By Lewis Bocking – First Six Pupil at Lincoln House Chambers.
On 25 September 2023, my co-pupil (Naomi) and I commenced our common law pupillages with Chambers. My supervisor is Simon Gurney. As I approach the end of month two of my first six, I am able to reflect on the start of my pupillage and my experience thus far.
In the weeks preceding my start date, I was in contact with members of the Pupillage Committee and my supervisor. It was helpful to have this contact, as it helped me understand what to expect when I started and gave an opportunity to ask any questions that I had. I was also able to attend Chambers prior to starting to have an induction session, during which I met my supervisor in person, members of Chambers, the clerks and Chambers’ staff. The importance of this, in my opinion, cannot be overstated as it calmed my nerves, demystified the pupillage process and debunked many of the horror stories incoming pupils may hear about.
Day 1 of pupillage was a momentous occasion for me, as it is for most. On one hand, it signifies the years of hard work which preceded it and lead to that specific point. On the other hand, I was acutely aware that it was only the start of my training and career at the Bar.
From the outset, I have been in court every day and, therefore, the first few months of pupillage have been busy. It would be impractical to touch on each experience so far; however, some highlights include shadowing my supervisor in a large-scale, complex fraud trial, Tim Storrie KC and Alex Leach KC on murder trials, and Sarah Magill on a multi-complainant rape trial. My co-pupil and I were also able to attend the Royal Courts of Justice with Andrew Thomas KC, who was resisting an application for permission to judicially review a decision of the Crown Court. These cases have involved various technical legal arguments, applications, examination-in-chief, cross-examination and jury speeches.
Furthermore, there have been two aspects of pupillage which have stood out to me which, I think, can often go understated. The first is shadowing counsel on bail applications and sentence hearings, which are the types of hearings where, as a pupil, I have learnt a lot about presentation, persuasion and the importance of exercising judgement. The second aspect is shadowing counsel in conferences, as each barrister has a unique approach. Therefore, being able to observe how barristers advise their clients on the law, evidence and sentence, as well as building a professional rapport, is enlightening. For one reason or another, there have been a few occasions during conferences when ethical considerations have arisen, and I have found noting how experienced counsel deal with such issues to be instructive for future reference.
My pupillage is predominately focused on criminal law; although, I am able to gain experience in Chambers’ wide-ranging practice areas, which is extremely beneficial. During my first couple of months, in addition to criminal law work, I have also shadowed Sam Jones in a multi-track trial concerning allegations of fundamental dishonesty by the defendant, and Laura Barbour during a professional discipline case, namely a GMC prosecution before the MPTS. Because of this, I have been able to observe differing forms of – and approaches to – advocacy, cross-examination, and procedure, all of which is valuable. All these experiences have provided exposure to high-level written and oral advocacy in a range of cases and issues. It is extremely useful, therefore, to keep a pupillage diary so that I record each day, along with any important observations and reflections.
My co-pupil and I have the chance to implement our observations and lessons learned during advocacy training sessions, ran in-house by Chambers. On a bi-weekly basis, we prepare and undertake advocacy exercises on a range of topics and issues, such as a sentence hearing, bail application or stage 3 hearing. In doing so, we are assessed by members of Chambers – of all seniority levels, including KC – and the feedback we are provided is constructive. As we approach our practising six, the nature and subject matters of these sessions will increase in complexity to help us form a solid foundation for second six. So far, they have been invaluable in terms of developing confidence and experience with respect to judicial intervention and presentation.
The opportunities and training provided by Chambers maintains an intensity to pupillage whereby I am constantly learning. My supervisor manages the amount of work I have going on, and we are in frequent contact about the type of work that I am undertaking, and my capacity. In addition to attending court, I regularly undertake written work for my supervisor – or the barrister I am shadowing. Written tasks include preparing sentence notes, case openings or closing submissions, cross-examination or skeleton arguments for a particular application. Importantly, when I submit my written work, my supervisor provides me with detailed feedback and his own written submissions, enabling us to discuss the work in depth. The assurance is made abundantly clear that I may make mistakes, but the important thing is to learn from them.
I have also been asked to undertake research for members of Chambers on a variety of matters, including issues pursuant to Part 5 of POCA 2002 and an admissibility argument relating to police interviews in other jurisdictions. Meeting and working with various members of Chambers has made me feel welcomed at Lincoln House. The clerks are always available to assist with any queries I may have, and being able to approach them for assistance is indispensable. Moreover, because of the regular contact with my supervisor and the clerks, I am always aware of where I need to be, with whom and what case(s) I will be observing.
From the most senior silks to the most junior tenants, members of Chambers have made the time to introduce themselves and answer any questions I have. The collegiate atmosphere of Chambers is a real strength. Helpfully, Chambers’ Pupillage Committee hold monthly reviews throughout pupillage, which assist my co-pupil and I in building a close relationship with Chambers. We are also held to account to ensure we have a healthy work-life balance.
To conclude, getting stuck into pupillage with Lincoln House has been my priority for a long time. I did not have any strongly held expectations for pupillage but, nevertheless, my experience has far exceeded what I thought pupillage would be like. The first couple of months have been an intense, productive and enjoyable period. Pupillage, with everything it entails, is a challenge and I am often pushed to think, read and analyse more than I think my capabilities allow for, but it is an understatement to say that I feel supported by my supervisor and Chambers. The volume and nature of the cases I am able to observe, along with the barristers I shadow, ensures an immersive pupillage experience. I look forward to the remaining months of first six before starting on my feet with the support of Chambers.