Last month, mentee, Sengova, 17 shadowed a barrister and legal professionals at London’s prestigious Furnival Chambers for two weeks. Here, he recounts what he experienced.
Walking into a courtroom for the first time is a bit surreal but it was really exciting. My host at Furnival Chambers, Anu explained everything such as where the judge, the prosecution, defence, defendant, court officials and jury sit. I was able to learn a great deal about the procedure of the courts and how legal cases are heard. There’s a lot to take in.
Anu was a fantastic host and role model for my two weeks. She was really informal which made me feel relaxed and the whole experience was enjoyable. There was still a degree of professionalism but she explained things to me in a casual manner and showed me a great deal of what she does. This rendered the experience not only enjoyable but unforgettable.
I was able to visit different types of courts that you always hear about in the news, namely the Court of Appeal, a few of the Crown Courts and a Magistrate’s court. Anu introduced me to a few lawyers and at the Court of Appeal I saw a Lord Chief Justice and a few leading QC’s all wigged and gowned so that was exciting. I did not get to speak to them though? I know you’re all curious to know but I can’t tell you about the cases I sat in on! If I want to be a lawyer, that’s one of the first rules that I learnt that you don’t chat about cases!
I would not have had such an opportunity without Urban Synergy. Thanks for the opportunity and keep up the good work.