This summer, Aimee Stokes, member of the Bar Council and Young Barristers’ Committee, spoke with students from Heidelberg University about her journey to becoming a barrister. Now, she shares her story more widely offering reflections, practical advice, and a glimpse into her unique career path. Aimee currently practices in regulatory and public law at a national law firm, Mills & Reeve LLP.
Where it all began
If you’d asked me at 16 what I wanted to be, I’d have told you I dreamed of being the next Nikki Alexander. I chose science A-levels with forensic dreams in mind, but I also picked law thinking it might help me understand the criminal justice system if I ever had to give evidence.
It didn’t take long to realise I was far better suited to the study of law. At the end of my first year, my name was drawn to play the role of barrister in a mock trial. Despite overwhelming nerves, I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought perhaps my strengths may lay in advocacy rather than anatomy. So, I took the plunge and applied to study law at university with the goal of becoming a criminal barrister.
I graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2017 with first-class honours, something I never quite believed would happen. Throughout my degree, I grabbed every opportunity to immerse myself in the legal world: mooting competitions, legal committees, mini-pupillages, and marshalling. I also joined an Inn of Court, Middle Temple, as all barristers are required to do. I joined fairly early on into my degree, in the hope of learning more about the career I had chosen to embark on as the first person in my family to go to university, and as someone with no prior connections to the legal profession.
I learnt about the scholarships offered by Middle Temple and decided to apply. I was interviewed by three senior members of the Bar and judiciary. I remember thinking: if these people believe I can do this, then I can do this. Being awarded the Harmsworth Scholarship was a pivotal moment that gave me more confidence and self-belief than those three barristers will ever know. I remain forever grateful to Middle Temple.
The road to pupillage
I started the Bar Professional Training Course (now the Bar Practice Course) the same year I graduated from university. It was, without question, the most academically demanding qualification I’ve ever undertaken. There’s no sugar-coating it; the course demands dedication, time, and there are absolutely no shortcuts. The year you complete this course is also the year most people first apply for pupillage which is an equally tough task. There will be rejection, re-direction and plenty of opportunities for self-doubt. But looking back, it all built a level of resilience I still carry with me today.
I was fortunate to secure pupillage at a London chambers, starting in October 2018. By April 2019, I was on my feet in Court for the first time and by October 2019 I had my full practising certificate. I was 23 years old and officially a barrister.
Exploring the criminal Bar and beyond
I began my career prosecuting and defending in criminal cases across London. I also undertook secondments at the Financial Conduct Authority and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. These experiences opened my eyes to the value of working alongside those who instruct barristers. Secondments weren’t something I’d even known about before coming to the Bar, but they added depth to my CV and broadened my understanding of the profession.
Later, I completed a secondment at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which led to a full-time employed role as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. The CPS offered incredible opportunities for progression, and I eventually joined the homicide team, prosecuting some of the most serious fatal cases in London.
But something was missing. The role was non-adversarial, and I found myself wanting to be back in the courtroom. That’s when I made the move into private practice.
A new chapter in regulatory law
Today, I support clients through regulatory investigations and prosecutions brought by bodies like the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, and the Health and Safety Executive. I’m also back in court, handling inquests, a part of the job I truly love.
Like my knowledge of secondments, I also didn’t know there were opportunities to be an employed barrister within a law firm. I only learnt recently that some law firms even offer pupillage. The biggest difference between self-employed and employed barristers is perhaps an obvious one, but the latter route carries a regular salary. I would encourage any aspiring barrister to explore all available pathways, as choosing to qualify as either a self-employed or employed barrister is far from a fixed or final decision.
The variety of experiences I’ve had over the past 7 years has been incredible. I’ve moved on at the right times, taken chances, and built a career that’s uniquely mine.
Words of wisdom
I once listened to a barrister, very frankly, tell a room full of eager eyed students not to pursue the career of a criminal barrister. It is of course a very challenging job, but it is also something, as I hope my journey demonstrates, that brings with it so many opportunities.
So here’s my advice:
- Be realistic, but stay optimistic: if you want something enough, you can make it happen, but keep checking in with yourself to make sure it’s still what you want
- Be yourself: authenticity matters more than you think
- Work hard: there’s no shortcut, but there’s also no substitute
- Don’t compare: in the competitive world of law, someone else’s success doesn’t undermine or hinder yours
Your journey will be your own—and that’s what makes it so exciting.