Gold Girl’s mission is to encourage young women to embark on a great and fulfilling career. We will profile women and men in a range of careers about their passion and why they chose them. We hope this will this will inspire you in your career. We hope you enjoy it!
Whether you realise it or not, the Law effects every aspect of your life. Despite Law not being thought in primary and secondary school, there are thousands of students who enter the legal profession every year. The legal profession is steeped in tradition and it varies globally. In order to succeed in the legal profession it requires intelligence, an aptitute for public speaking and an understanding of culture, society and the religious or secular beliefs held within the country. Law is a life of study that Sorcha Cristin Whelan decided to embark on. She qualified as a Barrister in 2009 and caught up with Gold Girl to tell us about her passion for the Law and training to be a Barrister.
Why did you decide to become a Barrister?
I suppose I always wanted to be a barrister. I decided from a young age in secondary school. My two best subjects would have been English and History. I also would have been a good debater and I really enjoyed it. It is quite funny, as my twin sister is also a solicitor. Neither of my parents are solicitors or barristers, although we both had a passion for it.
What advice would you give to an aspiring Barrister?
I would say to anyone considering going into law that it is a very long road and it requires determination. I started with a three year law degree. I then went on to do a masters in Law. A masters isn’t neccessary but it something I wanted to do. Once I left University, I sat the exams for Kings Inns. Once you enter Kings Inns, you must find an apprenticship. I luckily managed to get one. I think once you persevere you will find a Barrister who will take you on. All Barrister’s have deviled, so perseverance will always pay off and they are attainable. When you shadow a Barrister, you really get a great insight to what your career will be like and it gives you great confidence.
Have you specialised in a particular field of law?
Yes I was always interested in criminal law and I also do personal injuries. So it’s great to do a mixture of criminal and personal injuries.
What is a working day like for a Barrister?
Everyday is different. For example today was a stressful one. I was down at the Four Courts today. You have to give your best to every case, that you have in hand. Once you are well researched, you know your facts, then you go in and you give your best delivery. So many people have a huge fear of public speaking, but being a Barrister you overcome that very fast.
I will never forget my first hearing. I was so nervous, I was shaking. I will also never forget the feeling of getting my first case too. I was absolutely over the moon, but I was as nervous as hell. It is amazing how much you take it all in your stride. Being a Barrister you are self-employed. You work weekends, there is rarely such thing as Bank Holiday weekends. So you have to remember aswell, sometimes you are run off your feet with so much work, and then you have times when it’s quiet. So you have to plan and always keep in mind that sometimes you won’t be busy. It’s very much so a skill managing, that aspect of being self-employed.
What advice would you give on gaining confidence and public speaking?
Practise makes perfect. Having the mental confidence to know, you know your research. It is so important to know you’re prepared, that you’ve done your work and you trust that you know what you have learnt. Preparation is key and knowing everything inside out.
As a Barrister you have to always keep abreast with the law. You have to know your stuff. You never stop studying, but equally it becomes easier as you become more knowledgeable.
How does that affect your work/life balance?
I do have a good work/life balance. Although a lot of the time you have to take your work home with you, and you study at night. I would say you have to be really passionate about the law. As you spend your life studying it. One of the greatest things about the Bar is that there is a real sense of collegiality too. Your colleagues are very supportive as it is a profession where you have your devil brother and devil sister. I don’t think people outside of the profession realise that aspect of it. I think that is one of the nicest aspects of the profession that you wouldn’t find in any other profession. Every year I go out for dinner with my devil brother and sister at Christmas time.
How has the bar changed, what is it like being a Barrister and being a woman?
The bar has changed dramatically over the last couple of years. Being a Barrister and being a woman is very common today. It was traditionally a boys club, but that has very much changed. In the Dublin/ Leinster Jurisdiction it is 50/50, which is great to see. At the moment, The Minister for Justice, The Attorney General, The Director of Public Prosecutions, The Chief Justice and The Chief State Solicitor are all women. I don’t think anyone envisaged that happening. That is a huge achievement in the legal profession.
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