Bar Student to Barrister

Welcome to this episode of Bar Student to Barrister , the podcast on your journey into pupillage and beyond into the early years of practice at the Bar. In this episode we meet Lynda Gibbs KC (Hon), Dean ofthe Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA). Lynda was called to the Bar in 1993 by the Middle Temple and practised in criminal and family law on the Midland Circuit before embarking on a legal...

Welcome to Bar Student to Barrister, the podcast on yourjourney into pupillage, and beyond into the early years of practice at the Bar, with Chris Kessling, Jody Klaire and our wonderful guest Bibi Badejo. Bibi was called to the Bar in 2005 and practises from 4PB specialising in family law. She is a Bencher at Inner Temple, an accredited advocacy trainer and the Criminal Course Director of the 202...

Meet Christa Richmond , Director of Education at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Christa is responsible for the Inn’s Education Department, which looks after the ‘cradle to grave’ provision of education, training, and general advice for members and prospective members of the Inn. Find out in this episode exactly what an Inn of Court is andhow it can help you on your journey to the Bar...

In this episode, we meet Donna O’Leary, AI Consultant at DOL Consultancy, a Course Designer and Lecturer at the Law Society of Ireland, and an Irish and UK-qualified solicitor. AI is something which will have a significant impact on allof us, which is why we were so pleased that Donna recently gave a lecture to ICCA Bar Course students, recorded at the Inner Temple, and entitled ‘AI and the Legal...

In this episode, meet Karolina Zielinska, ICCA BarCourse graduate and Called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 2021, and a tenant at 42BR Chambers, a Legal 500 leading chambers. Inspired to join the Bar at an early age by an InternationalLaw Barrister, Karolina set out on her journey with a clear goal in mind. Karolina has developed a broad practice across chambers’areas of civil expertise, inclu...

In this episode, meet Anu Lal, called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 2023 and a tenant at Fourteen Chambers, a leading London-based family law set. From taking part in a mock trial competition at school, Anu shares her inspiring journey to becoming a barrister, focusing on her experiences in family law, the emotional challenges of the profession, and the importance of preparation, research and...

In this episode of Bar Student to Barrister we hear from Sam Grimley, ICCA Bar Course graduate, called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 2025 and now a tenant at One Essex Court, a pre-eminent commercial set of barristers’ chambers in London, and The Lawyer Chambers of the Year 2025. Sam had a very successful career in the music industry as a guitarist and keyboard player. In fact, he knew from the age...

Welcome to Episode 3 of Bar Student to Barrister. In this week’s episode we have something special, a presentation given to ICCA Bar Course students on 13 October 2025, entitled ‘Failing Forwards - Building Resilience for a Career at the Bar of England & Wales’ In this episode you will hear from three professionals with fascinating insights into what resilience really means on your journey to...

Welcome to Episode 2 of Bar Student to Barrister. In this week’s episode we meet Gaurav Sachanandani, now in his early years of practice at Burnell Chambers, situated on Middle Temple Lane in London. From starting his law degree at the age of 17, we follow Gaurav through Bar training, pupillage and into his early years as a specialist tax barrister, and even why studying does not always stop when...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Bar Student to Barrister. In our first episode we meet Jody Klaire, just starting pupillage in chambers specialising in criminal law, and we’ll hear more about her pupillage experience in coming episodes.  How do you become a barrister? “In 2020 I went blind and deaf and I thought, ‘oh why not,I'll just become a barrister.’” Jody tells us all about her unique path to th...

How do you become a barrister? How do you train for the Bar? How do you apply for and secure pupillage? How do you develop a specialist legal practice? Welcome to from Bar Student to Barrister, the podcast on your journey into pupillage and beyond into the early years of practice at the Bar. In this podcast you will be hearing from many people who can tell you exactly what it feels like and looks...