Raising the Bar

In this episode, Lily Olliver talks to Saara Idelbi about the growing role of generative AI in the legal profession.  They explore what tools like ChatGPT actually are, how they work and why they are becoming increasingly common in everyday legal tasks.  Other topics covered include access to justice, the rise of litigants in person and how AI may shape the future of advocacy training. A fascinati...

In part two of this two-part series, Finnian, Ava and I are joined by Joe Tarbert: the Head of Programmes at a criminal justice charity known as Standout. Join us to continue the conversation about prisoner rehabilitation and the criminal justice system.    If you would like to get involved with StandOut, you can sign up to volunteer at Volunteer — StandOut . You can also get in touch by sending a...

In part one of this two-part series, tune in to hear about Vocalise: a student-led prison debating initiative that was founded in 2010 by two members of Gray's Inn. In this episode, I speak with two of the current co-directors, Ava Chowdhury-Turner and Finnean Robinson. Join us to learn about Vocalise through their reflections and experiences! If you are interested in getting involved with Vocalis...

Welcome to Raising the Bar! My name is Hafsa, and in this two-part series, I will introduce you to your representatives on the 2024-2025 AGIS committee. Join me in Part 2 as I speak to Molly, Thomas, Ewan and Tanya, and learn more about their experiences as Bar students. You will find out about how you can get involved with Gray’s Inn: from participating in moots to joining the AGIS Run Club.  We...

Welcome to Raising the Bar! My name is Hafsa, and in this two-part series, I will introduce you to your representatives on the 2024-2025 AGIS committee. Join me in Part 1 as I speak to Jennifer, Funmi, David and Kamilla, and learn more about their experiences as Bar students. You will find out about how you can get involved with Gray’s Inn: from writing for the AGIS Law Journal to an exciting part...

Thinking of changing careers and coming to the Bar? This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking of retraining as a barrister. In this episode, I speak with barrister Nicola Sully who has a common law practice, about her journey to the Bar as a career-changer.  We discuss transferable skills, how to challenge assumptions, to articulate your motivation for changing careers and to demonstrate y...

Applying for a GDL scholarship? Tommy, a GDL scholar, discusses how he approached his GDL interview and prepared to demonstrate his advocacy, drive and determination, problem solving skills and motivation to succeed to the panel.

Interested in getting published? The Gray's Inn Student Law Journal is an ideal way for students to engage academically with the law, learn about legal writing and get published. It's an inclusive publication with support available for first-time legal commentators. In this episode, Nora speaks to Hazel Bannerman, editor of the Student Law Journal, to discuss how you can begin your legal writing c...

If you're preparing for a scholarship interview, you won't want to miss this episode!  Hear from Christian, a residential scholar, on how he prepared for his Gray's Inn Bar Course Scholarship interview and secured one of the coveted Residential Scholarships. Gray’s Inn awards at least £1.4 million in scholarships each year. In 2024, the Inn intends to award at least 85 Bar Course Scholarships to s...

"Show, don't tell" is just one of the many tips for applicants preparing for Gray's Inn Bar scholarship interviews in Episode 1, Season 5 of Raising the Bar. Gray's Inn students Matty, CK, Ioanna and podcast host Nora Nanayakkara discuss how they prepared for scholarship interviews, approached the legal topic interview exercise and answered the dreaded question, "Why do you want to be a barrister?...

In this episode Niamh explores the area of Arbitration from a students perspective. The discussion covers and introduction to Arbitration, the Gray’s Inn International Arbitration course and the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Niamh is joined by Nia a previous attendee of the Gray’s Inn course who also went on to compete in the Vis Moot. This episode was recorded in advanc...

In this episode, Niamh talks to previous AGIS Mooting Officer Samuel Moss, to provide an in-depth insight into the world of mooting. The conversation covers what mooting is and why it is viewed as such important experience for aspiring barristers. AGIS offers students a plethora of opportunities to represent the Inn at national and international competitions over each academic year and Samuel offe...

In this episode, Niamh is joined by Charlotte Ward, who offers her perspective on the journey to the bar when transitioning from a different career. Charlotte is a current Bar Course student who has successfully changed careers after years of working in the Finance industry. As a future pupil barrister Charlotte discusses her experiences in returning to education to undertake the GDL, the process...

This episode offers advice and insight into the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) for students who have studied a non-law undergraduate degree and want to pursue a career in law.  In this conversation, Niamh is joined with Nicholas Zeolla, to discuss his pursuit of a career at the Bar from a History degree. Nicholas is a current Bar Course student and is due to commence Pupillage in 2023. As the curre...

This second instalment of the Raising the Bar - A Students Guide, is hosted by Ciara Church and guest Zoe Chan.  Zoe is a Gray’s Inn Scholar and aspiring barrister wishing to pursue the law of Human Rights and Civil Liberties.   This discussion provides a student’s perspective of inclusivity and having a disability at the bar. Zoe talks about her involvement in the particular initiative of ‘Bringi...

This conversation marks the first episode of the new ‘A Student’s Guide’ series on the Raising the Bar Podcast where we will discuss topics relevant to current and aspiring bar course students. This episode is hosted by Ciara Church with guest Kelly Yu. Kelly was the AGIS treasurer from 2021-2022 and is a Gray’s Inn scholarship recipient. Kelly came to the UK for university, from Hong Kong and stu...

Working from home, online mediation, nett zero disputes, paperless practicing, the Greener Pledge - the pandemic has highlighted many of these issues and had been a period of reflection for many. How does the charge to nett zero affect how we practice, how do we enforce this in different jurisdictions, what is sustainability at the Bar? In this episode Ciara discusses all this and more with Marion...

In this episode, Ciara chats to the original podcast host ,Alana Hughes, about her new tenancy, family law, the differences between being a pupil versus a tenant at a chambers, the impact of the pandemic on her new practice and so much more.  

After a break we are back with our interesting podcast series hosted by AGIS. This episode is a first for the Raising the Bar Podcast as Alana Hughes, our guest host for the segment “Meet the Barrister”, chats to His Honour Judge Aubrey QC. Judge Aubrey was the first in his extended family to attend university after attending a state grammar school. He obtained pupillage and tenancy in Liverpool a...

The Pupillage Gateway opens for submissions on 5 January 2022 - a process fraught with tension and anxiety for most students for weeks as applications are prepared, rewritten and finally submitted. What transferable skills can you include, how should you include them,  what can you do to make your application stand out. In this episode our new AGIS host Ciara Church, chats to Ayanna Nelson about h...

Becoming a self-employed Barrister is an exciting part of the journey. What many new barristers aren’t always sure of is how to manage their finances at this point. In this episode Nia chats to Alex Friede, an accountant who advises self-employed professionals and small businesses on their tax, accountancy, and financial management affairs. He is a specialist in the affairs of barristers, and his...

Pupillage marks the start of a new phase in your path to the Bar. After the months of preparation, applications, grueling interviews and stressful waits for outcomes you may be considering what lies ahead. In this episode Nia chats to Alana Hughes about the transition from student to pupil barrister. Alana shares her experiences, the expectations versus reality and how the pandemic impacted her pu...

In this episode we chat to Elena Johnson, a past publicity officer of the Association of Gray’s Inn Students (AGIS) and podcast host of Raising the Bar 2019-2020. Picking yourself up after pupillage rejections is a tough part of the journey to becoming a barrister. Elena did not manage to get pupillage first time round and tells Nia what she did in the year thereafter and how it helped her secure...

Are you starting the Bar course soon and started wondering what it will be like? What the workload will be? Which books you must buy? Will you have time to see you family and friends or have a part time job? What extracurricular activities should you consider? In this episode our host Nia Marshall and Bar Course student Roseanna Cawthray-Stern, the ULaw (London) representative on the AGIS committe...

In this episode Elena Johnson is back in the host seat for a discussion with Jo Robinson (Council of the Inns of Court), Julie Carruth (Bar Standards Board), and Tony Charles (Director of Education). The topic is qualifying sessions as Jo, Julie and Tony explain why students undertake qualifying sessions, how they impact being called to the Bar, how they are quality assured and more.