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Don’t get lost in the flurry of first six. Nia Marshall shares a few tips to help you get the most out of this time
Welcome to the Bar! You are about to begin a new chapter of your life. Unsurprisingly, apprehension, joy and excitement will be galloping around your mind.
The first six months of pupillage will whizz by. Most of the time you will use the adrenaline rush to assimilate information and accomplish simultaneous deadlines. But don’t get lost in the flurry of it all. Here are a few things that you can expect to accomplish during the first six:
If possible, arrange a visit to chambers before you start pupillage. A few weeks prior to the commencement of my pupillage, Chambers invited my mum and I to visit. We interacted with the Leeds Chambers director, clerks and barristers. This meeting made me feel comfortable and ready to face a new beginning and, as my amicable relationships with the staff in Chambers blossomed, my initial nerves eventually disappeared.
Have a respectful and good rapport with the staff. When you commence pupillage, develop genuine and meaningful relationships. Those relationships can be created by acknowledging and chatting with the staff, eating lunch or inviting them for coffee, introducing yourself to barrister members, attending chambers events and other Bar-related events. It is important that you integrate yourself and, throughout, remember to be yourself!
Most of your first six will involve shadowing barristers either during hearings or conferences. I know that it is tempting to think that you are invisible and can simply blend into the furnishings of the room. Remember that the key to effective shadowing is listening attentively and extracting the lessons necessary for your practice. You will deploy what you have learnt sooner than you think.
Read and analyse the case papers. Research the applicable law. Write questions about anything that you are uncertain about. Often the barrister will ask you for your opinion on the case. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the facts and the applicable law. It is also an opportune time to get your queries resolved.
While shadowing, always write an attendance note. Sometimes the barrister may forget to ask you beforehand to take a note. Seize the opportunity to exercise initiative. After shadowing, I always made a bulleted list of the lessons. Several times during my second six, I referred to my bulleted list.
If you sit idly (attempting to listen), waves of drowsiness will undoubtedly fall upon you. Before you know it, you will be yawning and tantalised by a quick nap. Resist that temptation by taking a note!
Be polite and courteous to everyone. Remember that your role is not to provide your thoughts or advice to the professional or the lay client. Sometimes the instructing solicitor may ask you for your thoughts in the presence of the barrister that you are shadowing. Your response would generally not be objected to by the barrister. But be guided by the barrister you are shadowing and exercise your discretion.
Avoid providing your thoughts or advice to the lay client. Once lay clients understand that you are a pupil and that your role is to observe and learn, queries would be directed to the barrister or the instructing solicitor.
Ensure that you plan your journey the evening before. Check to see if your route will be impacted by train strikes. Consider the time that it will take to walk from the station to the court. If you are taking the train, take the train before the one you actually need. This allows you to address unexpected train cancellations and delays. I recall one of the trains I took being 1 hour and 8 minutes delayed. I still got to court early because of the above-mentioned strategy.
If you are driving, ensure that you leave enough time for unexpected diversions, car trouble or traffic.
Rarely you may be unavoidably late, or you have to make a mad dash into the court building with a few minutes to spare. If you are ever in that situation, update your clerk and the barrister you are shadowing.
Undeniably, there will be some days which will require an early start. I have had numerous early mornings, but I recall vividly taking the 6:05am train to London. There is nothing quite like stumbling around in the dark hours of a winter morning.
Wouldn’t you rather be asleep in your heated home under those warm sheets? But you must set that alarm. Grab your coffee, or in my case, blend a smoothie and get a move on!
Develop a routine that helps you to wake up and tackle the day. Every morning, I pray, meditate and stretch for 30 minutes. That gradually awakens my body and mind. It also spiritually, physically and mentally prepares me for the tasks ahead.
There will be long days. I always ensure that I carry lunch, water and snacks in my bag. A well-fuelled brain can easily perform its analytical functions.
Diarise recreational time. Set aside your weekends to engage in fun and relaxing activities. A good work-life balance is the key to a successful practice.
When I was tasked with drafting my first advice, my fleeting thoughts included: How can I give advice when I need the advice myself? I really don’t have a clue what to write. If you ever have these thoughts remember to pause, read the instructions, read the papers, write what you don’t understand and conduct research. Remember that you are intelligent and capable. You will surprise yourself by how much you know.
The best way to learn is by doing. No one expects a perfect response. Do your best and be willing to accept the feedback. Celebrate the strengths of your work. Identify the areas of improvement. Ensure that you understand how to improve. If you do not understand, ask questions. Request a copy of the barrister’s drafting. Compare and contrast your drafting to theirs.
It is likely that you will be exposed to the Hampel method when participating in the advocacy course. The aim is to provide feedback on a specific area of your performance. This may be daunting, and you may even feel dejected. Nevertheless, focus on distilling the feedback from the emotional sting. Apply the feedback and celebrate your progress.
Do not take unfavourable feedback as an insult to your intelligence or capabilities. Remember that even the greatest advocate was once a beginner.
It is important to keep an up-to-date pupillage work diary. It can be used as a great tool for reflection and self-assessment. The diary also serves to pinpoint the experience you have developed while identifying areas for improvement.
Discuss your progress at pupillage review meetings. Invite candid discussion about the areas that you can improve upon. Develop a long-term strategy which enables you to take small steps towards achieving certain milestones by different stages of pupillage.
This way, you can fully embrace the learning opportunities of your first six.
Nia Marshall will conclude her second six at Exchange Chambers in September 2024. Her practice includes personal injury and employment. She is also the founder of International [Future] Barrister Mentorship.
Welcome to the Bar! You are about to begin a new chapter of your life. Unsurprisingly, apprehension, joy and excitement will be galloping around your mind.
The first six months of pupillage will whizz by. Most of the time you will use the adrenaline rush to assimilate information and accomplish simultaneous deadlines. But don’t get lost in the flurry of it all. Here are a few things that you can expect to accomplish during the first six:
If possible, arrange a visit to chambers before you start pupillage. A few weeks prior to the commencement of my pupillage, Chambers invited my mum and I to visit. We interacted with the Leeds Chambers director, clerks and barristers. This meeting made me feel comfortable and ready to face a new beginning and, as my amicable relationships with the staff in Chambers blossomed, my initial nerves eventually disappeared.
Have a respectful and good rapport with the staff. When you commence pupillage, develop genuine and meaningful relationships. Those relationships can be created by acknowledging and chatting with the staff, eating lunch or inviting them for coffee, introducing yourself to barrister members, attending chambers events and other Bar-related events. It is important that you integrate yourself and, throughout, remember to be yourself!
Most of your first six will involve shadowing barristers either during hearings or conferences. I know that it is tempting to think that you are invisible and can simply blend into the furnishings of the room. Remember that the key to effective shadowing is listening attentively and extracting the lessons necessary for your practice. You will deploy what you have learnt sooner than you think.
Read and analyse the case papers. Research the applicable law. Write questions about anything that you are uncertain about. Often the barrister will ask you for your opinion on the case. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the facts and the applicable law. It is also an opportune time to get your queries resolved.
While shadowing, always write an attendance note. Sometimes the barrister may forget to ask you beforehand to take a note. Seize the opportunity to exercise initiative. After shadowing, I always made a bulleted list of the lessons. Several times during my second six, I referred to my bulleted list.
If you sit idly (attempting to listen), waves of drowsiness will undoubtedly fall upon you. Before you know it, you will be yawning and tantalised by a quick nap. Resist that temptation by taking a note!
Be polite and courteous to everyone. Remember that your role is not to provide your thoughts or advice to the professional or the lay client. Sometimes the instructing solicitor may ask you for your thoughts in the presence of the barrister that you are shadowing. Your response would generally not be objected to by the barrister. But be guided by the barrister you are shadowing and exercise your discretion.
Avoid providing your thoughts or advice to the lay client. Once lay clients understand that you are a pupil and that your role is to observe and learn, queries would be directed to the barrister or the instructing solicitor.
Ensure that you plan your journey the evening before. Check to see if your route will be impacted by train strikes. Consider the time that it will take to walk from the station to the court. If you are taking the train, take the train before the one you actually need. This allows you to address unexpected train cancellations and delays. I recall one of the trains I took being 1 hour and 8 minutes delayed. I still got to court early because of the above-mentioned strategy.
If you are driving, ensure that you leave enough time for unexpected diversions, car trouble or traffic.
Rarely you may be unavoidably late, or you have to make a mad dash into the court building with a few minutes to spare. If you are ever in that situation, update your clerk and the barrister you are shadowing.
Undeniably, there will be some days which will require an early start. I have had numerous early mornings, but I recall vividly taking the 6:05am train to London. There is nothing quite like stumbling around in the dark hours of a winter morning.
Wouldn’t you rather be asleep in your heated home under those warm sheets? But you must set that alarm. Grab your coffee, or in my case, blend a smoothie and get a move on!
Develop a routine that helps you to wake up and tackle the day. Every morning, I pray, meditate and stretch for 30 minutes. That gradually awakens my body and mind. It also spiritually, physically and mentally prepares me for the tasks ahead.
There will be long days. I always ensure that I carry lunch, water and snacks in my bag. A well-fuelled brain can easily perform its analytical functions.
Diarise recreational time. Set aside your weekends to engage in fun and relaxing activities. A good work-life balance is the key to a successful practice.
When I was tasked with drafting my first advice, my fleeting thoughts included: How can I give advice when I need the advice myself? I really don’t have a clue what to write. If you ever have these thoughts remember to pause, read the instructions, read the papers, write what you don’t understand and conduct research. Remember that you are intelligent and capable. You will surprise yourself by how much you know.
The best way to learn is by doing. No one expects a perfect response. Do your best and be willing to accept the feedback. Celebrate the strengths of your work. Identify the areas of improvement. Ensure that you understand how to improve. If you do not understand, ask questions. Request a copy of the barrister’s drafting. Compare and contrast your drafting to theirs.
It is likely that you will be exposed to the Hampel method when participating in the advocacy course. The aim is to provide feedback on a specific area of your performance. This may be daunting, and you may even feel dejected. Nevertheless, focus on distilling the feedback from the emotional sting. Apply the feedback and celebrate your progress.
Do not take unfavourable feedback as an insult to your intelligence or capabilities. Remember that even the greatest advocate was once a beginner.
It is important to keep an up-to-date pupillage work diary. It can be used as a great tool for reflection and self-assessment. The diary also serves to pinpoint the experience you have developed while identifying areas for improvement.
Discuss your progress at pupillage review meetings. Invite candid discussion about the areas that you can improve upon. Develop a long-term strategy which enables you to take small steps towards achieving certain milestones by different stages of pupillage.
This way, you can fully embrace the learning opportunities of your first six.
Don’t get lost in the flurry of first six. Nia Marshall shares a few tips to help you get the most out of this time
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