When I first joined Middle Temple, I didn’t know what to expect apart from some very posh dinners. Whilst the dinners are posh, there is a lot more on offer. The welcome I felt as an aspiring barrister was wholehearted, and I truly felt so pleased with my decision to join Middle Temple. The Education Department was integral to this initial impression, and as a newbie to such an environment, I was particularly grateful for their support. Some of my highlights so far have been listed below.
Cumberland Lodge Weekends
Driving up to Cumberland Lodge, I experienced excitement and nerves in equal measure. I felt this was normal as it was a new environment, though in hindsight, the nerves weren’t at all necessary. A weekend at Cumberland Lodge can be summarised as follows: a well-balanced mix of lectures, advocacy practice and social opportunities provided by the best. For the advocacy practice sessions, students were in small groups and focused on examination in chief, cross-examination, and plea in mitigation. This training was my only experience of a plea in mitigation, which was useful during a (successful) second-round pupillage interview. No doubt this had something to do with my sessions being led by Master Bernard Richmond! This is a tangible example of the quality of the sessions and their effectiveness in teaching students strong advocacy. The social opportunities were also lovely, as I met fellow students from all over the country. Alongside these structured activities, there were options such as a walk through Windsor Great Park with Christa Richmond and a session on confidence and presentation skills. By the end of the weekend, I was struck by the generosity of Benchers, Hall members and Middle Temple staff who had volunteered their time so willingly.
Qualifying Sessions
As students, we are all too aware of the need to complete Qualifying Sessions. At Middle Temple though, I have attended these sessions out of wanting to, not just need. This is because the Education department have dedicated themselves to providing sessions which engage and challenge simultaneously. One of my favourite Qualifying Sessions focused on women and their experience in the Criminal Justice System. The discussion was hosted by Master Nicola Padfield, and it provided an interesting insight into topics such as mental health issues experienced by women in prison, and the significance of legislation surrounding coercive control. Such sessions have widened my understanding of my intended field, which will be useful during my career. Furthermore, when attending these sessions in person I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with fellow students and other members of the Inn. This is something I missed over the pandemic and I’m glad that we’ve had a return to normalcy!
Mock Interviews
I would advise anyone going for a pupillage interview to utilise this service. The Education department paired me with a senior practitioner in my area of interest – Master Angus McCullough. This pairing is indicative of the effort the Education department makes to provide the best opportunities to students. As soon as I made my request, there was effective communication and a clear sense of support. During the session, Master McCullough advised on a variety of things, including the types of questions I may be asked, the qualities interviewers will be looking for and how to weave my personal narrative into more polished answers. The experience allowed me to relax in my real interviews which I felt was invaluable.
Marshalling
The Inn provides a marshalling service, where students can apply to shadow judges. Through this scheme, I was lucky enough to marshal with Master Martin Edmunds, the Resident Judge at Isleworth Crown Court. Over three days, I watched trials and shorter hearings and gained an insight I didn’t previously have: I learnt about the qualities judges value in advocates. The experience also gave me something interesting to discuss in applications and interviews. Without the marshalling scheme, I would have struggled to have such an opportunity, so this is another way the Education department can offer unique experiences to Middle Temple students.
The Education team have assisted me with my advocacy skills, knowledge base, unique opportunities, and general understanding of the Bar. By engaging with their services, I have developed as an aspiring barrister, and I am confident I will take all these experiences with me into my practice.
Anjali Keeping is President of the Middle Temple Students’ Association. After completing the ICCA Bar Course, She is excited to begin Pupillage at Mountford Chambers in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys Bharathanatyam, spending time with family and travelling.
