Raising the Bar

Life as a new pupil barrister

Pupillage marks the start of a new phase in your path to the Bar. After the months of preparation, applications, grueling interviews and stressful waits for outcomes you may be considering what lies ahead.

In this episode Nia chats to Alana Hughes about the transition from student to pupil barrister. Alana shares her experiences, the expectations versus reality and how the pandemic impacted her pupillage and what support the Inn offers to pupil barristers.

What to do if you don‘t get pupillage

In this episode we chat to Elena Johnson, a past publicity officer of the Association of Gray’s Inn Students (AGIS) and podcast host of Raising the Bar 2019-2020. Picking yourself up after pupillage rejections is a tough part of the journey to becoming a barrister. Elena did not manage to get pupillage first time round and tells Nia what she did in the year thereafter and how it helped her secure pupillage. She also shares some tips on pupillage applications and the skills she picked up in her "gap year". 

How to prepare for the Bar Course

Are you starting the Bar course soon and started wondering what it will be like? What the workload will be? Which books you must buy? Will you have time to see you family and friends or have a part time job? What extracurricular activities should you consider?

In this episode our host Nia Marshall and Bar Course student Roseanna Cawthray-Stern, the ULaw (London) representative on the AGIS committee, talk about their experiences, share their tips and tell you how they managed, especially during lockdown.

All you need to know about qualifying sessions

In this episode Elena Johnson is back in the host seat for a discussion with Jo Robinson (Council of the Inns of Court), Julie Carruth (Bar Standards Board), and Tony Charles (Director of Education).

The topic is qualifying sessions as Jo, Julie and Tony explain why students undertake qualifying sessions, how they impact being called to the Bar, how they are quality assured and more.

Meet the Barrister: Nancy Williams

In this episode, guest host Alana Hughes, chats to Nancy Williams. Nancy specialises in three main practice areas: civil litigation, crime and family. She is on of the Bar Council's Social Mobility Advocates and is the Vice Chair of the Gray's Inn Schools Outreach Programme.

 

Remote Hearings

In this episode Nia speaks to Richard Atkins QC, Head of Chambers at St Philips Chambers in Birmingham, a respected criminal barrister and Court Recorder about his experiences over the past 12 months with remote hearings, adapting and adopting technology to keep things going despite lockdown. Richard speaks about the different solutions, considerations and more when moving criminal jury cases online.

The art of arbitration and the annual VisMoot competition

This week's guest Frederico Singarajah, is recognised in the International Arbitration Powerlist by Legal 500 and Whoswholegal, amongst the most experienced and notable international arbitration practitioners at the English bar. Together with fellow Gray's Inn member, Marion Smith QC, Frederico has been part of the team who introduced the arbitration course and  VisMoot training at Gray's Inn.

Nia chats to Frederico about his path the Bar, his passion for arbitration and what the VisMoot is all about.

LGBTQ+ representation,inclusion and equality at the Bar

What was it like being a gay man and being called to the Bar in 1989 amidst the HIV crisis and the controversial Section 28 Act of 1988?

Guest host, Alana Hughes chats to Barrister Gerald Wilson about his experiences and just how far have we come since then.

Are you worthy of pursuing the Bar?

In this episode Nia Marshall chats to Mareen Mahmood and Feleena Grosvenor. Both students come from a "non-traditional" background, have experienced challenges with their A-levels or schooling, suffer periodically from "imposter syndrome" and wouldn't describe themselves as the "typical" law student candidate. 

Despite this both Mareen and Feleena were awarded scholarships from Gray's Inn and are successfully pursuing a career at the Bar. Their message is loud and clear - ANYONE can pursue a career at the Bar.

Tune in to hear more about their journey to the Bar and how they have overcome any hurdles along the way.

Up close and personal with AGIS President Nicholas Leah

Everything you wanted to know and more about the 2020/1 AGIS President. In this episode Nia chats to fellow AGIS Committee member and President about Gray's Inn, the law, Covid, his role as AGIS president and more.