July 22, 2024
On the 2nd of July, Red Lion Chambers proudly concluded its mentoring programme in a highly anticipated Mock Trial at the historic Old Bailey.
This event marked the culmination of five months of mentoring for 14 aspiring law students from universities in East London. Selected students were given the invaluable opportunity to be guided by barristers from Red Lion Chambers, gaining crucial advocacy skills and insights into the path to becoming successful barristers.
This bespoke mentoring programme, a collaboration between Red Lion Chambers and the East London Business Alliance (ELBA), has been running for five consecutive years. It is specifically designed for second and third-year law students from East London, providing them with hands-on experience and professional development in their field of study.
The Mock Trial served as the grand finale of the mentoring programme, offering mentees a platform to showcase their learned skills in a realistic courtroom setting. The mentees prepared meticulously for the Mock trial, demonstrating their advocacy abilities in the courtroom.
Mentees commented:
“It was such a practical and real-work-experience in preparing for a trial at the Old Bailey. A lot of what I learnt, we have not yet done it at University at the same level. To therefore gain this invaluable practical experience from Paul ( Jackson) and Gillian (Jones KC) has given me an edge above my classmates that have not yet had such an opportunity. Plus, I learnt so much about the preparation that a barrister has to do in order to prepare for a trial.”
“Overall, while the mentorship provided valuable skills and opportunities, it also helped me identify specific areas for improvement, which is essential for continuous development and success.”
Joint Head of Chambers Gillian Jones KC said: “A heartfelt congratulations goes out to all the mentees for successfully completing the programme. Their hard work and dedication were evident, and those who participated in the Mock Trial did an exceptional job, impressing both mentors and peers. Red Lion Chambers remains committed to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals, continuing to provide opportunities and guidance to aspiring barristers. The success of this programme underscores the importance of mentorship and providing support to those from underrepresented backgrounds in their journeys to the Bar”
Mentors for the 2024 year long programme included: Michelle Nelson KC, Alistair Fell, Gillian Jones KC, Paul Jackson, Dan Taylor, Letitia Egan, Jack Talbot, Aneurin Brewer, Ed Renvoize, Josh Ellis, Rebecca Chalkley KC, Alexis Dite, Leo Seelig and Emily Mattin.
Find out more about RLC’s outreach work here: [Red Lion Chambers – Social Responsibility ]