Day 1:
My first day at Matrix was centred around a court proceeding at the Royal Court of Justice. It began with a brief introduction to Matrix as an organisation and information about an ongoing court case, specifically Prince Harry’s legal war against the Daily Mail. Although we were unable to attend, being provided with this information still gave me valuable context of the happenings of the modern legal world.
Arriving at the RCJ and attending court was both an educational and invigorating experience as I had never seen a court proceeding up close before. The case dealt heavily with the matter of public law and how public bodies navigate their interactions with ordinary citizens, especially in regard to claims of misconduct. It was an amazing introduction to the everyday reality of a barrister and reminded me of what it really takes to be able to stand up in court and fiercely present your argument. It revealed to me the intense scrutiny barristers are put under by judges, having almost every facet of their submission picked apart and interrogated. For instance, sometimes arguments would derail into debates around the definitions of individual words and the technicality of specific phrasings, which showed me how important even the smallest of details can be. Additionally, it also clued me into some new legal jargon. Moreover, it was very surprising to see the continued use of physical documents and how much paper is involved as earlier on I had spotted people wheeling in boxes of documents into the court.
Overall, it was a deeply insightful first day and helped to de-mystify my conception of a court hearing.
Day 2:
In a similar fashion, my second day also began with attending a court case. We entered the RCJ via an alternative route, exposing its labyrinthian corridors.
Due to my new-found knowledge from the previous day, I found it far easier to follow along with the court hearing which dealt closely with the topic of discrimination and defining it within a legal context. This hearing involved intense debate over statistics and issues of perception and bias.
It was most fascinating to witness how the barrister is supported by their colleagues, showcasing how it is not one singular person who prepares and constructs the argument but rather a whole team of legal experts. Even something as minute as finding the page number of a document can involve the effort of multiple people. This lends itself to a frantic but exciting atmosphere. I was also very impressed by the barristers’ quick-thinking in the face of challenging questions from the judge and how in these instances their colleagues remained steadfast in supporting them. Moreover, this case also revealed how, despite their disagreements, barristers remain respectful toward one another, even when rebutting one another’s submissions. This experience helped to further solidify my new-found knowledge of the experience of barristers.
Day 3:
My final day at Matrix began catching up with some unfinished work from earlier on in the week. Using the legal database Westlaw, I researched the infamous Wagatha Christie case in which Rebekah Vardy sued Coleen Rooney for defamation on the basis of accusing Vardy of leaking personal information to the press. Although I had heard of this case before, I never had the opportunity to research it in-depth before today. I researched the legal definition of defamation, reading actual legislation and the official judgment which helped to expand my understanding of legal jargon.
Afterwards, my peers and I were gifted with the opportunity to share coffee with a barrister and trainee at Matrix. This experience was invaluable as I was able to learn about their personal journeys to practising law and showcased to me how the journey to becoming a lawyer, especially a barrister, is not an easy one and does not have to be strictly linear.
Finally, I closed my time at Matrix with an interview for their Future Lawyers Programme in which I was tasked with constructing an argument around one of five possible statements. Thanks to my already existing passion for debate and discourse, I was very excited for this opportunity, regardless of the outcome. I think this interview helped to massively boost my confidence and my ability to think on my feet when countering possible arguments against my point.
Overall, my experience at Matrix has been incredible and has provided me with invaluable experience and insight into the legal profession. Prior to this, I had little knowledge about barristers’ chambers and how they operated but now after this placement I feel far more equipped to continue on in my legal journey.