Lydia Reed – Pupillage: Looking back on First-Six

As I’m now a couple of months into my second-six, I’m surprised at how quickly the first six months have passed. Looking back, I’ve had a fulfilling six months that provided the grounding for me to thrive on my feet.

Civil

For my first three months, I was supervised by Hylton Armstrong. I saw a mix of personal injury and clinical negligence work. A typical week looked like a court visit, completing paperwork and attending a few conferences with clients. I was able to hone my written advocacy, which will stand me in good stead when completing papers independently.  Hylton and I travelled across the North East, including an insightful visit to a prosthetics rehabilitation clinic in Sheffield. Being able to see the experiences of claimants requiring amputation first hand was crucial for me to be able to understand the realities when drafting schedules of loss for amputee claims.

As Hylton’s pupil, I also had the opportunity to sit on the other side of the bench. Marshalling with Deputy District Judge Armstrong enabled me to see different styles of advocacy. It also provided an insight into how courts work behind the scenes.

Most recently, I attended the Personal Injury Bar Association Conference at Keble College, Oxford. It was an enjoyable weekend offering a combination of learning and socialising with people in Chambers. The Advocacy and Schedules workshops were especially helpful, and I hope to continue to use the skills learned during my next six months.

Employment

From January until May, Andrew Sugarman was my pupil supervisor. The second half of my first-six shifted my brain to employment matters. We began in London, where Andrew sits part time as an employment judge. Like sitting with Hylton, it was useful to understand the inner workings of the Employment Tribunal. It also highlighted how judges benefit from counsel acting pro bono for litigants in person, as it helps hearings run a little more smoothly. It encouraged me to sign up to Advocate’s Pupil Pledge.

I have seen complex multi-day hearings in discrimination, whistleblowing and redundancy matters. With these, I have considered how to approach cross-examination myself and how I would prepare written submissions. I have also observed a plethora of preliminary hearings, covering case management, applications to strike out and compiling lists of issues. These have given me the chance to draft my own list of issues ahead of the hearings and practice concise written work.

In March, I attended a Judicial Mediation. It was interesting to see a more informal approach adopted by the judge, acting as a go-between between both parties to encourage settlement. This required a departure from court or tribunal style advocacy and more of a shift towards negotiation, both with clients and the judge.

Life at Parklane Plowden

Starting pupillage at Parklane Plowden meant a new city, new job and new people. I have been welcomed by members and staff alike and have found the shift relatively seamless. I had a great time in February as part of the ‘pupil swap’ – I spent a week getting to know the team in Newcastle. It was lovely to spend time with the pupils and juniors. I look forward to growing the relationships I have built over the next six months, especially over a drink on the sunny terrace at our Leeds Chambers!

Life on Circuit

Being a pupil on the North Eastern Circuit has been very enjoyable. Back in October, we attended the Pupil’s Practice Management Day which proved a good opportunity to meet others on circuit. I also enjoyed Grand Court, which was my first Mess. In February, we undertook the Pupils Advocacy Training which ensured I felt ready for second-six and also provided another chance to catch up with pupils before we began the next half of pupillage. We were a combination of nerves and excitement all round!

Overall

I’ve had a brilliant first six under the supervision of Hylton and Andrew. I’ve learnt a lot about legal content and essential skills. Quarterly catchups with the pupillage committee have enabled me to regularly reflect on what has gone well, what to improve upon and how I am hitting the competencies required in the professional statement. I have felt supported by my supervisors and beyond that, with members of chambers offering help anytime of the day. I am very much looking forward to the remainder of my pupillage, now under the supervision of Anna Datta.