Work experience at 5 Pump Court
Clare Kelly
1st August 2023
Amelia joined us for work experience in July 2023. She is an A Level student who is interested in pursuing a career at the Bar, and gained great insight into life at the independent Bar.
Amelia's story:
Wanting to go into the law industry, pursuing a career at the Bar seems like the most attractive option for me. Shadowing multiple barristers throughout my week of work experience has definitely been a highlight of my year so far. I have attended all three types of cases: family, civil and criminal from which I have determined I do not wish to work on criminal cases once I’ve reached that stage.
Despite my original thoughts on civil law, I find it one of the most interesting areas and cases to sit in. I have learned from my week of work experience that civil law provides a legal framework for contracts, property rights, and personal injury cases. This range, to me, sounds rather intriguing and interesting because of its large variety and complex legal issues. I have also learned that by specialising in a particular area can lead to a more focused and rewarding legal practice but also requires a high level of experience and analytical skills. Having sat through two completely different civil cases, I found both very informative and helpful for my career decision: one being a road traffic accident and the other regarding property rights. I did read a third case bundle also regarding a property however the court hearing date was rescheduled.
Having vaguely looked at family law prior to my placement here at 5 Pump Court, I knew my interests would lie within the area. Therefore, it was no new discovery that I enjoyed learning and watching family cases (two of also quite different scenarios).
I learned that family law involves issues such as divorce, child custody, and domestic abuse, which can be a very difficult situation for the parties involved. I think, if and when I become a barrister, this would certainly be the area I would like to specialise in. This area entices me because it would allow me to help people through some of the most difficult and emotional times of their lives which I think is vitally important for harmony between people.
On my third day of work experience, I visited the Old Bailey where I managed to watch part of a criminal case involving murder. I came to the conclusion that criminal law wasn’t an area I was interested in working in. Not that I hadn’t found it interesting - it is without a doubt the most interesting part of law in my opinion. However, from my fairly short encounter, I knew it wouldn’t be an area I would manage working in. This is for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the pay. From my research the median salary for a criminal barrister in the year 2019-2020 was £79,800 whereas for civil and family law, it ranges from £30,000 to £150,000 depending on the barrister’s experience. Upon speaking to barristers, I have learned it is significantly lower than other areas of practice. Secondly the conditions. It is said that “members of the criminal bar have been feeling mistreated, undervalued and overwhelmed for a decade or more. The criminal justice system has been politicised by figures wishing to make political capital but unwilling to match the rhetoric with action and funding,” by Mark Fenhalls, former chair of the Bar Council.
Another very important reason would be containing my own opinion. Barristers, although speaking on behalf of a client, must remain neutral. When involving a crime such as murder, I think this would be very hard for me. As a result, I wouldn’t be able to perform my role to the best of my ability and technically do my job correctly. Overall, put simply, I find criminal cases extremely interesting, but I would not like to work in that sector.
I have very much enjoyed my placement here at 5 Pump Court. I was never bored and I was never without something to do. There were always bundles to read and cases to see which has allowed me to have a deep insight to what the job entails. This has been very useful to me for my career decisions as all the barristers I have shadowed have been lovely and answered all my questions.
Please note that we do not routinely offer work experience to school age students. We do run a work experience scheme with The Sutton Trust for students from underrepresented backgrounds. We also run a mini-pupillage programme for undergraduate law and non-law students.