He was never called to the bar but began to practise as a special pleader in 1820 at the early age of nineteen.
[1] Chitty practised at 1 King's Bench Walk[1] where he educated a generation of eminent pupils including: – and sundry future judges and politicians.
[1] The practice of special pleader demanded mastery of detail and the technical intricacies of the law and Chitty's career spanned huge changes from the Common Law Procedure Acts 1852-4 to the Judicature Acts 1873-5, reforms that changed the ancient regime of forms of action into, essentially, the modern system.
[1] "Chitty was known as a kind and genial man, a keen whist player and musician, and an energetic volunteer.
[1] In 1826, he had married Eliza née Cawston, and the couple had two sons who followed in their father's legal footsteps:[1]