedules and diaries around to meet client needs.” The Legal 500, 2024
  • “The clerking is very good, they are very responsive. Paul Bennett, practice team leader, in particular, is very practical and just very easy to deal with.” Chambers UK, 2024
  • “The clerking team are excellent. Rob Bocock, practice manager, and Paul Bennett are incredibly responsive and approachable.” Chambers UK, 2024
  • “Paul Bennett is a star clerk.” The Legal 500, 2023
  • “The clerks are understanding and responsive, and are always happy to look for a solution to any issue that might arise.’ ‘They always provide a very good service with prompt and helpful responses.’   ‘Paul Bennett and Simon Lyons always respond quickly and are clear on fee estimates.’ ” Chambers UK, 2023
  • “The clerks, particularly Paul Bennett, practice team leader, Simon Lyons, practice team leader, and Rob Bocock, practice manager, are exceptional. They are responsive, accommodating and will always go above and beyond to provide the best possible service.” Chambers UK, 2023

He started his clerking career in 1997 at a leading Chancery Chambers in Lincolns Inn, and progressed from there to a leading Employment and Public Law Chambers in The Temple. After a year spent living in Vancouver, Canada, Paul joined St John’s in 2007. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, watching sport, cycling and running.