*/
Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and Young Barristers’ Committee
This session, jointly organised by the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and the Young Barristers’ Committee, did just what it said on the tin. For anyone starting out in practice, it was gold dust.
For Katherine Duncan, a family practitioner of three years’ Call, a dose of self-reflection helps. Where are you now, how did you get there and where do you want to go? Go out with your clerk for a glass of wine from time to time informally to address these questions, honestly. Diversify your revenue streams: develop some private work alongside publicly funded and direct access work. It can improve cash flow.
Annabel Thomas, a litigation partner, urged everyone to keep their chambers’ profile up to date. Don’t be shy – come and tell us what you are doing, she implored. Be flexible about the way you work (embrace Skype). Provide detail about time narratives (not just ‘10 hours perusing papers’) and be realistic about your time estimates.
Katie Cromwell, a clerk, focused on public access work. Far from alienating solicitors this can actually help you to develop stronger relationships if you can spot referral opportunities in both directions. Beware of taking a 5.30 call on a Friday afternoon. Invariably it’s a vexatious litigant, she cautioned. For Tony Burgess, a deputy senior clerk, getting to know your clerk is vital. Not necessarily spending every weekend fishing together but investing time in getting to know each other. Establish how your clerk can best give you feedback. Have regular practice reviews, at least annually. Get to know the clerking team as a whole so they can cross-sell you.
What really turns a clerk off about a young barrister? Answers varied: Saying ‘yes’ to everything. Two months into your tenancy, saying what you believe your market value is. Always respond to an inquiry even if only to say you will get back. Don’t disappear into your room; check in with the clerking team.
It may all sound rather basic but there was a lot here that young practitioners can so easily neglect at their cost. Honesty, trust and good communication are at the heart of developing a practice at the Bar. Spending a day in the clerks’ room is a good place from which to start. ●
Mark Hatcher was Special Adviser to the Chair of the Bar until 2019. After working at the Law Commission and in the House of Lords, he became Head of Global Public Affairs at PwC. He is a Bencher of Middle Temple, as well as being a priest. He is Reader of the Temple.
This session, jointly organised by the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and the Young Barristers’ Committee, did just what it said on the tin. For anyone starting out in practice, it was gold dust.
For Katherine Duncan, a family practitioner of three years’ Call, a dose of self-reflection helps. Where are you now, how did you get there and where do you want to go? Go out with your clerk for a glass of wine from time to time informally to address these questions, honestly. Diversify your revenue streams: develop some private work alongside publicly funded and direct access work. It can improve cash flow.
Annabel Thomas, a litigation partner, urged everyone to keep their chambers’ profile up to date. Don’t be shy – come and tell us what you are doing, she implored. Be flexible about the way you work (embrace Skype). Provide detail about time narratives (not just ‘10 hours perusing papers’) and be realistic about your time estimates.
Katie Cromwell, a clerk, focused on public access work. Far from alienating solicitors this can actually help you to develop stronger relationships if you can spot referral opportunities in both directions. Beware of taking a 5.30 call on a Friday afternoon. Invariably it’s a vexatious litigant, she cautioned. For Tony Burgess, a deputy senior clerk, getting to know your clerk is vital. Not necessarily spending every weekend fishing together but investing time in getting to know each other. Establish how your clerk can best give you feedback. Have regular practice reviews, at least annually. Get to know the clerking team as a whole so they can cross-sell you.
What really turns a clerk off about a young barrister? Answers varied: Saying ‘yes’ to everything. Two months into your tenancy, saying what you believe your market value is. Always respond to an inquiry even if only to say you will get back. Don’t disappear into your room; check in with the clerking team.
It may all sound rather basic but there was a lot here that young practitioners can so easily neglect at their cost. Honesty, trust and good communication are at the heart of developing a practice at the Bar. Spending a day in the clerks’ room is a good place from which to start. ●
Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and Young Barristers’ Committee
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the role of cut-off levels, and the wider range of factors that must be considered when interpreting results for family court proceedings
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Jemima Coleman and Zoë Leventhal KC on the evolving global movement seeking to reframe how we view nature: to recognise that nature possesses inherent rights and to enshrine these rights in law
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
