The Sutton Trust

We collaborate with the Sutton Trust, a charity which champions social mobility through programmes, research and policy influence. Our members volunteer with the Trust to provide A Level students from less advantaged backgrounds with work experience via the ‘Pathways to Law’ Programme.

Every May half term since 2022, we have run in house work experience programmes for 6 students providing advocacy, negotiation and mediation exercises, a visit to the Old Bailey and a CV workshop. These programmes are designed to give a real flavour of life at the self-employed Bar to Sixth Form students who are considering a career in law, and are facilitated by barristers using real life examples from practice for case studies, advocacy exercises and mock trials. 

Comments from the latest cohort include: "I had a really good time with my group and I loved everything about it... I really enjoyed your enthusiasm for law and different cases; you taught me so much more in three days then I could grasp in many podcasts. Lastly, we were all so thankful for the barristers who volunteered to speak with us! They were so lovely and kind. 

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than the one I had at 5 Pump Court Chambers."

As well as offering practical work experience, we regularly participate in events on the Pathways to Law programme. Queenet Awesu spoke at an event held at LSE in January 2024 for Year 12 students who are interested in pursuing a career in law. The event was entitled 'Solicitor v Barrister' and she advocated strongly for a career at the self-employed Bar! The feedback included that "The Q&A panel went very well, and the students were very engaged especially hearing about your journey into the legal sector." Queenet will be speaking at the same event in January 2025. 

Alex Ferrigno is speaking at a Pathways to Law event at Queen Mary University London in February 2025, again passing on information about a career at the self-employed Bar. 

Lydia Stephens formed part of a panel at a different Pathways to Law event in January 2024 where she spoke to over 70 aspiring pupils about her entry into the legal profession, advice on standing out in applications, how to utilise work experience to their advantage and various challenges and high points in her career so far!

We attended the Bar Council Summit on Social Mobility in July 2023 where Clare Kelly facilitated a workshop on widening access to the profession.