Diary: Life as a Crucible Pupil - Month 3.

Welcome to the second monthly update from two new pupils, Liam Chin and Camila Ferraro. We hope that this will prove useful to all of those hoping to secure pupillage, and to anyone who wants to find out a little more about life at the Bar.

Camila Ferraro.

I was fortunate to spend the first half of first six under the supervision of Laura Bayley. I could not have hoped for a more supportive and encouraging supervisor as I started my year of training. I saw a range of interesting cases brought by the Care Quality Commission, General Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Office of Rail Road, and the Disclosure and Barring Service. My introduction to regulatory law was incredibly positive and sparked my interest in a regulatory practice.

I am delighted that Clea Topolski is my new pupil supervisor. She enjoys a thriving criminal practice, which positions me well as second six approaches. This month, I have joined Clea in a murder trial at the Old Bailey. It has been fascinating to watch skilled advocates in one of the country’s most iconic courts. The case relies on significant cell site evidence, so it has been useful to learn about the process of cell site analysis and its limitations. This month, I went to the Youth Court for the first time, which, was invaluable. It helped me to demystify youth court proceedings and furthered my understanding of the impact of an NRM referral in case.

Ben Rowe, who leads the advocacy programme, has thoughtfully structured the remaining advocacy sessions of our non-practising period of pupillage. We have been informed of what the upcoming sessions will consist of and by whom they will be led, which is reassuring as they are geared towards preparing us for being on our feet.

A constant throughout my first four months of pupillage is how kind and approachable everyone at Crucible has been. It has made a naturally challenging process, truly enjoyable. I am very much looking forward to the months ahead.

Liam Chin.

We are now more than halfway through our first six. As the excitement and trepidation ramp up towards our second six, so does our preparation in Chambers.

We had a wonderful Christmas break, and shortly after our return I sadly finished my first three months under the tutorage of Oli. Crucible split pupillage into four three-month periods so that we have as much as exposure to as many members of Chambers as possible. I learned so much from Oli and am truly grateful for all the knowledge and advice he has imparted on me. I couldn’t have wished for a better introduction to the Bar. I am however, delighted to now be under the guidance of Ben Rowe. In an absolute stroke of luck, Ben is currently being led by Leila Gaskin, also of Crucible, who was Criminal Junior of The Year a couple of years ago, in a four-month trial. I now have the benefit of being taught by two exceptional barristers every day. The most apparent thing, is that no barrister is exactly the same, everyone has their own individual style and flair, and I’m really enjoying discovering mine.

Since my last blog, I have become increasingly involved in live cases. I have conducted research, written an advice, drafted defence statements, drafted skeletons to exclude evidence under s.78 PACE, and have undertaken several noting briefs. On top of this, we continue our Chambers advocacy. Everything is very much geared towards making us the best barristers we can be for April, with an emphasis on cutting out any silly little mistakes and striving for perfection. Again, every member of Chambers is incredibly nurturing, the feedback we are given is extremely helpful, and we are afforded the opportunity to implement that advice and correct any mistakes. We are now expected to turn work around a lot faster, with items such as skeletons turned around overnight. This is to prepare us for the fast-paced reality of the Criminal Bar.

Finally, good luck to everyone applying for pupillage this round. I know it can feel like such a long and daunting process, but I am so glad that I gave it everything I had.