Navigating the Road to Advocacy: Insights from Pupils Leah Arthur and Harry Thomas

Leah Arthur and Harry Thomas have recently started the second six of their 12-month pupillage at 5 Essex Chambers. They have had the opportunity to gain exposure to Chambers’ core practice areas over the first six months and are now handling their own cases in court. In the article below, Harry provides a candid overview of his perspective on his pupillage year to date and Leah provides answers to our Q&A which will give readers, particularly aspiring pupils, an insight into the busy life of pupils at 5 Essex Chambers.

Harry’s journey: a glimpse into the first half of pupillage

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

(Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)

Writing frankly, mixed emotions such as these, whilst perhaps a touch dramatic, capture my feelings over the course of this pupillage year, but there has been support aplenty at 5 Essex Chambers. ‘An open-door policy’ is one of those phrases that you consistently encounter during pupillage research, seemingly thrown in irrespective of substance to support its use, but at 5 Essex it has indeed been the open-door policy, translating into consistent and meaningful support, which has made this challenging year navigable. That support has ranged all the way through from barristers, to clerks, to the administrative staff. It has also extended beyond professional support into pastoral care. From a professional perspective, it has also resulted in some of the most stimulating moments of my pupillage as I observe but also participate in conversations between Members of Chambers as they wander into one another’s rooms and debate a legal problem: the very embodiment for me of ‘the hive mind’ unshackled from any unhelpful sense of hierarchy. Such examples are precisely why as a career changer, I made a very deliberate decision to come to the Bar.

The highs for me this year so far have been in the variety and meaningful nature of the work I have been involved in, which is true of the small and more contained matters I have dealt with so far whilst on my feet, as well as the more complicated and expansive cases I have worked on for supervisors and other Members of Chambers.

The lows have largely been around getting used to everything that is required or caused around the work itself. For example, getting used to the fact that your diary isn’t really your diary at all, which is not to say that you don’t have input or control, but that you need to understand how best and when to communicate with a clerking team which precisely because they are exceptional, is looking to develop and further your practice from the very beginning.

In conversation with Leah: lessons from her pupillage journey so far

What does a typical day as a pupil look like?

Particularly now that I’m in my second six, there’s no such thing as a “typical day”. One day I might be travelling to a Magistrates’ Court outside London to make a civil application. The next, I’ll be in chambers drafting a Letter of Response for a client. The only real constant in my days is my inevitable check-in with Members of Chambers to run through my approach to a piece of work, as they always mercifully find the time to oblige me. All in all, the variety keeps me on my toes as each day brings something new to get to grips with.

What type of support do you get as a pupil?

The greatest source of support is the people. Members of Chambers take the time to provide extensive training throughout pupillage to ensure that we are well prepared for the type of work we encounter and can develop the skills necessary to succeed. Chambers also truly lives up to its open-door policy as there’s always someone willing to help whether in person or via the WhatsApp group chats.

What has been your most rewarding experience in pupillage?

My most rewarding experience was my first day in court when it really hit me that everyone in the room was listening to me. There was no one to hide behind as it was now entirely down to me to advocate for my clients and ensure the best possible outcome. That moment felt like the culmination of all the hard work I had put in over the years.

What has been your biggest challenge in pupillage?

My biggest challenge has been learning to balance competing responsibilities. Pupillage is no small feat. Managing your own caseload alongside completing work for other Members of Chambers can be extremely demanding and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed (and exhausted) trying to keep up with it all.

I’m still learning how best to manage but I’m quite grateful that much of the pressure is self-imposed. My supervisors and the clerks have consistently emphasised the importance of communicating my limits and have been extremely supportive as I try to find my footing.

What would you do differently if you could start pupillage again?

I would spend more time shadowing junior Members of Chambers. There’s a great deal to learn from juniors, whose workload is often more reflective of the cases you are likely to handle when you start on your feet. Completing work for them or shadowing their hearings is one of the most effective ways to prepare as the more you can absorb from observing their work, the smoother the transition into second six will be.

What advice would you give to future pupils?

Don’t suffer in silence!  Pupillage is a steep learning curve, and no one expects you to have all the answers. This is the time to put your pride aside.  Ask the “silly” questions, communicate the support or exposure you think you need, and be honest when you have taken on more than you can handle. It’s far better to have those humbling moments now with the guidance and support that pupillage provides than to begin your career feeling lost or unsure when dealing with clients on your own.