My 4 days at Matrix Chambers was a truly unforgettable and eye-opening experience. I arrived with a limited understanding of barristers and the way the law functioned, but left with much more knowledge and a desire to one day work in the field.
I entered the Matrix reception on the first day eager to begin, but also quite nervous. However, I immediately felt much more settled after having Charlotte give us a quick introduction to all staff in the office, who were all very welcoming and open to any questions we had. Following this, we managed to catch a black cab in the chaotic traffic and travelled to Westminster Magistrates’ Court. We were lucky enough to spectate a case involving the Republic of Azerbaijan sending an extradition request for a man who supposedly was a co-conspirator of arson to a car. It was extremely engaging and interesting to watch Matrix barrister James Stansfield craft arguments to support the defendant in the witness stand whilst the opposing barrister would try to cross examine him. Following a delicious lunch at Leather Lane Market, we were given a marketing task where we designed invitations digitally for Matrix events such as a Silk Party using the site Canva. Finally, Iona Elkington took us on a quick tour of the four Inns Of Court and provided us with a lot of useful information about them, as well as the steps to becoming a barrister.
On day two, we went out for coffee with training barristers Zoë Brereton and Jessica Sutton. It was not only fun given their warm personalities, but also incredibly informative as they explained their own paths and experiences as well as responding to any queries we had. Later, we were given an induction to the Fees and Finance team at Matrix, where Christine Bacani educated us about the various types of funding for cases and the nuances of each one. To consolidate our learning, we then completed a short exercise about different funding in law. In the afternoon, we performed a marketing task which was to create LinkedIn and X posts about a recent Supreme Court ruling that would be suitable to be used online by the Matrix account. Just before finishing for the day, we began preparation for a mock interview that would take place on Thursday.
The highlight of my time at Matrix came on day three, where we had the privilege of once again attending court, but this time at the Royal Court of Justice. Having read the skeleton argument beforehand, I was slightly confused by some of the language, however renowned barrister James Laddie KC put my mind at ease with his comprehensive explanation of the case and the history of it. I loved watching him showcase his specialist knowledge of employment law and easily refute arguments made by the claimant, eventually resulting in the judge ruling in his favour. The magnitude of the case due to the money at stake as well as the tradition of the building made it all the more memorable.
On the final day, Donella Torcassi and Sonder Li from the LSS (Legal Support Service) gave us an insight into their pathways to Matrix and their current roles. We read through documents of recent cases to do with protests such as those organised by Just Stop Oil and got taught about precedents and legal conventions. Furthermore, we learnt how to operate sites like Lexis and Westlaw that are very useful for the legal assistants to find particular cases. In the afternoon we had our mock interview: the first part of which we were able to prepare for, but for the second part we had to answer unfamiliar questions. This allowed us to practice our reasoning skills, communication and ability to think on the spot.
Overall, my experience at Matrix truly boosted my previously basic knowledge of the law and I was incredibly lucky to have such a wide range of experiences from all aspects that the chambers offer. Therefore, I would heavily encourage anyone reading this to apply, as this opportunity for me sparked a real interest in law. Finally, I would also like to thank all the staff at Matrix for making four days as enjoyable as possible.