Kate Herbert

Name: Kate Herbert
Chambers: Ropewalk Chambers
Position: tenant
University: Nottingham Trent University
Subject: law
Graduated: 2003

Working as a barrister outside London

I have strong links with Nottingham as I did my law degree and BVC (now known as BPTC) here. I am from Northamptonshire and so I feel at home in the Midlands. I personally had no desire to go to the London Bar. I think a lot of people are seduced by going to the capital and assume they need to be there to be successful, but that view is now outdated. Provincial chambers are keen to attract people who are committed specifically to them and the area and that should come across in pupillage applications. I found mini-pupillages were invaluable.

Life at a Nottingham set

I have a general civil practice but am particularly interested in personal injury and housing. My lay clients range from business people to much more vulnerable members of society, particularly in the housing cases. Regardless of background, they are often nervous about giving evidence and intimidated by the whole court experience. Managing expectations and being able to explain things to the client are vital components of my job. There is a lot of paperwork in a civil practice, in addition to the court work. Most weeks I am in court every day, but not necessarily all day. I do a lot of travelling, usually within a two-hour radius. My normal hours in chambers, around court time, are 8.30 am to 6.00 pm. Most evenings I will have preparation to do.

What’s great about Nottingham

Nottingham is a fantastic city. It is very vibrant, with lots of restaurants, shops and culture. I like the fact that I can live in a village 20 minutes from chambers, which gives me the city on one side and the countryside on the other, and I’m not compromising anything professionally.