I commenced pupillage at Becket Chambers in October 2024. I relocated to Kent from my home town of Milton Keynes one month prior to starting pupillage, and was able to attend a social event with chambers which allowed me to meet and build an initial rapport with my future colleagues in a relaxed environment. Having attended the University of Kent for my LLB, it was a natural decision for me to return to Canterbury and do my pupillage with Becket Chambers.
In the month that I have been a pupil so far I have been exposed to a wide range of matters across chambers’ four key practice areas ranging from mediations over property disputes to a Judgment regarding removal of a child from the country for a temporary period. A particularly notable experience for me so far was when I was able to observe a member of chambers in a four-day rolled up fact finding and final hearing in relation to child arrangements where serious allegations of rape, as well as financial, physical, emotional and psychiatric harm were raised. I drafted an attendance note and the final order and learned the importance of sensitivity when cross-examining in family hearings; whilst one has to promote fearlessly their client’s argument it is more effective to do so by guiding the person being cross-examined to counsel’s point as opposed to the more adversarial approach which can be seen in some courts.
I have attended Court the majority of the time so far, but when I am not in court I have been able to observe alternative forms of dispute resolution, such as a mediation. It was fascinating to observe the way in which my pupil supervisor, over the course of twelve hours, effectively managed the client’s expectations and ultimately helped him to come to a settlement when, at the beginning of the morning, it was looking as though mediation would fail.
I have also been able to attend the Kent Law Society annual ball alongside members of chambers, which provided me an opportunity not only to strengthen the relationships I am forming within chambers but to network with solicitors and barristers. I am looking forward to attending more events with and on behalf of chambers to expand my network, and my social diary for November is looking very exciting.
The thing which I have most enjoyed about Becket Chambers is that it is a truly egalitarian environment. I have observed members of chambers from some of the most junior to those who have been practicing for around thirty years. I had read online prior to starting that pupils are to be seen and not heard, and whilst this is true when clients are present or we are in Court, those who I’ve observed have checked in with me to ensure I understand everything that’s going on, picked my brains for my view on cases and explained any areas that I’m unsure of in a patient manner. I look forward to the future as I continue to develop my practice.
