Victoria Wakefield

Name: Victoria Wakefield
Chambers: Brick Court Chambers
Area of work: European law
University: Cambridge, law (2001)

I started off studying music and hoped to become a singer, but changed to law after my first year at university. I was keen to be self-employed and couldn’t see myself in a large organisation with layers of management, so the Bar seemed ideal.

I spent a year at Poitiers University in France studying French law as an undergraduate, and after graduating took a one-year masters in European law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. I enjoyed studying European law because of the way it cuts through different disciplines, and it struck me as being a growth area. I went on to Bar school, then took a year out (which I spent working in Foyle’s bookshop in London) before starting pupillage in 2004.

Working life as a barrister specialising in European law

There are lots of opportunities for a junior barrister, as so many cases have a European element. You don’t have to be a good linguist, but having passable French is helpful at the European Court of Justice.

During a typical week I am in chambers from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm and spend about one day a week in court. Cases deal with issues ranging from free movement of persons to competition; clients include individuals, large corporations and sporting organisations. I tend to be in touch with instructing solicitors on a day-to-day basis and also have contact with experts and with counsel from out of chambers. I do a lot of pro bono work, which involves contact with charities and non-governmental organisations.

Ups and downs of being a barrister

The worst thing about my job is that the workload is difficult to predict. On the upside, there are opportunities for travel, I never feel like a cog in a machine, and I like the spotlight of being in court and the way it makes me focus.