OU Students on a Mission 2022- Some Randoms Thoughts

OU students visit Gray's Inn - July 2022

Gillian Mawdsley is an OU Associate Lecturer and Scottish lawyer and has been involved in tutoring ‘Justice in action’ since it started in 2017. In this new blog post Gillian writes about the recent student visit to Gray's Inn in London.

On a sultry late-July morning, disparate groups were to be found loitering, with or without intent, on the grounds of Gray’s Inn, London. It was like “meeting a man with a red carnation and a rolled-up copy of the Times under his arm”, with persons approaching whispering the password- “OU?”. Perhaps I watched too much John le Carré in lockdown. No one knew each other at 11.30am. Six hours later, they left wiser as possible future aspiring barristers.

• What was the mission?

The Open University is proud of its students. That Tuesday morning represented the culmination of various events, starting with an invitation from a student, Liam Chin. Liam undertook an alumni W360 event. He was keen to pay back in kind, arranging for Gray’s Inn to offer OU students for the first time to visit and lunch. 15 students accepted and attended.

• What was my purpose?

I had grabbed an opportunity to attend being an interloper as a Scots-qualified lawyer, eager to “see what was all about.” No barristers exist in Scotland, with advocates being similar having rights of audience in the High Court of Justiciary/Court of Session (and the Supreme Court).

• What happened?

The Inn’s Education Department conducted a tour, supported by two pupils, Harriet and Liam. The first stop of crucial importance, was the library, with a copy of the most recent Secret Barrister lying overtly on the counter. They have allegedly the largest private garden in London, accessible by the public, and useful in the Holborn area of London for a lunchtime visit. Inspiration and motivation for achieving a career as a barrister.

Lunch was conducted under the pictorial gaze of spider woman, Lady Hale, Lord Atkin of the “snail and ginger beer fame” and Lord Bingham, who identified the core principle of the rule of law - “All persons and authorities within the state, whether public or private, should be bound by and entitled to the benefit of laws publicly and prospectively promulgated and publicly administered in the courts.”

• Conclusion

The standouts for me from the visit included:

An advert for studying for W360, Justice in Action: It completed the circle of reflection, beloved on W360 (Gibbs cycle of reflection). Liam was a W360 student who started the route to becoming a barrister. Having completed W360, that practical experience on the Open Justice project helped secure funding. In giving back, other students may follow, using W360 as a bridge to the next career step.

What was needed to become a barrister: Students should ask - what is your motivation? What skills do you have? Are you prepared to work hard? Do you want a job which is all consuming? Can you handle stress? Detailed practical tips flowed on obtaining finance and scholarships. Gray’s Inn stressed their desire to achieve diversity and equality and to widen access to law. Motivation to succeed worked- neither pupil came from “the classic barrister mould”.

Obtaining funding awards from the Inns of Court: Each Inn has its own criteria. That includes assessment of intellectual ability and high academic achievement (at least 2:2 standard), potential for successful practice, and mooting and debating skills. Key too is again that stress on motivation to succeed to which add resilience. But important too are personal qualities/extra-curricular activities. Both pupils stressed hard work to achieve the necessary passes in the Bar Course, then securing pupillage in chambers. Fun was to be had too in musical concerts, drama productions and in attending the necessary qualifying sessions in the Inns. These include dining, attending lectures or socialising; all vital to provide and build on these network opportunities in establishing contacts, furthering experience and legal knowledge.

• What did I leave with?

That is not the question best answered by me. A challenge was set for the students to complete a blog on their experience.

I gained respect for the commitment, enthusiasm, energy and determination shown to progress to this stage in their careers. Feedback provided from Gray’s Inn indicated that: “Students were still going strong 6 hours later.”

Such engagement serves these students well in taking these important decisions about their future. Many students in studying have invested so much to achieve that degree.

Top tips included:

• Network and seize opportunities.

• Widen knowledge by reading about current affairs as well as legal cases . This underpins preparation for these vital interviews.

So the final message to future W360 was to continue “onwards and upwards.”

Gillian Mawdsley W360 Tutor – "the views expressed are mine and are non-attributable except to me".

Gillian Mawdsley