Having only been exposed to the day-to-day life of a solicitor, I initially thought that this would be my desired career path. However, after having taken part in work experience with Matrix Chambers, I might have to reconsider.
Day 1
My first day began with a general introduction to Matrix. Here, it was explained to us that Matrix is taking on a slightly different approach to other chambers – they strive to create a more modern working environment, which is achieved by replacing older terminology (such as pupil) with less hierarchical terms (like trainee). This idea traces back to the very beginnings of Matrix: Matrix Chambers was established by barristers rather than an external company, which is quite out of the ordinary. Barristers wanted to be the leading force behind this chamber to ensure that all their needs were met and that Matrix was essentially more ‘barrister-friendly’.
After a general induction, we were given a tour of all the buildings that make up Matrix Chambers, from the beautiful South Square gardens to the wonderfully historic Gray’s Inn building. It was surprising to see how much of the old infrastructure had been preserved, which really adds a sort of prestige to the chambers.
Upon getting settled down in the main offices, with all the work experience students being given their own computer and workspace, we were introduced to the case that we were due to see in court on Wednesday, involving a utilities company and the CMA. I researched this case using a variety of legal research tools available online and then made brief notes to consolidate my understanding. After reading through the case materials, I couldn’t wait to witness the procedure in court, especially since I have never been to one.
Then, we moved on to an induction with the fees team, who explained how barristers get paid and how different types of cases are generally funded. One thing that really shocked me was CFA funding, which entails that if a case is not won, then fees are not paid to the barrister. Could you imagine working day and night on a case that you would reap no rewards for? However, in these types of cases, the stakes were usually extremely high, making the eventual payout worth it. High risk and high reward – exactly the type of career that appeals to me.
The day finished off with reading a skeleton summary of a case that we were due to see in court the next morning. This case was extremely interesting, involving harassment claims. I left Matrix feeling excited about what was to come.
Day 2
My second day kicked off with a very exciting trip to the Royal Courts of Justice to witness a hearing for a case involving some high-profile individuals. I learnt a lot about the role of a barrister and how to construct a legal argument: every argument presented had to be very thoroughly backed by evidence, and even this evidence had to be valid and from a credible source. Surprisingly, the trial wasn’t as fast paced and intense as presented on TV, which shocked me. What also shocked me was seeing a barrister walk down a hallway wearing a white wig… They still wear those?
After an insightful court session, we travelled back to Matrix and were given a marked debate task that we would have to present. I chose to argue against the legalisation of guns, spending around an hour researching and preparing my argument.
To take a little break from the intense preparation session, we had a friendly conversation with some trainees over a cup of coffee at a local café. They certainly provided me with helpful advice for the future whilst detailing their experiences at university and their differing routes into law.
After this, it was finally time to present our debates – very nerve-wracking… Personally, I feel like I delivered a decent speech to defend my cause, although initially, I was quite nervous. However, the interview afterwards caught me slightly off guard in some areas. All in all, I think it was a useful experience, and I’ll be sure to learn from my mistakes next time, perhaps preparing more thoroughly.
Day 3
Most of my final day was spent at court. We started off the day reading the skeleton argument on the case that we were going to be watching. This seemed to be a very high-profile case, as when we got there, the court room was packed. This case especially interested me due to the subject matter: it concerned the current ongoing conflict with Israel and Palestine – very much relevant to current affairs.
We were also able watch the judgement for another serious murder case. Seeing the accusant’s family members in court made me realise the significant impact that some cases have on people’s lives.
We wrapped up the day with an induction with the LSS teams and then finished writing up our blogs for the day.
Overall, my experience at Matrix has been extremely insightful, having witnessed the role of a barrister both in the office and in court. I will definitely be reconsidering which pathway into law I would like to take, perhaps now leaning more towards the barrister route.