Ahead of the Employed Bar Awards, we spoke to several shortlisted nominees about why the awards matter, how attitudes toward the employed Bar have changed and the highlights of their time in employed practice – from briefing the King to advising on legal aspects for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Some were pleasantly surprised but all were honoured to be nominated alongside such “inspiring” barristers.
Answering our questions are:
- Angharad Price, the Government Legal Department
- Chris Loweth, BBC
- Lorinda Long, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Sirah Abraham, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Thomas Johnson, Edwin Coe LLP
Why do the Employed Bar Awards matter?
Thomas: Because they recognise the long history of the employed Bar (the position of attorney general has existed since at least 1243) and celebrate the often-underappreciated contributions of barristers working outside the walls of chambers. These awards highlight the diverse roles that employed barristers play in shaping policy, advising businesses, and ensuring legal integrity across various sectors. They also provide a platform to share best practices, inspire future leaders (dare I say applications for silk), and foster a sense of community and achievement within the employed Bar.
Sirah: At their core, it is the recognition of the incredible work that employed barristers undertake across the legal spectrum in both the public and private sectors.
Angharad: The Employed Bar Awards really matter because so many people see barristers only as those who work at the self-employed Bar. Most other legal awards are focused on self-employed barristers work and this is the only opportunity to show the world how valuable the employer Bar is. We make up a fifth of the profession but often feel like a silent minority, these awards change that and show our achievements.
Lorinda: They are a great way to show that members of the employed Bar are recognised for making a significant contribution to the profession.
Chris: There’s a large gap in understanding of the work of the employed Bar, particularly those of us working in commerce, finance, and industry. The awards are an opportunity to close that gap, and to recognise the enormous contribution employed barristers make.
Why is recognition of the employed Bar important?
Lorinda: Historically, the employed Bar has been regarded as a sort of “third class citizen” by the self-employed Bar and whilst that view has changed substantially over the last ten years or so, there are still pockets of the profession that continue to treat us as having little value. The members of the employed Bar have worked and continue to work tirelessly to change that opinion. I think bringing the two sides of the profession together more often would be a good thing.
Angharad: For me, recognition of the employed Bar is important because it is linked to diversity, inclusion and social mobility. There are so many reasons that people like me, a disabled woman, chose not to enter chambers and the self-employed Bar. However, it is still viewed in our profession as someone “less”. I would like to see the employed Bar recognised as the excellent career route that it is, not a lesser alternate to the self-employed Bar. I would love to see students coming to us to learn about the work of the employed Bar and for a change in culture across the profession where we are treated equally with self-employed colleagues.
Chris: The unique skills and experiences of the Bar are immensely valuable to employers across industry, government, and other organisations. Raising awareness of the value the employed Bar brings helps improve understanding of its work and improves career opportunities for all barristers. It also helps the Bar become a more diverse and inclusive profession, given the greater diversity of people at the employed Bar.
Thomas: Recognition underscores the unique challenges and expertise of employed barristers. In particular, it addresses a long-held view that somehow their work is sub-optimal or less respected than that of the self-employed Bar. The awards elevate the profile of the employed Bar’s work within the broader legal profession. Proper recognition looks like acknowledging achievements through awards, professional development opportunities, and platforms that showcase their impact, reinforcing the value they bring to both the Bar family and wider legal profession. It is evident by this question that we are not there yet.
Has the role of the employed Bar changed throughout your career?
Angharad: When I was a student and even in my first years at the Bar, I had no idea the employed Bar even existed. It was not mentioned in any career information, nor talked about by anyone I met who was involved in the law. Like many others, I accidentally ended up as an employed barrister, because I wanted to work in the public sector and wanted to deal with case from start to finish rather than only at the end. A few years later, I was able to benefit from some of the first sessions of the excellent training for employed barristers from Middle Temple, my Inn, including ethics and advocacy training specifically aimed at the employed bar. This was a turning point and employed bar training is now far more widely available.
I’ve been a member of the Bar Council’s Employed Barristers Committee and with others, I’ve sought to raise the profile of the employed bar at careers fairs, talking to students and where I work now at the Government Legal Department (GLD). Now, you see so much more information about the work of the employed Bar everywhere. From last year, I was finally able to join my circuit – Wales and Chester Circuit and I’m now working with to raise the employed Bar’s profile here too.
Lorinda: I have been in practice for over 30 years and I have seen many changes during that time. One of the reasons I stood for the role of Treasurer of the Bar Council was because I wanted to raise the profile of the employed Bar and having one of the Officers being an employed barrister was, in my mind, a great way to to do that. The members of the employed Bar have worked hard to try and influence the perception of what the employed Bar is and what it does and I think that work has paid off but there is still a way to go. In addition the number of employed barristers has increased substantially and will therefore have a bigger voice.
Chris: There’s more recognition and acknowledgment of the employed Bar now by the profession, but there’s still a way to go. Employers are increasingly aware of the value the employed Bar brings, creating greater opportunity for employed barristers to grow in their careers.
Can you tell us about a career highlight?
Sirah: I have a few! The creation of Sentencing Guidelines in ten countries in the Caribbean was a significant amount of work, but a huge achievement and I know will have a lasting impact on the justice systems. Another highlight was being given the opportunity to give a private briefing to HRH The King about our work in the Caribbean and reducing the impact of serious organised crime on the UK. Definitely a meeting I won’t forget!
Lorinda: When I was working at Paribas, I was the sole lawyer supporting the securitisation business (highly complex structured transactions). We had one client who was an Italian bank and under Italian law, it was extremely difficult to do these types of deals without it being embodied in the Civil Code. The Italian state decided to pass a law allowing securitisation transactions to be done for Italian clients and our deal was the first one to be done under that legislation. It was amazing to be part of a ground-breaking transaction like that!
Angharad: One of the most difficult cases I conducted back when I worked in local government was a career highlight. It was a possession claim where the Council I worked for was seeking to evict a young, vulnerable woman because she was having parties and allowing her home to be used by others for drug taking, which was having a detrimental effect on her neighbours, most significantly her closest neighbour who was an elderly veteran. There was such a difficult balance in terms of different people’s rights, and complex legal issues. I was doing the advocacy myself during the three-day trial in front of a High Court Judge, but underneath my wig and gown, I had several layers of warm clothing as it was also during a snowstorm. It is a career highlight as I remember how difficult it was, but also how we achieved the right outcome. It led to later career decisions I made to work on equality and human rights and increased my interest in public law issues that I work on today.
Thomas: A career highlight for me was representing two elderly clients in a High Court appeal, where I had the opportunity to advocate on their behalf on a challenging point of law concerning unless orders. Although we were ultimately unsuccessful in the appeal, permission was secured (out of time) to proceed to that stage. While the final decision did not go our way, the judge acknowledged that I had thoroughly argued every point available to me. This experience not only reaffirmed my commitment to providing the best possible representation for my clients but also highlighted the value of persistence - “donning my tin hat” (I actually said this) – when making submissions to a judge.
Chris: Standing beneath the stadium at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games as it was broadcast to almost a billion people, having spent the previous eighteen months advising on all the legal aspects of the Ceremony, is perhaps the most memorable. Today, playing a small part in the work of the world’s most trusted news organisation is an ongoing highlight.
Why should aspiring barristers or those at the self-employed Bar consider a career at the employed Bar?
Angharad: The employed Bar has so much to offer anyone who wants to be a barrister. Personally, I have worked in various roles in the public sector, in local government, Welsh Government, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and now at GLD. In all those roles, I’ve been able to use the skills I learnt when training to be a barrister. I’ve been able where I’ve chosen to do my own advocacy, I’ve conducted high profile cases and I’ve worked on challenging legal issues.
However, I have also learnt what it is like to work in small and large organisations, in teams alongside other professionals and with a variety of clients. Being employed, I have been able to benefit from flexible working to fit around my family life since I gave birth to my twins seven years ago, I’ve been able to continue to work full time despite being diagnosed with long covid, and I’ve developed all sort of the skills from managing teams large and small. If you are an aspiring barrister or a self-employed barrister, you should consider the roles available at the employed Bar, they are all varied, and you can make them your own.
Lorinda: I started my career at the criminal Bar but realised early on that it was not where I felt I should be. So I wanted to work in the commercial world and got a job as an assistant legal adviser at a Japanese Bank and never looked back. I think that working for a single organisation means that you get to see and be involved in the bigger picture, understand the business from beginning to end, develop strong relationships with your internal clients and feel that you have contributed to the success of the business and show that you add value.
Thomas: For a change of pace — and perhaps a bit of extra job security! Working in government or a law firm offers a unique perspective on the legal landscape, allowing a barrister to tackle diverse and complex issues from a different angle as well as fulfilling a traditional barristerial role. It also comes the opportunity to have a real desk that doesn’t double as a kitchen table. It’s a chance to be at the heart of strategic decision-making while enjoying the stability and camaraderie of being part of a dedicated legal team.
Sirah: The employed Bar offers so many experiences and opportunities. I have worked for both the CPS and the FCDO. Both wonderful organisations with passionate lawyers who care about the work they do. In my role I have the opportunity to influence how legislation is drafted and how governments reform their justice systems, it’s the best job in the world!
Chris: Being involved at the heart of an organisation’s decision making, adding the value a barrister can bring, and working as part of team of professionals is immensely rewarding.
Find out more about the Employed Bar Awards and have a look at all the barristers nominated.