12/11/21

In this first episode, Josiah Senu interviews Brick Court’s Richard Blakeley. Their discussion focuses on the early stages of planning to be a barrister and in particular life at university.
Amongst other things, they discuss:

•  What subjects to study and if this matters (spoiler alert: it doesn’t)
•  Maximising the value of work experience  
•  Selling yourself as a candidate
•  Diversity at the Bar and ‘scrolling through white faces’ on websites

Richard Blakeley grew up in Rotherham where he attended a state comprehensive school before going on to study law at Cambridge University and Harvard Law School. He has been a member of chambers since 2008 and is described in Legal 500 as “one of the smartest commercial juniors and a shoo-in to any litigation team heading into battle - delightful company and a mega star for the future”.

Josiah Senu is a Sutton Trust alumnus who studied law at the LSE, Harvard and Oxford. He is the former Deputy Chair of the Sutton Trust Alumni Leadership Board, was a panellist at our social mobility discussion event and will be commencing pupillage at a leading set of chambers in 2022.

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Richard Blakeley KC

23/11/21

In this episode Oscar Yong interviews Brick Court’s Sarah Bousfield. Their broad conversation covers Sarah’s path to the Bar and her advice on applying for pupillage.
 
Amongst other things, they discuss:

• What Sarah wishes she knew when she was a student & aspiring barrister
• Mistakes people make when applying for pupillage
• Diversity and inclusion (are barristers all ‘pale, male and stale’?)

Sarah Bousfield grew up in Lincolnshire where she attended a state grammar school before going on to study law at Durham and then completed her master’s degree (BCL) at Oxford. After being called to the Bar in 2013, Sarah undertook pupillage at 39 Essex Chambers where she practised for six years before moving to Brick Court in 2020.  She is described in Legal 500 as “an exceptional barrister, who is hard-working, enthusiastic and passionate.”
 
Oscar Yong grew up in London before going on to study criminology at Durham University – St Aidan’s College, where he is currently in his second year and is supported as an IntoUniversity Student Associate.

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Sarah Bousfield

01/12/21

In this episode Kerollos Brais interviews Brick Court’s Emma Mockford. Their conversation, which had to be recorded remotely, focuses on the pupillage year and Emma’s experience starting out at the Bar, having previously worked as a solicitor. 

Amongst other things, they discuss:

• The value of work experience and vacation schemes 
• Being a solicitor vs being a barrister 
• What chambers look for in pupillage applicants 
• Life as a pupil and the assessment process 

Emma Mockford studied jurisprudence at Oxford and obtained an MA in competition law from King’s College London. After undertaking a training contract and practising as an associate solicitor for three years at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Emma was called to the Bar in 2016 and became a member of chambers after completion of pupillage. Emma is described by Legal 500 as “a rising star and destined for great things”. 

Kerollos Brais is an IntoUniversity Student Associate in his final year of a law degree at the University of Sussex, and is in the first generation of his family to attend university.

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Emma Mockford

08/01/22

In this episode Yasmin Ali interviews Brick Court’s Zahra Al-Rikabi. Their conversation focuses on Zahra’s advice for navigating the early years of practice and becoming a barrister alongside being a new mother. 

Amongst other things, they discuss:

• The transition from pupillage to practice (‘Leaning in to discomfort’)
• The value of mentors and the available support structures 
• Zahra’s experience as a Muslim woman thriving at the bar 

Zahra Al-Rikabi came to England from Syria at age 9, and learned English as second language. She went on to study jurisprudence at Oxford and obtained an LLM from the LSE. After working at the Law Commission and as a judicial assistant in the court of Appeal, Zahra became a member of Chambers in 2013.  Zahra is described in Legal 500 as “fiercely intelligent” and “an excellent junior in the ascendancy”. 

Yasmin Ali is a law and politics graduate from Queen Mary University of London where she was supported as an IntoUniversity Student Associate. She currently works on communications and advocacy at Salusbury World, a charity whose mission is to support and empower refugee and migrant children and families.

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Zahra Al-Rikabi