Before the placement:
Going into the placement, I thought that I had a pretty good idea about what my week at the chambers would look like. In my head, I imagined sitting behind a desk all day, using legal jargon that no sane person would understand, surrounded by huge stacks of paperwork, and occasionally catching a glimpse of the courtroom.
But that theory was quickly debunked when, on my very first day, I spent the entire day at the court. Heading there, I assumed that the trial would last around two to three hearings, but I could not be more wrong. I quickly learned that cases can go on for as long as five to six years.
What I thought was going to be the first hearing of the case was actually the tenth, and it was still nowhere near the end. It gave me an idea about how complex and prolonged these proceedings can be and how, in some instances, delays can be used strategically by either side to serve their interests.
A day in court:
9am – arriving at the chambers.
9.15am – meeting everyone and getting a tour of the chambers.
9.30am – reading a copy of the skeleton argument and the facts of the case.
10am – heading to the court and getting a brief on the way from the barrister.
10.20am – calling the instructing solicitor to go over the key points.
10.40am – meeting with the opposing barrister who is trying to reach an out of court settlement.
10.50am – calling the solicitor to get the client’s views on the proposed settlement, who then decides to go forward with the trial.
11.20am – 20 min break while the opposing barrister consults their clients.
12pm – cross examination from the barrister, acting as a private prosecutor.
1pm – lunch break
1.10pm – back in the waiting room, brainstorming with the solicitors and discussing key points of the defendant’s arguments while having lunch.
3.30 pm - the defence presents their evidence in the form of pictures and CCTV recordings.
4.15pm - the court is adjourned for the day, and the next hearing scheduled.
Behind the scenes: chambers life
One thing that really stood out to me was the relationship between the barristers and the administrative staff, particularly the clerks. I had the opportunity to speak with a senior clerk at King’s Chambers, who was kind enough to give me insights into his work and how he supports the barristers at the chambers.
I learned that clerks do far more than just assign cases. They have to consider the barristers’ workloads, personal commitments, and wellbeing. A good clerk knows when to protect a barrister from becoming overwhelmed and how to manage difficult conversations with professionalism and empathy.
Before the placement, I had imagined clerks sitting at desks all day, assigning briefs. But I learned that a significant part of their job involves networking, especially with solicitors, to ‘sell’ the services of their barristers. This relationship between the barristers and the clerks is the one that keeps the chambers running smoothly.
Shaping my aspirations:
This placement has changed the way I view the Bar, not just as a career but as a calling. I have come to realise that being a barrister is not about who speaks the loudest, but about the one who speaks with reason, conviction, and an understanding of the people they represent.
I firsthand experienced how varied the role can be, from advocacy to collaboration with solicitors, drafting arguments, and understanding the client from an emotional point as well.
Thanks to the Bar Council, I feel more motivated in pursuing my ambitions, and I got an opportunity to get a glimpse of what lies ahead of me.
Meerab Basit, a Year 12 student, shadowed barristers at King's Chambers in Manchester.
Meerab applied for the scheme to get a better understanding of what the schedule of a barrister looks like, and how the chambers actually work behind the scenes.