From the 28 July to the 1st August, Esme and I completed work experience at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) in London, where we shadowed Her Honour Judge Anuja Dhir KC.
Saying it was an honour to sit with such an excellent judge is an understatement. I learnt invaluable lessons, but at first, I was lost. I didn’t understand what was going on. Yet over the week, I learnt how to adapt—and I want to share that with you.
Most of our time was spent observing live court cases. We had a great view of the courtroom and could hear the barristers (the lawyers who present arguments in court) clearly, including how they interacted with the jury (12 members of the public who decide the verdict of the case). But entering a case mid-way was tough. We didn’t know the context, and so we didn’t really know what was going on.
Eventually, I realised just sitting there wasn’t enough. Otherwise, it would just be a line on my personal statement that hadn’t really benefitted me.
So, on the penultimate day, I decided to fully engage via one small action: I decided to take notes. I focused closely on the barristers’ arguments and took notes on everything I could. This kept me present, and also helped me form opinions on not only the case, but also unique styles each barrister brought. There’s ostensibly an element of theatre in how they present—even when covering grim topics like murder and abuse.
What really amazed me was their focus. One barrister spoke for an hour with just a slide of bullet points on their iPad—no script, no break in clarity. That kind of sustained, precise thinking truly inspired me, and it’s a skill I aspire to develop.
Yes, it might sound obvious to “take notes,” but it was that small, simple action changed everything. It shifted how I experienced the placement, thus deepening my engagement with the law. And what I’d like you to take from this article is this: all it takes to adapt to a tough situation is a small but intentional shift in how you approach it. And if you stick to it, it can change EVERYTHING. Someone may have trouble focusing while studying, the simple solution? Study elsewhere. Someone may not finish all their daily tasks, the simple solution? Make a study plan. It’s the small but intentional actions that can revolutionise a task. But you HAVE to stick to it.
After having an engaging and fascinating few days, I’m now more motivated to pursue law after education. I think it’s beautiful to think about the power and authority of words used in the courtroom. The barrister’s words being used to persuade the jury, the judge’s words delivering a binding, final sentence, even the usher’s (manager of the court) words to make everyone stand when the judge leaves or enters a room. I genuinely can’t wait to join the field and make a difference. And the biggest thing that caused me to think this way as of recently? Making notes in court. Without a doubt.
– Arjun, Haberdashers’ Adams student
