Charlotte Davies

Tell us about your background and why you decided to become a barrister.

I grew up in Luton and went to a state school. My high school went into OFSTED special measures shortly after I left. Neither of my parents went to university. My dad is a builder and left school aged 14 and my mum is the daughter of a Polish immigrant and grew up in a council house.

Despite their backgrounds my parents were very ambitious for us and pushed us to do well. I was encouraged to choose medicine or law. I was far too squeamish for medicine! I was very academic at school and realised I was pretty good at analysing texts, and formulating arguments and opinions which seemed a good fit with the Bar. I studied Law at the University of Bristol and went on to do an LLM at King’s College London.

Did you face any obstacles along your journey to becoming a barrister and how did you overcome them? Have any of them persisted since becoming a barrister? 

I was actively discouraged from pursuing a career at the Bar by more than one teacher. I was effectively ridiculed and considered arrogant. I was turned down for a scholarship for the BVC (now the BPTC) so my parents re-mortgaged their house to pay the fees. I held down a number of part-time jobs whilst studying for the Bar which included working in a pub until 2am. I had to live at home which then meant getting up at 6am to get the train into London. I also worked a full-time job during my LLM year.

I came very close to getting pupillage whilst still at university, being put on the reserve list for a top London Chambers. Ultimately, I was offered a place the year after, securing the one pupillage on offer out of 450 applicants. I remember finding the entire process extraordinarily intimidating.

Following the successful completion of my pupillage, I became pregnant within the first three months of tenancy. I then had another child quite soon thereafter. Unfortunately, my marriage was very difficult and we separated when my daughter was only one year old. I was left as a single parent with two very young children. I had absolutely no help or support from my children's father for years. This was an extraordinarily stressful and traumatic period in my life. I had to leave my London Chambers and move to Cornwall to be near my parents. I moved into my parents' converted attic space and slept on a mattress on the floor for more than two years. My mum had to give up her job to help me look after the children and enable me to keep my career at the Bar. I was eventually able to get back on my feet and buy a house for myself and my children.

Leaving my London practice put my career on a completely different trajectory. However, I have found the provincial Bar – and judiciary - far more accommodating to being a parent. I have probably ended up earning less than I would have in London, but my work-life balance and quality of life is far better - and Cornwall is beautiful!
 

What opportunities, support and encouragement did you receive along your journey to becoming a barrister? 

I received fantastic support from one teacher in particular at my sixth form who never doubted my ambitions and was extremely encouraging. I began to think it was not an impossible dream after all. My dad had a building contract with a local authority in London and managed to get me into their legal department for some work experience. During my two weeks there I met a barrister who offered me a mini-pupillage. This was my first real experience of the Bar. By the time I got to university, I was surrounded by like-minded people and was encouraged in my ambitions.

My now-husband has also been amazing. He has taken on huge child-caring responsibilities to help me finally focus on my career. He encouraged me to apply for judicial appointment at aged 33 and this year I was appointed as both a Deputy District Judge and First Tier Tribunal Judge. It is so important to have a supportive partner. The local judiciary has also been entirely supportive of my ambitions and fully understanding of my personal situation and childcare commitments. This was also very important, with one local Judge in particular giving me my first nudge in the direction of the judiciary and with that giving me the confidence to apply.
 

What is the most rewarding thing about being a barrister; has life at the Bar met your expectations?

My first ten years at the Bar were incredibly difficult but also incredibly rewarding. My personal struggles have been huge and if it was not for the support of those around me, I would have had to give up on my dream. The most rewarding thing for me is being self-employed and entirely in control of my work-life balance. This was invaluable as a single parent. The Bar is a profession unlike any other in its support. Although we are all independent, it is a collegiate profession and help is never far away.
 

How do you use your experience of coming to the Bar from an under-represented background to support those seeking to do the same, and/or why is it important for barristers to contribute in this way?

I volunteered for the Speakers in Schools scheme for a number of years and visited at least a dozen state schools to give talks and answer questions. I try to give those students the sort of help I wish I had but never got! I also sat on the Recruitment Sub-Committee of the Bar Council before I moved to Cornwall. I enjoy mentoring those at the beginning of their career and always try to stay in touch with those who come with me to court during mini-pupillages. I try to be like the helpful members of the Bar I encountered on my journey here. I wrote about social mobility at the Bar for The Times ten years ago and I am glad that it is still on the agenda but clearly there is more to do.
 

What are the challenges facing today's aspiring barristers, and how could they be addressed?

The impact of the coronavirus crisis has been a huge challenge - both financially for many, and practically. Home-schooling children whilst trying to manage work has been difficult even for me as a seasoned single-parent work juggler! Those at the beginning of their careers have struggled by missing out on government support as newly self-employed as well as likely being in significant debt after the very expensive Bar course. I understand that a number of initiatives have stepped in to help those in the most need. We need to make sure we do not lose anybody as a result of what has happened because the most financially vulnerable are likely to be those from the under-represented groups that we need to keep hold of.

The Bar has survived more than one recession. There is a backlog of hearings to be heard and there is no reason why we won't be busier than ever before long. Personally, I've been quieter but having had an excruciatingly busy previous year I've tried to view it as welcome respite!
 

What advice would you give to someone from an under-represented background, seeking to succeed at the Bar?

There is absolutely nothing holding you back. There is so much support available now. The Bar needs people from under-represented backgrounds because the clients you deal with day in, day out, are from every walk of life. Clients want to talk to someone they can relate to, who has gone through the sort of things they have. Go to court and sit in the public gallery; get work experience - not just in chambers but in law firms and legal departments; put yourself in places where you will meet people who can help you, ask them questions, and keep in touch with them.