Poppy Sparrow is a family law barrister at 15 Winckley Square Chambers. She graduated from Durham University in 2017 and became a tenant at Chambers in 2020. One of her first tastes of life at the Bar came from Young Citizens’ Bar Mock Trial Competition, a legal education programme that welcomes thousands of young people to courtrooms every year. Since then, she has returned to her old sixth form as a volunteer, supporting more budding barristers taking part in the competition. As the Bar Mock Trial Competition celebrates its 35th anniversary, Poppy reflects on her journey from college to the Bar and back, calling on fellow advocates to give their time as volunteers.
My legal grounding
When asked about why I wanted to go into law, there isn’t just one stand-out reason. I always enjoyed public speaking and was a member of the National Youth Theatre as a teenager.
Law wasn’t part of my secondary school education, and I didn’t study it at A level, but I loved subjects like English Literature and History which required critical thinking.
Between the ages of 16-18 I really enjoyed volunteering for projects and organisations which helped the most vulnerable in our society. Therefore, from a skillset perspective, the role of a barrister made sense. It felt like a career where I could bring my personality and abilities in a meaningful way.
When I got to sixth form, I was keen to enter the Young Citizens’ Bar Mock Trial Competition. I saw this as the best chance to understand how the legal world worked through real practice. (We can all watch courtroom dramas on the TV, but I knew it wasn’t the same).
During the competition, I got to analyse a criminal case, establish the key facts, consider the arguments, look at different witness statements, and step into a real courtroom setting. The unique part of this competition is being made welcome at a real court room to compete. You are able to present a case in front of a real judge in a supportive and educational setting. The impression that has on a young person must not be underestimated. It certainly helps with your confidence to hear your voice being carried in a court for the first time!
I was also fortunate to build professional connections with practising barristers whilst I was studying, which really helped to provide an insight to the Bar. These days, you can only access schemes like mini pupillages when you’re over 18, which is why Young Citizens’ work with schools is so important.
Giving back from the Bar
Now, as a barrister at 15 Winckley Square Chambers, I’ve come full circle by returning to my old college to mentor students taking part in the Bar Mock Trial Competition, helping them prepare and present their cases.
The competition tries to introduce the law from a practical, skills-based perspective. No matter what job you're in, you need to be able to speak confidently, read a room, explain your view to others and respect others’ right to be heard.
I always find it impressive just how polite, engaged, and thoughtful the students are. They do a brilliant job identifying legal issues in their cases. They really listen and ask great questions. Sometimes they just need more help with the technique of evidence, especially evidence in chief, and that’s why it’s so vital that professional advocates volunteer time to teach that skill.
And it’s not just the students who benefit from this programme. The process of teaching others actually sharpens your own skills too. It makes a real difference for students to hear how the law works in the real world, from someone who works with it every day and has been in their exact position.
Why volunteer?
As barristers, we need to be accessible and visible for those aspiring to a career at the Bar. Seeing how excited and even nervous the students are to meet a “real lawyer” reminds me how powerful that moment can be in shaping a student’s potential trajectory into the legal field. The impression it forms and the confidence it can instil must not be taken for granted.
The law touches each of us every single day. It is an integral part of our society that exists to protect as well as to deter. I think every student, regardless of what career they choose to pursue, should have some understanding and experience regarding their legal rights and responsibilities, and how the court systems work.
A core duty as a barrister is to have integrity, and I think that can be carried out through volunteering and pro-bono work. To any legal professionals that are considering volunteering with Young Citizens, the staff do a fantastic job of organising the competition and make it easy to contribute. The time commitment is minimal, but the impact you can have is huge.
What you can do
The Bar Mock Trial Competition is currently looking for volunteers, especially barristers to mentor school teams. Find out more and register your interest here. Plus, discover how your organisation can support Young Citizens as a strategic partner.