Civil law is that area of law involving relations between persons and organisations. It covers a very broad range of legal issues, including those related to contract, tort, probate and trusts. More specifically, civil law covers disputes that range from employment to professional negligence, and from education to property.

Emma Sutton is a barrister at 30 Park Place, the largest set in Wales. She studied law and sociology at Cardiff University, a choice that came easily: "I'd always enjoyed drama and public speaking, but I wanted to mix it with something academic, so law seemed like the answer. There is also the cliché that you are making a real difference to a person's life." She was equally certain about her future career path: "I decided early on that the Bar was for me; I'd done some work experience at a solicitors' office, putting together bundles and sending them off to barristers, and I thought that I'd prefer to be the one receiving them! When you're a solicitor, it seems like having done the majority of the preparatory work, you let go at the most important stage - seeing a case through to completion."

Emma followed up her undergraduate degree with a master's in commercial law, which she juggled with six months at a large commercial firm in Cardiff and six months at the National Assembly of Wales. "I had lots of input into secondary legislation drafting, and was involved in live video conferences with Westminster, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly." She studied the BVC at Cardiff and was awarded the Major Scholarship from Gray's Inn. Thereafter, she joined 30 Park Place as a pupil, which was hard work, but rewarding: "I was the only pupil, so it was initially quite daunting without anyone to bounce ideas and experiences off. But it was very structured, which helped, and I did lots of work for different people. In my second six, I was receiving a lot of junior-end work on account of being the only pupil in chambers, so was incredibly busy. But that was brilliant because it was a classic ‘sink or swim' situation." She joined chambers as a tenant in September 2007.

Unusually, Emma spent her first six months as a fully fledged barrister working as second junior counsel at the public inquiry into the 2005 outbreak of E coli in South Wales: "A little boy died as a result of infected butcher's meat and a number of other schoolchildren were affected. The inquiry was conducted at the National Assembly for Wales, where I was basically resident from November 2007 until March 2008. It was great to be thrown into such a huge case, working incredibly hard during the day and then juggling other papers in the evening to keep on top of my other civil work. Papers would include general advisory work and the drafting of pleadings."

After the inquiry ended, Emma returned to a normal civil workload. She enjoys practising in this field as it encompasses a vast range of disciplines: "The variety is very attractive to the new practitioner, on account of the intellectual challenge (and the fact that you can't get bored!), and because of the opportunity to appear in different court settings before different judges."

For Emma, an appealing element of this type of work is that "you never have a typical day. The variety is the key to enjoying a civil workload; however, what is routine is that wherever you are - whether it be court, chambers, conference or giving a talk elsewhere - the mornings are early and the nights are late. It's a constant treadmill!" But she's not complaining: "That's one of the worries when you're starting out - you're scared to say no to anything because you're trying to establish yourself. Clerks and senior members of chambers have explained the importance of building the foundations for the practice that you want to have in the early years. And when you do get an afternoon off, when a case goes short or settles at the last minute, you need to take time out - particularly when you know you will be working for at least part of the weekend. It should also be remembered that while this is one of the more stressful careers to embark upon, it can also be one of the most social!"

So - how to succeed as a civil barrister? For Emma, certain attributes will set you apart: "Some of the briefs are very thick and turnover of cases is fast, so you've got to be able to scan them and pick out the salient issues - clear analytical skills are essential. Research skills are also vital, as although you may have a good understanding of the area of law you're advising upon, there are always certain aspects that set one case apart from the next and which will require thorough examination. Also, you're often asked to advise not just on liability, but also on procedural points and tactical plans, which is something that can only come with experience. But at the beginning, try to take on board everything your senior opponents do, as you may be able to use it in your next case." Organisation is also vital: "Sometimes I'm in court Monday to Friday; other times I have to timetable my advice work in. I think that's the difference between a civil practice and a family or criminal practice, where your diary is mapped out for you. At the moment, I've got a number of sets of papers to do, but know I am in court every day for at least the next two weeks, so organisation is key."

There are several things that you can do to improve your attractiveness as a prospective pupil, suggests Emma: "It's so competitive at the moment, and almost everyone has done mini-pupillages and has a good degree, so any master's or doctorate is helpful because it shows you can attain a higher level of academic achievement. Work experience is essential, especially if you've worked in a variety of environments. It's also important to have some hobbies, to prove you haven't just been sitting in a law library every day!" Mooting, scholarships and marshalling also get the thumbs-up: "I marshalled with a High Court judge at the Royal Courts of Justice, and it gave me a great sense of how judges operate and what they're looking for in an advocate." As Emma says, "it's really about getting involved and knowing that getting a first isn't necessarily enough to get you in the door".

Once that door has opened, it's all about the interview. "You obviously need to come across well; it's essential that you concentrate on that. Do your research - ring up to find out about the format of the interview and your interviewers, and practise your skills. You should engage in mock interviews because the feedback is very useful, especially in terms of body language. You're being scrutinised, so practise! Mock interviews were offered on the BVC in Cardiff, but if this is not something that is proposed at other BVC providers, ask a lecturer, who should be able to assist. If they can't, they will surely put you in contact with someone who can help."

Emma sums up: "This isn't the field for someone who wants to be in court every day, but if you want a 50-50 mix of paperwork and court work, then civil is the one to go for. And despite the frequent late nights, lack of weekends and cancellation of social engagements, it is a very enjoyable and rewarding job."