University: Trinity College, Cambridge
Degree: History
Year of call: 2023
Position: Barrister

Why barrister not solicitor?

I’m not sure I’d make a very good solicitor and I never considered qualifying as one. Being a barrister, with its attractive combination (at least typically) of self-employment and constant variety, was the only option I considered.

Did you do a mini-pupillage? Would you advise other aspiring barristers to try to do one of these?

I did – in fact, I did rather too many of them, which I wouldn’t recommend. I’d suggest trying to do between four to six mini-pupillages and, even if you think you’re sure on a particular area, to inject some variety into the mini-pupillages you apply for.

Do bear in mind that obtaining mini-pupillages can be very competitive – I was rejected for a fair few over some time, but don’t let that get you down. The opportunities will come if you keep at it. It’s also important to look closely at what the chambers says it’s looking for.

What was the most difficult part of the recruitment process/application for you?

As a non-lawyer, applying during my law conversion, a difficult part of the process was being presented with a legal problem question. Some chambers, aware of the variety of applicants, would give you all the ‘law’ you needed to deal with the problem. Others, perhaps reasonably, assumed you already had a lot of law under your belt – it was hard to deal with the unknown unknowns!

What sort of work did you get involved with during pupillage?

There was an enormous variety of work during my pupillage; however, broadly speaking my first six months were focused on shipping work. Meanwhile, my second six months were spent more on construction and being on my feet working on my own matters. Generally, I was dealing with contract issues first and foremost. Although, professional negligence and civil fraud quickly came into the picture, especially following a positive tenancy decision.

How did you balance your time personally and professionally as a pupil?

Chambers was very helpful in making sure pupils got to have a real life during those 12 months. Pupillage can be incredibly stressful – it certainly helped to be told by the head of the tenancy committee that they expected us to keep to a 9:00am to 6:30pm timetable and take proper time for lunch. It was also made clear that working beyond those hours wasn’t encouraged and, indeed, could be viewed as proof that one couldn’t handle the workload in the time available. On top of that, we were entitled to plan our holidays early and coordinate them with pupil supervisors.

Please outline your area of expertise. What might you do in a typical day?

As a commercial barrister, no day is typical. This week, I’m reviewing expert reports on Romanian law, drafting arbitration arguments, finishing pleadings both for claimants and defendants and attending final liability hearings. Some things are more routine – trying to squeeze in a walk in Inner Temple’s beautiful garden, speaking to the clerks and chatting through the thornier issues (theirs or yours) with colleagues.

What skills/strengths do you need to be a successful barrister?

There are three skills that I think are most helpful – these are:

• structured thinking;
• attention to detail; and
• a practical interest in advocacy.

Structured thinking helps you to realise not only the right answers to the questions asked, but also what the right questions might be.

Attention to detail means one’s less likely to grasp the wrong end of the stick from limited information.

Practical advocacy means thinking about what the tribunal is really going to find helpful – it’s very rare that that’s a grandiloquent speech or a recitation of huge quantities of case law. Often, it’s a helpful summary of facts or to help bring them to the most pertinent documents in a bundle.

What’s the work/life balance like at your chambers? How often do you have late nights/work at weekends?

Ultimately, at the Bar, work/life balance is a matter for the individual. What I’m grateful for is to be at a chambers where my clerks are chasing me to book leave, rather than to be chasing them or persuading them I should get time off.

Generally, there’ll be times where you feel like you’re getting the balance wrong, one way or the other, but I certainly think in aggregate and perhaps even on the average day, the work/life balance compares favourably to those instructing me!

What’s the wider culture like at chambers?

The wider culture of chambers is extremely collegiate. All the stereotypical statements are true – you do feel you can knock on people’s doors, people are very supportive and the clerking pay is attentive to how one wants to develop one’s practice. There’s a real sense we’re all pulling together in the same direction. Every other week there are chambers drinks, as well as a bimonthly rotation of chambers lunch or chambers tea and cake. Most days somebody is around to go to hall with and chambers social functions are always enormously good fun. Around Christmas, a chambers choir pops up to sing carols – although, I must confess, I wouldn’t make the cut!

Describe the chambers in three words.

Friendly, ambitious, excellent.

What’s the biggest opportunity you’ve been given since being called to the Bar?

Through my Inn, I’m very proud to have been selected for a Pegasus Scholarship. This’ll mean I spend six weeks working in Bermuda, getting to know about a different jurisdiction – its unique features and its similarities with English law. There also could be some enjoying of the island life – I’m not counting any chickens yet.

What are you reading at the moment?

Norman Mailer’s Harlot’s Ghost – good fun but it does go on a bit.