Name: Jennifer MacLeod Chambers: Brick Court Location: London University: University of Cambridge Undergraduate degree: Law
may find yourself in court less than barristers practising in other areas, “but you’re also often working in the public eye, which is both exciting and stressful!” Reflecting back on one of her seminal career moments, Jennifer says: “I am particularly proud of my work on the domestic violence case in Georgia, working in collaboration with the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC). We were successful in changing the law completely on domestic violence; the government brought in an entirely new regime, worked with NGOs to develop it and gave compensation to past victims. This relatively small case made a very real practical difference to lots of people’s lives.” Both international and domestic work is a feature: “Because my practice entails a lot of human rights litigation, much of my work is international, but that’s not to say that everyone in public law will experience that. For example, I’m also acting for an individual who wants to change the UK law on assisted suicide; which is based in human rights principles but is a domestic public law challenge.” Life in practice If an interest in the development of the law is your thing, then public could be your career nirvana. “There is a particular focus on legal, rather than factual, disputes, so you have to have a cerebral interest in that,” advises Jennifer. “There is not a huge amount of cross-examination or the drama of performing in front of a jury in this type of work, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you might want to think about a different area! Public law is very similar to the mooting you will do at university, so if you’ve enjoyed that, this could be for you.”
diverse range of practitioners, as Jennifer explains: “People come from all sorts of background, including other sectors, state schools and a wide range of universities, so you definitely shouldn’t be put off because of your background. The most important thing is to be as clear as you can be with your analysis and advocacy.” Jennifer is keen to pass on some advice about the job that she wished someone had mentioned to her – not that it would have changed her mind about pursuing this is a career, just that to be forewarned is forearmed. “I wish I had been told that it is someone else’s job to try to show you up, all the time!” she laughs. “It’s worth thinking about that before you start; this is not a career free from stress. You are also on a very public stage and things don’t always go the way you want. You have to grow a bit of a thick skin.” A final heartening reflection on the nature of the Bar: “One thing I didn’t expect was being part of such a great community of people – across chambers and the profession, people are actually in the main very kind and supportive, as well as interesting and smart. I work with amazing colleagues – many of whom have become wonderful friends – and I’m not sure that I expected that. It was a very pleasant surprise.”
In addition, being one of the less traditional areas of law means that public attracts a
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