Dan Pawson-Pounds

Name: Dan Pawson-Pounds
Chambers: 6 King’s Bench Walk, Chambers of Roy Amlot
Area of work: criminal law
University: Oxford, modern history (1998)

From the Army to the Bar

After graduating I went to Sandhurst and spent six and a half years as an officer in an infantry regiment, seeing action in the Balkans and the Iraq war. However, I had always been attracted to a career in law: I thought it would be intellectually fascinating and that I would enjoy the client contact and advocacy. I was also particularly interested in criminal law as a result of my experience of societies where the rule of law had broken down.

Since being called to the Bar in 2007, I’ve found that my army background has given me the ability to get on and communicate with a range of people as well as a degree of perspective, which is useful under pressure. And just as in the armed forces, preparation is key. There is also a camaraderie in chambers that is similar to an officers’ mess.

A criminal barrister’s typical working day

I am almost always the only barrister working on my cases and have 20 to 30 on the go at any one time. On average, I work a 60-hour week. On a typical day I might be in court from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm and spend from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm working in chambers. My cases have included animal cruelty, domestic violence and other violent offences and my clients have included the Crown Prosecution Service and defendants, local authorities, Transport for London and Thames Water.

My first Crown Court case

When I did my first Crown Court case at the end of my second six, the jury acquitted my client unanimously after 45 minutes. Standing there addressing the jury, having got what you needed out of witnesses, and knowing that the points you are making are having an impact, is very satisfying. The downside is when your client receives a very hard sentence. It’s important to come away knowing that you’ve done your best.