Trinity Chambers - Pupillage Blog
In October 2023 Chambers welcomed Sophie Johnstone as a Criminal pupil, Thomas Bannister as a Family pupil and Thomas Langley as a Civil pupil. As part of Chambers' pupillage blog they have shared their experience of their first three months in Chambers:
SOPHIE JOHNSTONE – Criminal Pupil
I am currently Trinity Chamber’s Criminal pupil, having commenced pupillage in October 2023. I am currently under the supervision of Laura Jane Miller.
Prior to my first day, I received a welcome email from Laura explaining that my first two weeks of pupillage would be spent down in London at the Old Bailey, shadowing both herself and Caroline Goodwin K.C. on a murder trial. Having never stepped foot in the Central Criminal Court before, I could not believe my luck that this was how my pupillage was going to start.
The case itself was inherently interesting. To date, the body of the victim has never been found. The trial involved complex cell site evidence and centred around a critical analysis of proof of life enquiries undertaken by the Police. After my first couple of days, I was asked to compare the enquiries that were undertaken in line with Police Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons. I learnt the importance of looking through the unused material and how agreed facts are an important tool, even when defending. All in all, my first two weeks of pupillage were truly an unforgettable and invaluable experience and set the tone as to how my pupillage would progress.
I am also fortunate to have accompanied Head of Chambers, Toby Hedworth K.C., during a murder trial relating to a teenage victim. There were several defendants, all of whom were also very young. It was very apparent that it is a skill in and of itself to liaise with an incredibly vulnerable Defendant, something which Toby demonstrated impeccably, and I hope to emulate such sincerity and commitment to client care when the time comes for me to represent my own clients.
Whilst not every day has been murder trials, I have had the opportunity to experience a variety of different work and have shadowed various other members of the Criminal team of differing levels of seniority. Not only has this enabled me to integrate myself within the team, but it has also provided me with an insight into varied levels and types of work, experiencing both prosecution and defence cases. Having spent time with other members of Chambers, I have been exposed to differing styles of advocacy and written work and I have had the benefit of learning from their own experience and advice for a successful and prosperous career at the Bar.
I have witnessed a variety of hearings from bail applications, pre-trial preparation hearings through to trials and sentencing, legal arguments (including applications to extend custody time limits and applications to exclude evidence) and I have also spent some time in the Magistrates Court.
I have been privy to sensitive and difficult conferences with clients, and have witnessed ever important pre-trial negotiations between Counsel, both of which are a fundamental part of the role. During each hearing, I make a comprehensive note for my own record and have had an opportunity to discuss any queries or distinct intricacies in private at the end of the day to cement my own learning.
Laura has an incredibly busy practice which demonstrates the importance of building and maintaining relationships with instructing Solicitors. I have assisted Laura with researching various niche points of law and drafting research notes to support with her own caseload. Fairly recently, Laura was instructed on a rape trial, and I prepared the exhibits to be included in the defence jury bundle at trial.
In addition to the time spent in Court, I have drafted various documents under Laura’s instruction, such as representations to the Crown in relation to whether a prosecution should proceed applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors, an application to exclude evidence pursuant to Section 78 PACE 1984, sentencing notes, applications to dismiss, a response to a bad character application, and a written application for a Goodyear indication. I have gained invaluable feedback and guidance on my drafting, and I look forward to putting all that I have learnt into practice when I get started on my feet in April.
I have also drafted an article that has been published on Trinity’s website and social media forums regarding the American XL Bully Ban. This is a very topical subject and something which I have much interest in. The link to my article is here.
I look forward to publishing further articles on legal developments in due course.
Thus far, pupillage at Trinity has provided me with a true reflection of the fast-paced and busy nature of life at the Criminal Bar. Although it has been a steep learning curve, it has been exciting and interesting – with no two days ever being the same. I am looking forward to continuing my learning as my pupillage progresses.
THOMAS BANNISTER – Family Pupil
Since starting my pupillage in October 2023, I have been under the supervision of Katherine Wood. Katherine practises in all areas of Family law, which has enabled me to see a wide range of work within the Family courts. Although no day is quite the same, I am frequently in court with Katherine, failing that, I am observing client conferences, taking a note of advocates’ meetings, drafting orders, reading bundles and conducting research.
Whilst Katherine is my pupil supervisor, I have also had the pleasure of shadowing other members of Chambers. Shadowing members at the junior end has been particularly enlightening, given their proximity to the stage I am at currently. The Family clerking team has also been most attentive in attempting to arrange it so I can observe a wide variety of hearings, whilst also taking into account areas of law that are of particular interest to me.
Beyond the warm welcome of Chambers, my fellow pupils and I have also had the opportunity to meet other pupils and barristers on the North Eastern Circuit. A particular personal highlight was being given the opportunity to attend the North Eastern Circuit’s Pupil Practice Management Course in York. Attendees heard a variety of both useful and inspiring talks. Of particular interest was a talk on the history of the North Eastern Circuit, given by His Honour Robert Taylor and a talk on the art of cross examination, given by Robert Smith KC.
In October, Newcastle was fortunate enough to have the President of the Family Division visit for three days. Upon the conclusion of his visit the President hosted an open forum where topical areas of law and procedure were discussed. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the open forum which afforded me an insight into the ongoing developments at the Family Bar.
Looking forward, I am now about to embark on the second half of my first six, the time has gone quicker than I would have ever imagined, which can only be a good sign!
THOMAS LANGLEY – Civil Pupil
October 2023 already feels like a lifetime ago, but I still remember the start of my first six with Morgan Brien as if it were yesterday.
In my initial first four weeks I was in court almost the entire time. For three of those weeks I was with Richard Stubbs and Simon Goldberg K.C. for a fascinating Commercial Court trial concerning the interpretation of a sale and leaseback agreement.
This month-long trial dispute was punctuated (for me) by a week with Sarah Ismail in the Employment Tribunal, shadowing Morgan sit as a DDJ and seeing a number of interim applications and case management hearings with Mike Haywood. It was an exciting (and full-on) way to begin and showcased the various levels of work done by members of the Civil team.
Since then, my experience has been slightly less court-heavy, and I’ve drafted a variety of advices, pleadings, orders, research notes, lists of issues and other documents.
I’ve also seen a wide variety of interim applications, case management hearings, and one-day trials in courts around the North Eastern circuit and online, sitting with most of the civil team at various points. It’s been a real privilege to watch so many different and effective styles of cross-examination and case strategies.
Public speaking has always been one of my strengths, and my first piece of paid work taking a noting brief for Jamie Anderson in the Employment Tribunal has only whetted my appetite to be on my feet in April in my second six.
My route to the Bar was via academia - I did a PhD in late Roman history at Cambridge before converting to law - so I was naturally a little anxious that I might find it hard to transfer my skillset and experience to the legal world.
Thankfully, it’s been a relatively smooth transition. The same skills of problem solving, analysis and research remain as relevant to the business and property Bar as they do for the business of Classical history - though I’ve found there’s rather more variety in professional life.
One set of problems I’ve particularly enjoyed researching have concerned business leases, for the way they mix Common Law and Statute, and land and contract. I’ve written an advice in a 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act s. 26 request for a new lease, and a research note on whether a different client had been faced with surrender by operation of law. Business and property work is a particular interest of mine, and it has been great to see work of this quality and complexity.
Unlike academia, there’s a practical problem-solving element to the Bar that I absolutely love. In one case, we had to figure out the best way forward to obtain the party’s signature to a document where that party lacked capacity, canvassing the possibilities of appointing a litigation friend, applying to the Court of Protection, or applying to the court that it execute the document on behalf of another party claiming to have power of attorney.
In that vein I’ve particularly enjoyed watching how those I’ve shadowed have addressed wildly different clients in conference, and strategised the best way of advising and delivering on those clients’ needs.
Finally, what has made the last three months so enjoyable has been the people I’ve spent them with. It’s been a particular privilege to meet and sit with such a wide range of the civil team, clerks and barristers alike. It’s also been great to meet the family and criminal groups at Chambers Teas, Circuit dinners and the pub, based across Trinity’s Chambers in Newcastle, Leeds and Middlesbrough.
It helps that as pupils we’ve been encouraged to attend public-facing events with members of Chambers - such as student moots and marketing events. All of this contributes to Chambers’ strong social culture, which increases the quality of work it produces, and which we’re thankful to be part of. All in all, I’m looking forward to 2024.
Chambers welcomes Birju Kotecha, as a Civil pupil and Estelle Chambers, as a Criminal pupil. Birju and Estelle commenced pupillage in January 2024 and introduce themselves below:
BIRJU KOTECHA – Civil Pupil
At the time of writing, I am in my first week of a civil pupillage under the supervision of James McHugh.
I read law at the University of Newcastle Upon-Tyne, and I arrive at the Bar after a career in academia having been an Assistant Professor in Law at the University of Northumbria.
Everyone from my fellow pupils to senior members have warmly welcomed me into Chambers life. Whilst it has only been a few days, it feels like I have been here much longer. Chambers is an incredibly friendly, inclusive, and stimulating environment and James wasted no time in allowing me to get ‘stuck in’ from day one.
In just two days, I have been involved in a variety of interesting work; from conducting practical research on whether a negligence claim was time-barred, to observing a conference to help prepare witness statements in an unlawful detention claim brought against the Home Office, to going to court in respect of a housing possession order against a residential tenant. As expected, the learning from every case is fast-paced, varied, and is intellectually challenging. It is exactly as I hoped.
I can see why Trinity is held in such high regard. I feel very much at home here, and I look forward to the coming weeks and months.
ESTELLE CHAMBERS – Criminal Pupil
I started a criminal pupillage at Trinity Chambers this week, and while the whole experience is still very new, I already feel welcomed into chambers. My first day was pretty much an induction. I got set up on all of the systems which I will require throughout pupillage and met my supervisor, David Callan. Sophie, who is half way through her first-six of a criminal pupillage, also showed me around Chambers which gave me a warm welcome. Trinity is not only a very reputable set, but a very friendly one too. I am really pleased to be embarking on my pupillage journey at Trinity.
The subsequent days consisted of reading through case files for any cases which were listed later that week, this gave me a good insight into the cases allowing me to be fully immersed in each case when attending court and conferences. I have also been tasked with researching a niche area of law and preparing a skeleton argument for a case involving unlicensed dog breeding. Chambers has provided me with an array of resources to assist me with these tasks and I look forward to receiving feedback from my supervisor on my first piece of written work.
Despite being so new to pupillage, I am very pleased with how things are going. I am looking forward to seeing a wider variety of hearings as well as developing my drafting skills as I progress further throughout my pupillage. I aim to learn all that I can from my supervisor and anyone else I may shadow during pupillage and I am most looking forward to the coming months.
Applications for Pupillage – NOW OPEN!
For those interested in applying for Pupillage in 2025, details of the application process, which closes at 10am on Wednesday 7th February 2024, can be found here.