Pupillage

Pupillage and First year of Tenancy at Linenhall

Even before I formally joined Chambers, I felt welcomed. Every year Summer’s drinks are held and as the incoming pupil I was invited. The prospect of meeting everyone at Chambers can be a daunting prospect; I was aware that I would be a new face amongst a tight knit group. But my time at Linenhall started as it meant to go on, being and feeling welcome.

Chambers did well to prepare me for the kinds of things I would be doing in my first six. I knew that there would be a good deal of shadowing and some opportunities for written work. I had the pleasure of being pupil to Owen Edwards (now King’s Counsel) so knew that the work would be varied and exciting. Early on, we had a discussion about where I wanted to be in 5 years’ time and how we would use my first six to get where I wanted to be.

From the first days, I felt involved. It isn’t just the case of simply watching (although that is important) but also asking questions and discovering the “because” behind the “why?”.

As a pupil focused solely on crime, that is what I saw and experienced. I quickly became familiar with PTPHs, mentions, and trials. Covering a range of criminal work, and being able to pick up processes and turn of phrase that I myself could use was very helpful. We ensured that I was not only following my supervisor, but others in chambers. The mentality seemed at the time, which I have seen in my tenancy, to be that “it takes a village to raise a child”. As time went on, I continued to broaden my experience and was able to compare different styles of advocacy.

Further on in my first six, I began to assist with legal research and preparing written work. Having live feedback and discussion over the work allowed me to improve in skill and confidence.

My first “brief” came in the form of a noting brief in a murder case. I remember the thought of feeling that I had made it and the hard work had paid off. Shortly after this, I embarked on my second-six.

In your second six you very much hit the ground running. Within my first month, I appeared in a number of Magistrates’ Courts and Crown Courts both for the Prosecution and Defence. The pace took a lot of getting used to, and doing things for the first time always made me nervous. But every time, I either knew what to do or who to ask for help. The support from Chambers was invaluable. Whilst I could pick out a few people in particular, it is true to say that I knew I could ask anyone in Chambers for advice.

The clerks and management staff also make all the difference. The importance of a good relationships cannot be overstated, especially as a young barrister as other barristers are not in Chambers or around nearly as often as clerks and management staff. I am always grateful to all of the people in Chambers and throughout my pupillage and beyond they have been able to give me a great deal of support. Knowing how to bill cases, knowing how to manage my diary, and other such skills are all things which aren’t taught in Bar School and which I think Chambers has been excellent with giving a strong foundation.

In terms of work, I have been able to cover many interesting cases and a variety of cases touching on many areas of Criminal Law including dangerous dog cases, multi-handed cases, and complex cases but to name a few. No two weeks are the same, which I enjoy although some weeks can be tougher than others. It is important to stress that the work is not easy, but being at Linenhall has given me all the tools to deal with a junior practice.

I feel positive about my career and about my practice. The role of Chambers and members of Chambers have and will continue to help. I also look forward to helping those who join after me to ensure that they have the best early start to their time at the Bar as possible.

Pupillage and Tenancy at Linenhall Chambers

Introduction / Background

I grew up in North Wales and completed my undergraduate and Bar Course at Cardiff University. I hoped to be able to move back to North Wales to practice in North West England and North Wales.

In April 2022, I completed a week-long mini pupillage at Linenhall Chambers. In July 2022, I was called to the Bar and in October 2022, I joined Linenhall Chambers to undertake pupillage.

By the time I began pupillage, I felt welcomed into Chambers. Linenhall is unique for its ‘small set feel’, in a Chambers with over 70 barristers.

Pursuing a career at the Bar and beginning pupillage can be an incredibly daunting experience. At Linenhall., the approachable and supportive environment that is created by Chambers makes this process not only easier, but enjoyable.

Pupillage

I completed a common law pupillage, which entailed criminal, civil and family law. I was fortunate enough to have Anna Pope as my pupil supervisor, who is a criminal practitioner. During my first six, I shadowed Anna during trials and conferences for a variety of offences, including murder, sexual assault, dangerous driving.

During first six, you will draft opening speeches, examination in chief, cross examination, closing speeches and legal arguments and receive feedback. Throughout my pupillage, the feedback process was through discussions as a case unfolded and comparing my own preparation to that of others. Everyone has their own style, but each individual at Linenhall was, and still is, incredibly generous with their time and would discuss any questions at any time.

As a common law pupil, I also shadowed family and practitioners and quickly developed an understanding of the practical differences of each area. Senior and junior barristers throughout each practice area gave me the opportunity shadow them and ask questions (…constantly!).

During my second six, I was in Court advocating almost every day. I was instructed in crime, family and civil cases and each day was different. In Crime, I have appeared for hearings in the Crown Court since the beginning of my second six, both for prosecution and defence. In family, I have undertaken Children Act proceedings and finance cases. In civil, I have been instructed in small claims trials and drafting.

One of the most important people to have during pupillage is your co-pupil. At Linenhall Chambers, the supportive environment is created the moment you begin pupillage and encourages those relationships between pupils.

The clerks at Linenhall are extremely supportive throughout your pupillage and during the transition into Tenancy. They are the reason I was able to experience a range of practice areas and then take instructions in a variety of work immediately.

Tenancy Application

Towards the end of my second six, I applied for Tenancy at Linenhall Chambers. My second six gave me the opportunity to experience what life at the bar would entail while at Linenhall. The tenancy process was transparent and reflective on my time as a pupil.

Tenancy

Having completed my first month as a Tenant, Linenhall Chambers has proved that it is a set which provides a supportive environment which enables you to progress in a career at the Bar.

Pupillage and Tenancy at Linenhall Chambers

Being a part of Linenhall Chambers during my pupillage has by far been the best year of my life. It has been a very steep learning curve, challenging and overwhelmingly entertaining.

Prior to starting my first six at Linenhall Chambers, my co-pupil, Amy Edwards, and I went to dinner in Chester with a number of barristers from Chambers ranging in seniority. It was engaging and compelling, and I believe it was very useful in regard to helping us settle in.

After that, my pupil supervisor, Simon Rogers would call me prior to my first six in order for us to get to know each other more and discuss the cases I was likely to see. Again, I found this particularly welcoming, and it made me even more excited to start.

As I did a common law pupillage, I appreciated the way that Chambers were very fluid as to the way it was structured. When I started my first six, the first few months were predominantly crime focused. I shadowed barristers doing a wide range of trials including but not limited to serious sexual, violent and drug offences. However, if there was a particularly interesting civil or family case happening, I would go and observe that.

As my first six progressed, I gradually spent more time in the County Court to ensure I had a well-rounded pupillage.

I must say at this point, every barrister that I shadowed showed great enthusiasm and skill. All had an ability to take complex parts of law or procedure and simplify it in order to make it a useful learning experience for me as a pupil. I still find it astonishing just how eager members of chambers are to help junior members of the Bar.

I observed Simon Rogers in every hearing that you would see in a Crown Court. Simon would regularly set me tasks to do and prepare. The thinking behind this was that it is all very well and good to observe, but once you have prepared something yourself and given it a lot of thought, and then you go into court and see an experienced barrister do it, it gives greater value to what you are observing and in turn, prepares you to start engaging with the mindset of a barrister. The tasks I was set varied from written work to advocacy such as opening and closing speeches, witness handling and various applications. The more I progressed through my first six, the more interventionist the ‘Judge’ in this case Simon would be when I would be making applications, in order to test me. Again, I am very grateful for the time and effort put in by Simon as this was great preparation for my second six and onwards.

I observed many different types of civil and family cases. I found civil law particularly interesting. I spent a lot of time with many different civil barristers and got to know many of them well. I saw a vast array of talent and different styles of advocacy.

Towards the end of my first six, I spent most of my time with the junior end. This was in order to prepare me for the work I was going to be doing in second six. I observed Tom Mcloughlin and Laura Knightly in the Magistrates court, prosecuting lists and defending many different trials. I cannot express how useful this was to me for when I started my second six.

During my second six, I spent half of my time prosecuting Magistrates lists for the CPS and doing defence trials. Furthermore, I spent the other half in the County Court doing personal injury cases and credit hire cases. The jump from first six to second six is a big one. There is a high volume of work to be done. However, as I have already mentioned, the barristers at Linenhall are all extremely helpful and make life at the junior end a lot easier.

One thing that really stood out to me about Linenhall Chambers during my first and second six was that there is a community spirit of wanting to see each other be successful and helping each other as much as you can, I believe that this is something special.

During my time at Chambers, I feel that I have developed many new and existing skills. The leap from Bar school to Chambers was initially a shock to the system. However, observing skilful barristers and their court craft in my first six to then trying it on my own in my second six has been an invaluable lesson. Having spent time in Chambers, it caused me to recognise just how exceptionally hard working the clerking and administrative team are. Not only are they all hard working, but they are also fun to be around in Chambers and are always positive and helpful.

Linenhall is a very supportive and forward thinking set of Chambers. I look forward to meeting the next member of chambers and I will ensure I will do everything to make them feel as settled and prepared as possible, in the same way that the Linenhall did for me when I started