This year’s theme for International Women’s Day resonates deeply with me because, if someone had not volunteered their time to me when I was a student, I would not be where I am today.
Let me take you back 25 years… I was at Bar school and desperately seeking pupillage. Sadly, on paper, I was not an appealing candidate and I had been rejected by over 50 sets, including No 5. I enjoyed mooting at Law school and had managed to reach the final of one of the competitions. The final was judged by HHJ Stephen Oliver-Jones QC, a full time Judge who had given up his time to judge a student mooting competition. I won the competition and the Judge asked whether I had managed to obtain pupillage, I explained that I had not, and he then said he could not offer me a pupillage, but he would ask his former set to interview me. His former set turned out to be No 5, and they offered me an interview, then a second round interview and on 1st October 2001 I commenced a Pupillage with them. 25 years later I am Head of Chambers and I believe none of that would have happened without someone willing to give up their time, and then take a chance on me. I vowed that whenever I had the chance I would offer my time to others.
My first opportunity to do so came when I took part in the Citizenship Foundation’s Mock trial competition, state schools entered groups who took on the various roles required in a criminal trial. I was able to meet some passionate, enthusiastic 14 yr olds, some of whom had never considered a career in law. Their commitment was contagious and I was so proud to watch them grow in confidence as they mastered their craft.
Another chance I had to give back was through Circuit. The Midland Circuit is responsible for the advocacy training for their pupils and new practitioners. I was trained by advocacy greats such as James Hunt QC and HHJ Mel Inbourne KC. Seniors Judges and Silks gave up their time to teach young barristers, and as soon as I was senior enough I volunteered too. These weekends not only enabled me to meet other members of circuit, they helped me to improve my advocacy skills as I watched and learned along with the students. My years teaching led me to become the Director of Advocacy training for the Midland Circuit. That role put me in contact with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy who asked me to utilise my skills to teach Vulnerable witness advocacy training, and to deliver training sessions to other jurisdictions, through volunteering I have had some truly memorable experiences- I have been welcomed by the Northern Irish Bar to teach in Belfast, worked with Prosecutors at The Hague as to the best way to deal with digital evidence, and even been dined at The Supreme Court in Washington as a thank you for teaching advocacy to the American Bar Association. Each special memory came about because I had given up my time, yet I felt I was the one to gain.
I became the Leader of the Midland Circuit in October 2021, it is a voluntary role that takes up many hours each week, dealing with different issues raised by Barristers, Judges, and court professionals. At the time it was exhausting, juggling the many meetings around a busy practice, but the rewards were immeasurable; when members came to me with a problem and I was actually able to make a difference I felt so proud, I was able to feed back the concerns of Circuiteers to people in positions of power who could actually change things for the better. Once again, a voluntary role took me places I never imagined, including dinner with independent members of the House of Lords as they discussed upcoming changes in criminal legislation, I was invited to 10 Downing Street by the then Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood MP, and I had regular meetings with the Lady Chief Justice. I sometimes pinch myself that I was able to experience all of these, and the memories will live on.
Due to my work as Leader I was asked by the Bar Council to write the responses to the Gauke Sentencing Review and the Leveson Review. These were time consuming tasks, but I relished the opportunity to be a part of shaping the future of the Bar, it was worth the long hours for that feeling of genuinely contributing – and as a thank you I was invited to Buckingham Palace, a real dream come true.
All of this has led to me to here, to Head of No 5. It is another role that requires giving up my time, but to have the honour of leading the set I started at as Pupil is one beyond compare. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had so many opportunities and experiences in my life, and this Internation Women’s Day I urge all of you to take the time to give something back. Its easy to find excuses, to say we are too busy, but the satisfaction that comes with volunteering are immeasurable. So thank you Judge Oliver-Jones QC, you changed my life.
