“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
Aristotle
"I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best."
Benjamin Disraeli
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy"
Martin Luther King, Jr
Call to the Bar
Early Years
I was born in Doncaster in South Yorkshire in 1967 and brought up by my Mum as a single parent. I am dyslexic and had to work hard through the education system at a time when dyslexia was not well known, I also received Free School Meals (which apparently is an indicator of child poverty but I did not notice that at the time). I attended Richmond Hill School (Primary/Juniors), Hungerhill Comprehensive School (leaving with 9 "O" levels and 5 CSE's) and completed 3 A levels in Economics, History and Law at Doncaster College (which we referred to as "The Tech"). I am the first generation of my family to have attended University where I read law and graduated with a First Class honours degree LLB (Hons). I won undergraduate prizes in Tax and Company Law.
I won a Scholarship to undertake a research Masters degree in Law at the University of East Anglia where I also began my career teaching law for the first time in 1989. I also spent a semester in Germany and Switzerland. My research interests at that time related to medical law and I successfully defended my research these at King's College London before Professors Kennedy & Grubb. I was apparently the first Law postgraduate student to submit their thesis on time!
I was granted a Queen Mother's Scholarship to read for the Bar by Middle Temple and whilst maintaining a lecturing role at City University Law School in London I was called to the Bar on my birthday in 1991.
Early Years
I was born in Doncaster in South Yorkshire in 1967 and brought up by my Mum as a single parent. I am dyslexic and had to work hard through the education system at a time when dyslexia was not well known, I also received Free School Meals (which apparently is an indicator of child poverty but I did not notice that at the time). I attended Richmond Hill School (Primary/Juniors), Hungerhill Comprehensive School (leaving with 9 "O" levels and 5 CSE's) and completed 3 A levels in Economics, History and Law at Doncaster College (which we referred to as "The Tech"). I am the first generation of my family to have attended University where I read law and graduated with a First Class honours degree LLB (Hons). I won undergraduate prizes in Tax and Company Law.
I won a Scholarship to undertake a research Masters degree in Law at the University of East Anglia where I also began my career teaching law for the first time in 1989. I also spent a semester in Germany and Switzerland. My research interests at that time related to medical law and I successfully defended my research these at King's College London before Professors Kennedy & Grubb. I was apparently the first Law postgraduate student to submit their thesis on time!
I was granted a Queen Mother's Scholarship to read for the Bar by Middle Temple and whilst maintaining a lecturing role at City University Law School in London I was called to the Bar on my birthday in 1991.
Life at the Bar
I undertook pupillge at 4 Paper Buildings in Temple, London. It was headed then by the world's expert on damages, Harvey McGregor QC and was formerly the chambers of Lord Hailsham. My pupillage was essentially a general common law experience with a heavy emphasis on medical and personal injury law. I spent a week during my "first six" with Mr Justice Hidden marshalling on a murder trial at Maidstone Crown Court (my first experience of criminal practice). In my "second six" I was busy undertaking Coroner's Inquests, County Court/Magistrates' Court/High Court hearings and one very lucky appearance in the House of Lords. Whilst completing pupillage I lectured on Banking Law at City University. Having successfully completed pupillage I decided to accept a Tenancy as a practising Barrister back home in Yorkshire.
Leeds
I joined Pearl Chambers in Leeds, at that time headed by Tony Holland QC (later to become Mr. Justice Holland). On the North Eastern circuit I learnt my craft as a Barrister, practising in general common law and criminal work. I established precedents on "classic damages tarrifs" for personal injuries such as seat belt bruising and whip lash neck injuries. I acted as the Prosecution Counsel for Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council on a range of matters from building regulations infringements to food safety issues. As a former Rugby League player I had a number of clients from the sporting world who came to me to represent them in all manner of disputes. I had great fun in Leeds and lectured in the evenings at Leeds Metropilitan University (Criminal Law) and at weekends I letured in Tort Law at the University of Leeds. I had a very lucky record of never losing a jury trial whilst on the North Eastern circuit.
Back to London
Moving back to London I became a Tenant in Mitre House Chambers headed by Francis Gilbert. When I moved to BPP Law School I became a Door Tenant at my current chambers, 5 St. Andrew's Hill, which was led by Simon Draycott QC (a really friendly and first class set of Barristers' Chambers). Two of my closest friends at Law School have now also taken silk and it makes me wonder what might have been if I had not chosen an academic career. They are Christopher Stoner QC and Michael Bools QC.
Life at the Bar
I undertook pupillge at 4 Paper Buildings in Temple, London. It was headed then by the world's expert on damages, Harvey McGregor QC and was formerly the chambers of Lord Hailsham. My pupillage was essentially a general common law experience with a heavy emphasis on medical and personal injury law. I spent a week during my "first six" with Mr Justice Hidden marshalling on a murder trial at Maidstone Crown Court (my first experience of criminal practice). In my "second six" I was busy undertaking Coroner's Inquests, County Court/Magistrates' Court/High Court hearings and one very lucky appearance in the House of Lords. Whilst completing pupillage I lectured on Banking Law at City University. Having successfully completed pupillage I decided to accept a Tenancy as a practising Barrister back home in Yorkshire.
Leeds
I joined Pearl Chambers in Leeds, at that time headed by Tony Holland QC (later to become Mr. Justice Holland). On the North Eastern circuit I learnt my craft as a Barrister, practising in general common law and criminal work. I established precedents on "classic damages tarrifs" for personal injuries such as seat belt bruising and whip lash neck injuries. I acted as the Prosecution Counsel for Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council on a range of matters from building regulations infringements to food safety issues. As a former Rugby League player I had a number of clients from the sporting world who came to me to represent them in all manner of disputes. I had great fun in Leeds and lectured in the evenings at Leeds Metropilitan University (Criminal Law) and at weekends I letured in Tort Law at the University of Leeds. I had a very lucky record of never losing a jury trial whilst on the North Eastern circuit.
Back to London
Moving back to London I became a Tenant in Mitre House Chambers headed by Francis Gilbert. When I moved to BPP Law School I became a Door Tenant at my current chambers, 5 St. Andrew's Hill, which was led by Simon Draycott QC (a really friendly and first class set of Barristers' Chambers). Two of my closest friends at Law School have now also taken silk and it makes me wonder what might have been if I had not chosen an academic career. They are Christopher Stoner QC and Michael Bools QC.