JLD (Junior Lawyers Divison)
Day in the Life of a Junior Member Anisha Birk is a Trainee Solicitor at Farrer & Co and she recently joined the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society ("CWHLS"). Here she recounts a day in the life of a junior member of CWHLS. Morning Today I am attending CWHLS International Committee meeting and I have been asked to take the minutes of the meeting. As I am in the first seat of my training contract, this is one of my earliest opportunities to take a note of a meeting. It is great practise for me, even if I am a little nervous. It is clear from early on in the Committee's discussions that the group has developed links with legal professionals across the globe from Colombia to Barcelona. The agenda covers a variety of topics including Brexit and pressing legal problems that are that day's front page news. The Committee is made up of legal professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds (including trainees and NQs to Senior Partners and QCs) and experiences from firms and universities across the local area. Listening to their conversations on current legal issues helps to broaden my understanding of the law from an international perspective and outside of what you would expect to see solely in private practice. The Committee are also busy organising a number of events to share and exchange skills and knowledge with our overseas counterparts. The discussion turns to the Annual Congress for the Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe. The Congress is due to take place in London bringing together hundreds of lawyers from across Europe. Lady Hale is providing an introductory message to the Congress which I am going to record later that afternoon, so after the meeting I dash off to Parliament Square for my meeting with Lady Hale.
Afternoon On arriving at the Supreme Court, I am shown into the Justices' lounge by Lady Hale's assistant. Having set up my recording equipment and checked it is working at least twenty times, I wait for Lady Hale to arrive and I cannot help but feel a sense of excitement to be in such an important place meeting the President of the Supreme Court. After the recording, I speak briefly with Lady Hale and thank her for her time. In her message Lady Hale speaks of the importance of an independent judiciary and the rule of law in protecting the rights of individuals as well as the environment and safeguarding our planet. It is a powerful message which resonates with the theme and focus of the Congress. The opportunity to meet the head of the judiciary is completely inspiring and I head back to the office buzzing with excitement. Evening Skip forward and it is the day of the Annual dinner so I don an evening dress and make my way over to a hotel in St Paul’s where the event is to take place. With so many legal professionals from across our local areas and overseas guests it is a great way to meet colleagues. The discussion on my table turns from the success of today's talks at the conference to the importance of clear legal writing in being an effective practitioner. I am thrilled to be able to talk to so many specialists, develop contacts and deepen my understanding of the law in its wider setting.
Anisha Birk
Gamlen Prize We were delighted that Arthur Weir attended our AGM and presented the Gamlen Prizes to the two trainees, Anisha Birk from Farrer & Co and Selina Badiani from Bristows.
PIC • Arthur Weir presents the 2017 Gamien Prize to Anish Birk for outstanding performance on the LPC.
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CENTRAL LONDON
PIC • Arthur Weir presents Selina Badiani with the 2017 Runner Up Gamien Prize.
The Gamlen Prize was set up in 1991 under the Gamlen Charitable Trust in memory of Sir John Gamlen, the last of five generations of solicitors, and the Gamlen family. A magnificent shield and cheque is awarded to the winner and a cheque for the runner-up. Each year, these prizes are awarded to an outstanding trainee in the Westminster and Holborn area. Trainees are nominated by their legal practice course provider for being considered the most promising candidate. Nominees are assessed on their ability to explain a complicated subject in plain English and to make it easy for the lay client to understand.