A week in the life as a Pupil Barrister at Browne Jacobson

The Bar Council’s report of 2023 highlighted that only 18% of barristers make up the whole of the employed Bar, and 49% of those are women. I hope this blog provides insights into the employed Bar and the fantastic career opportunities it offers, whilst also having a supportive team of barristers around you.

Monday:

I received a warm welcome and immediately joined a virtual directions hearing in the Court of Protection, for a child subject to a deprivation of liberty order under the Mental Capacity Act. The parties timetabled the next steps required to ensure she was placed in a suitable setting as soon as possible.

After this, I read into another Court of Protection matter and attended a client instruction call, a perspective I’d never seen before. My day finished with research into the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, ahead of an urgent injunction listed in London later this week. 

Tuesday:

Today I had the opportunity to shadow two virtual Court of Protection hearings, which is perfect as Court of Protection is an area I am hoping to pursue once qualified.

Both hearings provided insight into the everchanging and varied work in the Court of Protection and the need to be collaborative with the parties to enable the matter to move forward.

Wednesday:

I attended the office with some of the team. Firstly, I completed a research task into injunctions for individuals causing or threatening harm and distress outside a school and then drafted my own interim injunction order. 

In the afternoon I attended a local Academy to speak with post 16 students about my route to law through the ‘Words for Work’ charitable organisation. It was exciting speaking to the next generation of students providing them guidance to assist decisions surrounding their further education.

Thursday:

Today I read into three matters I was due to shadow in the High Court and the Court of Protection. This was crucial to do prior to shadowing to enable me to fully understand the cases I would be watching.

During the afternoon I attended a client call with one of the barristers and a round table meeting for another Court of Protection case to discuss issues prior to the hearing. I provided a minute of the meeting which was then distributed to all the attendees. 

To complete my day, I shadowed a pre-hearing advocates meeting to try and narrow issues ahead of a further Court of Protection hearing.

Friday:

Happy International Women’s Day! Today my pupil supervisor and I hopped onto an early train to London Euston for an urgent injunction hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice!

Today was a landmark day for me, after having walked past and visited the Royal Courts of Justice multiple times over the years and when in university, to then attend as a pupil barrister and watch my supervisor make submissions before a Deputy High Court Judge, was truly inspirational and extremely fitting on IWD!

Week 2 summary:

This week I shadowed a Barrister in a 9-day article 2 jury inquest, involving a patient who died from cardiac arrest whilst detained under the Mental Health Act. The Trust had admitted several failures in care. The jury heard evidence from witnesses involved in inadequate health shortly before the patient died, and I saw how CCTV evidence was used in this establishing this. I have also now seen an expert witness give evidence in court and the different advocacy styles. The jury found multiple healthcare failures and neglect.

My first two weeks as a pupil barrister were filled with such a variety of experience. I have shadowed multiple barristers within the team, and I am extremely excited for the next 6 months.

If you are interested in becoming a barrister, why not apply for our mini pupillage scheme. Applications open on Wednesday 1 May. Find out more here.