Meet Laurie

• Please describe your journey up until pupillage (education, employment, work experience, mooting, mini-pupillages, pupillage application process etc)

I often refer to my life as having been lived in reverse. I achieved my GCSEs and A-Levels, and then I left education and began working for Virgin Trains. It was not until 2018 that I began studying law at university, which I commenced on a full-time basis with the Open University, while also working as a legal secretary within the Personal Injury and Costs Departments, as well as raising my son.

During this time, I took advantage of almost every opportunity I could. I was a News Reporter for the law society, then I was elected as Chairperson. I got involved in pro bono activities and virtual reality ‘apps’, which provided access to justice for vulnerable clients.

After three years, I obtained a First-Class degree, and I went on to attend Bar School full-time at the University of Law, Birmingham. Thankfully, I did not have to work alongside this course, as I obtained the most prestigious scholarship award from Gray’s Inn. I left the BPC with a ‘Very Competent’, having also completed my Master’s Degree, for which I obtained a ‘Distinction’. Throughout the BPC, I also undertook further pro bono work, as it is something that is important to me, helping those who require it the most.

During the period between the BPC and commencing pupillage, I worked for Willsons Solicitors in Nuneaton, where I served as a Legal Secretary in their family department. This role provided me with the certainty that I wanted to pursue a career in family law.

In terms of mooting, I won the Gary Slapper Memorial Moot. I reached the final of BPP’s Advocate of the Year and the National Speed Mooting Competition, and I participated in various other moots with Landmark Chambers and other organisations. I knew that mooting was one of the best ways to expose myself to a wide variety of legal scenarios, witness and learn from the advocacy of others and hone my own skills. Whilst mooting pushed me outside of my comfort zone, it helped build my confidence.

I undertook various mini pupillages with 3PB Barristers, Blackstone Chambers, No5, Cornwall Street and Exchange Chambers, among others. These experiences provided me with insight as to the realities of life at the Bar.

The pupillage application process itself is demanding, and I spent many hours perfecting my applications. I ensured that I used the practice form before the pupillage applications went live, which meant that the information transferred to the proper application form when the adverts went live; this helped massively. I tended to use a format where I would shoehorn my experiences (both legal and non-legal) that didn't quite fit appropriately into other areas of the application form into my answers to questions. I would typically start by highlighting a skill or experience, explaining what I learned from it, and then describe how that skill or experience will transfer to a career at the Bar. I found it helpful to use bullet points, which allowed me to meet the maximum word count while ensuring I didn't miss any important qualities.

• Please describe your pupillage experience (what drew you to your chambers, format, training, quality of work, cases shadowed, opportunities, assessments)

It’s very clichéd, but I knew I wanted to join 3PB from the moment I encountered the chambers.

Firstly, it is a top set with a great reputation, and that appealed to me – I wanted to be proud of the chambers in which I resided. It also has several centre locations, so I knew that, from a business perspective, it was successful and the work plentiful. Furthermore, it meant that if I wanted to travel further or take advantage of opportunities that were not limited to my locality, they were available.

Secondly, I put myself forward to play a ‘witness’ in a mock court hearing for 3PB’s current pupils at the time. This gave me insight into the fantastic training and resources that 3PB provides for its pupils. Whilst the training appeared demanding, it was clear that 3PB pushes its pupils outside their comfort zone and invests in them, which was what I wanted. It wasn’t simply a tick-box exercise to secure pupillage for me; I wanted to know that I would learn and be supported along the way.

Thirdly, the above insight allowed me to observe firsthand how collegiate and supportive 3PB was. Each barrister I had ever encountered from 3PB appeared to be approachable, down-to-earth and personable, which were important qualities for me. I am pleased to say that this remains true to this day. 3PB is a business, but many of its members are now close friends, and there is not a single person within the 3PB environment that I have met whom I feel unable to call upon.

• How did you find the transition from pupil to tenant?

I found it went well. 3PB has a pupillage process which truly means you feel supported every step of the way. Throughout the transition, it was a pleasant feeling to feel confident that I could approach any member of chambers and receive support or guidance. It is a scary step, with the slight comfort and reassurance of the ‘pupil’ signature being removed; however, I felt ‘ready’, as 3PB’s whole pupillage process ensures that by the time that stage comes, you are ready!

• Please describe what your practice is like now (professional development, mentoring schemes, typical working week, caseload, court exposure, work hours, work/life balance, future ambitions)

My typical workweek is spent in court, three or four days per week, sometimes more. The remainder is spent drafting legal documents or attendance notes, conducting conferences or preparing for upcoming cases.

Thankfully, I am very busy, which is great, and I feel fortunate because I thoroughly love my job! However, because I love it, I am still learning to strike the correct work-life balance. It is a difficult task to take a step back sometimes, because I genuinely care about those who instruct me, my lay clients, and my reputation – I think the biggest thing is to make sure you mark out prep days in your diary if you require them, albeit sometimes that is harder to do in reality!

My confidence is continuing to grow. Today, I represented a client in the Royal Courts of Justice, which was a fantastic experience. Shortly after I completed my pupillage, I also had the incredible experience of being led by my pupil supervisor in the Court of Appeal on a notable case – the opportunity at 3PB is second to none.

My work is varied, which I thoroughly enjoy, and I have had exposure to a range of complex cases and legal arguments, which I find fascinating. I am very pleased with the direction my career is taking. I don’t have any concrete plans for my long-term future, aside from enjoying my career, continuing to build my reputation, and hopefully going from strength to strength. That being said, I remain eager to learn, never take anything for granted, and I remain wholeheartedly committed to doing my best in each and every case.

• Please describe the culture of your chambers (colleagues, facilities, special features, social life, support staff, clerks, hierarchy)

I think I have already covered this. The culture at 3PB is incredible, and I feel fortunate to have found the right fit for me. There are numerous events, both work-related and social, hosted in, at, or around chambers. I recently organised the Christmas party, which was a huge hit…a lot of fun and dancing was had!

The support staff, well…support and then some. Every single person within 3PB, to the best of my knowledge, is a ‘go-getter’ or a ‘doer’, however you may describe it. I don’t see anyone in different roles; we all sort of prop each other up in our own way and work together as one huge team effort where everyone mucks in to make things happen and to function. Whichever direction you turn, there is always someone willing to gently encourage, provide support and guidance or simply have a conversation with. 3PB is like a seamless cog mechanism, and the rotation continues uninterrupted.

• 6. Please detail your top tips for those wanting to become a barrister/secure a pupillage at your chambers

Some may disagree with my perspective, but one major thing I consider important is being yourself. It is so easy to lose sight of who you are when you feel like you’ve been a workhorse on a constant high-achieving cycle for several years. If you have a bubbly personality, don’t be scared to show it (within reason)! The intention is that once you have obtained pupillage, you will (hopefully) be at that set for many years to come. Make sure it's not one where you’re scared to talk like you, act like you, or be like you. I couldn’t think of anything worse than stifling who I am every single day for the sake of my career. Yes, there is a level of professionalism that you require, but please ensure that you remain true to yourself. If you’re ‘too much’ for a set or you don’t speak in the correct way or you didn’t achieve X, Y or Z…well, find a more suited set where you do fit! It is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

The next piece of advice is self-evident: you need to work hard and do so consistently. Look at everything in bite-sized chunks and focus on the next ‘goal’. I believe that before pupillage, you will likely have to sacrifice some of your social life, and there will be moments when you feel like throwing in the towel, but that’s the easy option. Keep going! Remember, you are competing against others who have done it all, or they’re younger, or they have experiences you could never even dream of. You need to think outside the box, come up with a niche idea, and get involved with events or activities you wouldn’t usually participate in. These types of experiences will bolster your application; remember, not all experiences need to be formal or legal. Your experiences should demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual who can not only navigate the complexities of applying the law to a case's facts, but also that you can engage in a simple conversation with another human being who is going through a difficult period in their life. Never overlook the importance of that quality.