As Members of the Middle Temple, you are a part of the Inn’s history – and your stories deserve to be told. The Inn’s archivists are looking for stories of your path to the Bar, the barriers you have faced, challenges you have met, obstacles you have overcome. Please send submissions or any questions to archive@middletemple.org.uk. See poster for more details.
MTYBA is proud of our diverse membership and committee. We believe that this is part of our strength. We are committed to standing against racial injustices in our society and within the justice system.
We will be holding a number of events to facilitate discussions between our members about how we, as an organisation and as individuals, can combat racial prejudice and systemic oppression.
Without any doubt, the lives of our black members and black people in the United Kingdom and around the world matter.
MTYBA's President Michael Polak Message to Members in light of the Coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic.
Dear Members,
We understand that this is a very difficult and uncertain time for you for a number of reasons. From financial insecurity, to members who face uncertainty after applying for pupillages which are no longer being offered, as well as those who may feel under pressure to attend court and unable to refuse to do so because of their junior positions.
We would like to remind you that you should not feel alone as we are here to support you during what is a difficult time for our members and the junior Bar as a whole.
We note that the Bar has long had a ‘soldier on’ culture whereby members often turn up for court even where they may feel unwell in order to see that justice is done. At this time such a culture needs to be forgotten and those suffering with any of the symptoms as described by Public Health England should not attend Court and should self-isolate. Information about the situation in courts around England and Wales is being updated regularly by the Bar Council.
We strongly believe that the current requirement for barristers to attend non-essential hearings in criminal cases such as mentions or 1st appearances where a client is on bail, and civil hearings which do not involve life changing emergencies, is unsustainable and irrational. Even when such urgent hearings need to take place, we hope that efforts are made for this to happen by video-conferencing or telephone. A sensible approach would also be to adjourn even short jury trials for a brief period.
We hope that this situation can be resolved sensibly by the Judiciary and Government.
As stated, our members may feel particularly vulnerable to pressure to continue working when they feel unwell or when they feel that it is unsafe to do so. This must not be the case and MTYBA stands ready to support you if you are suffering from this problem.
We fully appreciate the precarious financial position faced by many of our members, who are self-employed and do not have large savings, and given that there has been no proper support put in place for the self-employed so far. In order to mitigate this, we will be offering small hardship grants for those in the most need. To apply for a grant please email enquiries@mtyba.org with the subject Hardship Grant and a short explanation of the position in which you find yourself. All applications will be treated confidentially. We are also looking to develop a scheme working with the Hall Committee whereby our members can assist more senior members of the Inn with research and written work. Please also let us know if you have any other ideas, such as opportunities for our members, which could help during this difficult period.
A further problem faced by our members at this time is for those who have applied for pupillage and have to undertake stressful interviews by video call. Many members have spent a significant time applying for pupillage to find that these opportunities are no longer available given the difficult situation faced by many Chambers. We will be working with our Inn and other organisations to seek solutions to this.
For those who have just finished the first six months of pupillage we will hold our annual event, Surviving Second Six, which explains how to make the most of being on your feet in Court, online using Zoom video conferencing. Please save the time and date, 6.30pm on 26 March 2020 and a link will be sent out on Thursday for you to access this event.
We will also be looking at other ways, such as online socialising and networking to keep in touch until this situation has passed. More details will be released at the end of this week.
Please be reassured that when things get back to normal we intend to carry out our full range of planned activities and we look forward to seeing you all there.
In the meantime please do get in touch with us if you are suffering from any of the above problems or if there is anything else with which we can help you. We are available to assist in preparation for interviews over Skype, to provide any support needed, and welcome your suggestions as to how MTYBA can help you at this difficult time.
Please feel free to contact me personally (m.polak@churchcourtchambers.co.uk) and confidentially if you wish about anything above or anything else.
Kind regards,
Michael Polak
President MTYBA
No RSVP required. Refreshments available.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 18:00 - 20:30pm
Rutledge Suite, Middle Temple
An opportunity to have a go at an unseen interview advocacy exercise in front of a panel of experienced interviewers. Civil and criminal exercises available.
Register here.
You must register by 28.02.20. Open to MTYBA members only. You will be asked to confirm your membership number and date of Call when doing so.
However, please do not register unless you know that you can commit to attending at the allotted date and time. If you later cannot, please notify us ASAP so we can re-allocate your slot.
Please note: For mock interviews you will be asked to book timeslots by reference to your practice area of interest. If that practice area is not listed, or the number of spaces for that area are booked up, please proceed to book a timeslot under another practice area and list your practice area of interest in the booking form.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 18:00 - 20:30
Rutledge Suite, Middle Temple
Experienced interview panelists from a variety of practice areas to offer first round-style interviews followed by feedback. Register here.
You must register by 28.02.20. Open to MTYBA members only. You will be asked to confirm your membership number and date of Call when doing so.
However, please do not register unless you know that you can commit to attending at the allotted date and time. If you later cannot, please notify us ASAP so we can re-allocate your slot.
Please note: For mock interviews you will be asked to book timeslots by reference to your practice area of interest. If that practice area is not listed, or the number of spaces for that area are booked up, please proceed to book a timeslot under another practice area and list your practice area of interest in the booking form.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 18:00 - 20:30
Recognising that the ability of our members to build a busy practice at an early stage can often depend on them being able to expand their practices to the ancillary areas to their main practice area, this series will set out the legal and procedural frameworks of such areas ensuring our members can show confidence to potential professional clients to gain instructions in these areas.
Speaker: Colin Witcher
Venue: Taskers
The Inspiring Speakers Series will allow our members to be their best, through sessions presented by high level speakers giving real-life examples of overcoming problems and developing key skills to deal with business and life.
Speaker: The Obscenity Lawyer Myles Jackman
Venue: Queen’s Room
Timings: 18:00 - 20:30
At the Italian Association of Young Lawyers (AIGA) Annual conference in Naples.
Friday 22 May 2020 - Sunday 24 May 2002
Location: Naples
Saturday 01 February 2020 | Ziferblat HQ, Bishopsgate, 3 Oxford Court, Manchester M2 3WQ | 10.30am-12.30pm
A speed-date style event where pupillage applicants can ask questions one-to-one with barristers, enabling applicants to obtain a range of answers. The event takes place on the second floor and regrettably there is no lift access. Refreshments will be provided.
RSVP by emailing enquiries@mtyba.org by Friday 31 January 2020 at 10am.
29 January 2020 | Sherrards Room | Middle Temple | 6:00pm
We are running a joint event with MTSA, for our first event of the year! We have invited a panel of barristers, who are either involved in the form sifting process or have recently been successful in obtaining pupillage. This will be more of an open discussion with the panel and questions to the panel are encouraged and welcomed.
No RSVP required. Refreshments will be provided.
At MTYBA’s AGM on 4 December 2019, the 2020 MTYBA Committee was elected by the membership:
President - Michael Polak
Vice-President - Lauren Suding
Treasurer - Salmaan Hassanally
Secretary - Hayley Blundell
Communications Officer - Merlene George
Pupillage Officer - Jaysen Sharpe
Tenancy Officer - Shaylla Shabbir
Advocacy Officer - Louisa Simpson
Diversity and Inclusion Officer - Emma Hughes
Social Secretary - Ellen Crow
Northern Circuit Chair - Emily Landale
No candidates were elected to the roles of Pre-Pupillage Officer or Employed Bar Representative.
The outgoing 2019 Committee would like to thank all those who participated in the election, either by standing in the election or exercising their voting rights. The incoming 2020 Committee would like to thank the outgoing committee for all their hard work throughout 2019.
MTYBA looks forward to another year of working hard to represent the interests of Middle Temple’s young barrister members. Stay tuned for news of upcoming events and opportunities in the New Year.
In the meantime, have a very Merry Christmas.
Deadline for nominations: Midday, Thursday 21 November 2019
Nominations are now open for the election to the 2020 MTYBA Committee, and any MTYBA member is eligible to stand. All of the committee positions are being contested, with hustings and results announced at the MTYBA AGM on Wednesday 4th December.
For details of how to stand, the election timetable, and the list of contested positions, download the election info here.
Please note: Nominations returned to the enquiries@mtyba.org mailbox will not be considered. Please send nominations, with all of the requested info, to mtybareturningofficer2019@gmail.com
Friday 25 October, Parliament Chamber, from 18:15
It is with great pleasure we announce that solicitor, human rights activist and 'Guildford Four' lawyer, Gareth Peirce, will be the guest speaker at MTYBA's Fourth Annual Dinner on the evening of Friday 25 October 2019.
Join us and your fellow young barristers in Middle Temple's Parliament Chamber for a three-course meal followed by an after-dinner speech from our guest. If you've been to this event before, you know what to expect, if not, join us as we mark another year for the junior Bar at the Inn.
The dinner will be preceded by a drinks reception in the Queen's Room from 18:15 and we will be moving into the Parliament Chamber for dinner at 19:00. The dress code is Black Tie.
Tickets are available to MTYBA members and their non-MTYBA guests. Please provide us with your year of Call and Inn membership number when registering so we can confirm your details.
If you have any dietary requirements, please inform us of them using the relevant buttons when booking your ticket. You will also be given the opportunity to express names of individuals or groups you wish to be seated with at dinner.
Tickets are purchased via Eventbrite here.
We look forward to seeing you there!
On Friday 16 August MTYBA will be holding simultaneous summer socials for our members in London and Manchester.
Wherever you are based, the usual promises of good food, drink and company apply. No RSVPs required.
London
Location: Bar & Co Boat, Victoria Embankment, London
Time: from 6pm
Manchester
Location: Grand Pacific, 50 Spring Gardens, Manchester
Time: from 6pm
We look forward to seeing you there!
MTYBA’s two flagship awards schemes are open for applications and close on 31 May. For details of both schemes, visit our awards and grants page.
2019 Intern Awards
The 2019 Intern Awards open for applications on 1 May and will close at 5pm on Friday 31 May.
There are up to three awards of £1000 available for pre-pupil members currently or due to undertake an international internship, in exchange for a short (1500 words) paper on a topic related to your experiences.
Eligibility criteria and further information can be found here, and the application form here.
Good luck!
2019 Practice Development Grants
MTYBA is awarding two grants, of up to £500 each, for members of Middle Temple up to 7 years PQE. The grants are intended to assist our members in developing their practices and can be put towards attending conferences, international events, advocacy training or other training courses. If this money could help you do not hesitate to apply.
To apply, please email enquiries@mtyba.org setting out in no more than 500 words:
(a) your name, year of call and year of full qualification,
(b) what you would like to use a grant for; and
(c) how undertaking the activity would help to advance your practice
The deadline is 5pm on Friday 31 May 2019.
If you have any questions regarding how to apply for either of these awards, please do not hesitate to contact us.
You can contact MTYBA with queries regarding the grant at enquiries@mtyba.org.
Good luck!
MTYBA is delighted to present Women of the Bar: Successes, Challenges, Goals, our panel event on 10 April 2019 at Middle Temple.
2019 is the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, the legislation which removed many of the restrictions preventing women in the UK from participating in civil life, including (but not limited to) the ability to enter the legal profession. 1919 is also the year when the first woman (Helena Normanton), was admitted as a member of an Inn of Court.
In recognition of this important anniversary we have put together a panel of three barristers who have achieved considerable success in their fields. They will be reflecting on their own careers, as well as the challenges and goals for women starting out in the profession.
Prior to the panel discussion there will be a short presentation from the First 100 Years project. The panel discussion will be followed by Q&A and networking. Refreshments will be available throughout the event.
Registration is via Eventbrite. As places are limited please do not book a place unless you know you are able to attend. If you are later unable to attend please cancel your reservation.
We look forward to seeing you there!
It's March, which is Women's History Month. As the profession continues to mark the First 100 Years, stay tuned for what MTYBA has planned to mark this important anniversary. In the meantime, here is a mega list of the events and opportunities we have for you this month:
Surviving Second Six, 27 March
Four Inns Junior Bar Drinks, 22 March
Tickets for Annual Hall Dinner, 16 May
Events for Employed Barristers
Supreme Court JA Scheme: Deadline 20 March
LPC Law National Advocacy Competition: Deadline 25 March
History of LGBT Rights in English Law
You can read about all of these opportunities in more detail here.
21 February, 19:00, The Saint, St Paul's
Join us at our Spring Social in Paternoster Square right by the beautiful St Paul's Cathedral for some mouth watering bowl food and drinks, totally on us!
Bring your pals and colleagues for a fantastic evening with MTYBA at The Saint in Paternoster Square, Thursday 21st February 2019, from 7pm.
