Work Experience Week

1. Work Experience Week 24-28th Oct 2011 By Jennyand Leon Key: Jenny’s thoughts Leon’s thoughts Shared thoughts

2. Our expectations before the work experience placement • What we knew: • Matrix Chambers is a prestigious and reputable set • Specialises in Human Rights law. • Cherie Booth QC co-founded Matrix in 2000. • Work expected: • Administrative duties (filing, copying, butler service...) • Spending some time in courts • Delivering documents

3. Our actual experience at Matrix • How it was different from our expectations: • Most of the time spent in various courts, including the Old Bailey, Supreme Court, Royal Courts of Justice. • Observed a variety of different practice areas • Minimal filing duties. • Open - no secrets were kept from us (that we were aware of.) • Cherie Booth QC didn’t drop by...but she phoned called chambers!

4. Our actual experience at Matrix • The good bits: • The cases were interesting, especially the criminal trials at the Old Bailey as the cases were easier to understand, more dramatic and the law was very accessible. • Tom Linden QC’s brave performance in the Supreme Court, advocating for employers to give annual leave for North Sea oil workers. • Intricate and dogged questioning of barristers in Supreme Court, sometimes bordering on pedantic! • History of court rooms, giving Justice a timeless feel. • Freedom to choose where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. • Opportunity to talk to barristers and Matrix staff about the legal career and their experience. • Finding out how much barristers earn (through filing!)

5. Our actual experience at Matrix • What we would like to have done: • Shadowing the barristers throughout a case to see what they do ‘behind the scenes’, e.g. Attending their meetings. • More case work tasks or scenarios. • More opportunities to talk to trainee barristers. • Finding out more about the role of a clerk. • Look around the library on 3rd floor.

6. Jenny’s thoughts after the Work Experience After looking through the CVs of Matrix’s barristers (paying particular attention to junior members of the set) I have realised that a lot of time and money has to be spent in order to gain the necessary experiences required to even stand a chance of getting a pupillage/traineeship. Unfortunately, with the rise in tuition fees I think a lot of people who are my age will be put off a career at the bar as the levels of debt that they would incur whilst attempting to get into the profession may simply be too high. This clearly could damage the steps that chambers such as Matrix have taken to improve diversity at the bar and I think this is a challenge that the Bar Council and sets around the country need to be prepared to face. On a personal note, I have really enjoyed my week at Matrix and it has been a great opportunity for me. Whether or not pursuing a career as a barrister is a financially viable option is certainly a worry but for the moment I am content to expand my knowledge of the law by starting a law degree at University next September.

7. Leon’s thoughts after the Work Experience Having observed a number of court trials and proceedings, I realised the need for great attention to detail when dealing with evidence and cases. Barristers are required to be meticulous when constructing their arguments, and a lot of court time could be devoted to defining and disputing over small but important technical details. Consequently, an effective advocate must be articulate; a barrister mentioned how “words are the tools and trades of this profession”, hence the ability to manipulate language and persuasive speech are equally as important. Working as a barrister certainly seems challenging and rewarding, but equally work involved is time consuming. I have enjoyed my time at Matrix and the experience in courts and in the office is a real eye-opener. Although my ideal career is one in politics, I can see the links between the two professions, and I will definitely consider a career in law for the future.

8. THANK YOU 