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Archive for July, 2015

Book recommendation: To Kill A Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback by Harper Lee

‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ A lawyer’s advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee’s classic novel – a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout […]

July 29, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

No touchy feely at the Bar

“I feel that the Apple Watch is going to take off, you know,” said PupilFodder. “Young lady,” said HeadofChambers sternly, “psychologists feel, not barristers.” She looked flustered and started to correct herself with: “Oh, sorry, I believe that…” “Believe? Believe?” said HeadofChambers, his voice rising. “Only priests believe my dear. Barristers are not paid to do either […]

July 28, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Tags: babyb, chambers · Posted in: Uncategorized

Monday morning with Alex Williams’ cartoons

This cartoon is by Alex Williams who draws the Queen’s Counsel cartoons for The Times and in numerous books including The Queen’s Counsel Lawyer’s Omnibus. He offers almost all of his cartoons for sale at £120 for originals and £40 for copies and they can be obtained from this email info@qccartoon.com.

July 27, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

Weekend video: Chris Burkard: The joy of surfing in ice-cold water

July 25, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

Book recommendation: Forever Rumpole: The Best of the Rumpole Stories by John Mortimer

Forever Rumpole – a hilarious new selection of the very best Rumpole stories by John Mortimer. Horace Rumpole lives alongside Mr Pickwick and Bertie Wooster as one of the immortal comic characters in English fiction. With his curmudgeonly wit, his literary allusions, his disdain for personal ambition and his lack of pomposity, he has, in […]

July 22, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

The joys of being self-employed

“You know, alternative business structures are going to lead to us all working for solicitors firms,” said UpTights at chambers tea today. “Yeh right, as if we, the Bar, are going to do that,” said OldSmoothie. “But you already do,” said TheBusker, breaking it to him gently. “Oh, hmm, well, maybe so technically, but we don’t […]

July 21, 2015 · Tim Kevan · 3 Comments
Tags: babyb, chambers · Posted in: Uncategorized

Monday morning with Alex Williams’ cartoons

This cartoon is by Alex Williams who draws the Queen’s Counsel cartoons for The Times and in numerous books including The Queen’s Counsel Lawyer’s Omnibus. He offers almost all of his cartoons for sale at £120 for originals and £40 for copies and they can be obtained from this email info@qccartoon.com.

July 20, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

Weekend video: Becoming a Barrister – Q&A

July 18, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

Book recommendation: The Great Defender: The Life and Trials of Edward Marshall Hall KC, England’s Greatest Barrister by Edward Marjoribanks (Author) and Gary Bell QC (Introduction)

When Sir Edward Marshall Hall died in 1927 it was the end of an era. Tall, strikingly handsome and charming, the barrister was the finest advocate ever seen in the English criminal courts. Known as ‘The Great Defender’ as he fought tooth and nail for his clients, those in the shadow of the hangman’s noose […]

July 15, 2015 · Tim Kevan · Comments Closed
Posted in: Uncategorized

Lack of insight

Very weird conversation in the clerks room this morning as everyone discussed this blog. Specifically they were talking about which characters they all think they most resemble. “I’d like to be OldRuin,” said TheCreep, but I think I’m probably more like TheBusker.” Incredulous looks increased further when BusyBody then added: “And I’m definitely Worrier.” “Well […]

July 14, 2015 · Tim Kevan · 4 Comments
Tags: babyb, chambers · Posted in: Uncategorized

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• Law and Peace

  Law and Peace is the second novel in The BabyBarista Files and was published in 2011. It was described by the Daily Mail as a “funny, sharp account of backstabbing Bar life…highly recommended” and by broadcaster Jeremy Vine as “a novel bursting with invention”.

• THE MAIN CHARACTERS

• PanicStricken

  
  

  A new character who's desperate for a training contract but has just been demoted from minimum wage legal assistant to unpaid intern

• OldSmoothie

  
• Think Peter Bowles in To The Manor Born and Milk Tray Man, but not quite. Once successful barrister now put out to graze as a committee man.
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• TheCreep

  
• Jumped up little twerp who sucks up to the big beasts in chambers and struts around as if he's really something when actually he's not.

• SlipperySlope

  
  

  Solicitor skilled in the art of creative billing. Has the airs and graces of a country squire but is more a cross between Arthur Daley and Boycie from 'Only Fools and Horses'.

• Smutton

  
  

  Brassy to UpTights’s classy and yet still, somehow, sexy.

• NurserySlope

  
  

  Solicitor who is SlipperySlope's neice. Skis, rides and looks like a horse.

• JetSet

  
  

  A new solicitor character who's got a training contract and lords it over PanicStricken. She's wealthy, well- connected and spends most weekends either skiing or clubbing abroad.

• ScandalMonger

  
• Ruthless PR guru who has become one of BabyB's secret litigation weapons

• BigMouth

  
• Pompous Tory MP stuck on the backbenches like a piece of old chewing gum

• BusyBody

  
• A whirlwind of interference with a good heart and always up for a fight, particularly with OldSmoothie.

• TopFirst

  
• BabyB’s sworn enemy and former fellow pupil

• BabyBarista

  
• A young Flashman meets Rumpole meets Francis Urquart for the 21st century

• OldFatherTime

  
• A whisper on the wind, Highlander-type figure who is older than time itself

• TheVamp

  
• Tenant in chambers and a walking Carry On film of an innuendo

• OldRuin

  
• How a barrister should be. Dumbledore meets Clarence, the angel in Its a Wonderful Life. BabyB’s redemption.

• TheBusker

  
• Barrister of ten years call with the integrity and decency of OldRuin. Very laid back in his approach to both court and life. Admired by BabyB.

• TheBoss

  
• BabyB’s ex-pupilmaster. Unscrupulous, spineless coward.

• HeadClerk

  
• The real power in chambers. All seeing, all knowing.

• PupilFodder

  
• Learner Barrister foisted upon his unsuspecting client who gets shredded in court

• UpTights

  
• BabyB’s pupilmistress for his second six months who was almost called BoTucks for the work she’s had done. Insists on boundaries and personal space. Has ‘issues’.

• JudgeJewellery

  
• Judge with penchant for stealing high street trinkets