Barrister — Jack Meek

Jack studied LLB Law and LLM Human Rights Law at Queen's University Belfast. After gaining vast experience in a number of legal roles he now works as an employed barrister at the Government Legal Department (GLD)

Why did you decide on a career in law?

There were multiple motivations - though whether it was the first classroom debate as an 11-year-old, when I argued against animal captivity in zoos, or the fact that I went straight from boy wizard adventures to adult courtroom thrillers at 12 - I cannot recall the trigger. However, those early introductions certainly sparked my love of performing (and arguing) and intellectual challenge.

More substantially, it is unsurprising that I was interested by Lady Justice given that I grew up in a Northern Ireland emerging from the Troubles, where I learned the importance of understanding and appreciating strongly held opinions on both sides of an argument. I have also always been the person in my family and friends' circles who people come to for advice and support, so I enjoy the fact that I have a career where I can do likewise for others in a professional capacity.

Where did you complete pupillage and what did this involve?

After six years, over 100 written applications and several interviews, I secured pupillage at the GLD, the UK government's principal legal advisers. The GLD had been at the top of my hit list ever since I heard a government barrister wax lyrical about their work at a Lincoln's Inn bar student event.

Government legal work is split broadly across two disciplines - litigation (contentious) and advisory (non-contentious).

My first six months were spent in a litigation team within the Home Office and Immigration Division, where, under supervision, I ran dozens of my own cases. This typically involved providing written advice to clients, drafting pleadings, instructing panel Counsel, conducting settlement negotiations, managing appeals and observing hearings.

This was followed by a second six months on secondment at Selborne Chambers, a commercial/chancery set, where I was afforded the independence to provide comprehensive legal opinions, draft statements of case, carry out targeted research tasks and (on a limited basis) appear in the Upper Tribunal as an advocate in my own right upon receiving GLD instructions.

Upon completion of pupillage, I continued my training as a government lawyer for a further 12 months, which encompassed an advisory stint at the Cabinet Office and then the government's Commercial Law Group.

What kind of tasks do you complete on a typical day as an employed barrister?

There is a variety of work available at GLD. If you are a litigator, you can expect to advise on merits, draft statements of case, negotiate etc. As an advisory lawyer, there are opportunities to help develop legislative solutions for policy proposals, for example by working on the development of bills or drafting statutory instruments. You might also assist with finessing policy guidance, interpreting statutory provisions when the parameters of legislation are tested by unforeseen circumstances, and working with clients and litigation colleagues when prospective judicial reviews or statutory appeals rear their heads.

What do you enjoy about being a barrister?

• First, the intellectual challenge of finding practical solutions to complex problems, or pre-empting unanticipated consequences when diligent research and analysis leads you to conclude that a particular course of action is best avoided.
• Second, the thrill of having a platform to advocate on behalf of others. Government lawyers typically do not spend a lot of time in court, but there is a sense of fulfilment that comes from utilising my advocacy skills in service to the public through advice to clients and ministers ultimately helping the government to govern well, within the rule of law.
• Third, is the wider privilege I feel from being able to help others. For example, I volunteer to help aspiring barristers realise their own ambitions through various initiatives in GLD and at my Inn of Court. I have championed access to the Bar as a Bar Council social mobility advocate and have delighted in sharing what reflections and insight I can offer to others, with a view to a future Bar that reflects the breadth and depth of excellence offered by so many regardless of background.

What are the challenges?

• The first is learning to accept that sometimes 'good enough' is good enough. It is often tempting to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, but it is important to remember that clients often want timely, upfront and simple answers to their questions.
• Secondly, I suspect most of us will experience imposter syndrome. The important thing is not to let it overwhelm you, but rather use it as a tool to avoid complacency and ensure you are providing the best service you can to your clients. Remember, you are 'good enough' and we cannot all be imposters.
• Finally, it can be difficult to leave work at the office, especially when you are grappling with a particularly knotty problem. It is often easy to lose sight of the fact that sometimes setting something to one side and coming back to it with a revitalised sense of purpose often unlocks the answer you have been searching for.

How do you strike a healthy work/life balance?

My job is important to me. It is a vocation. However, it is not the be all and end all.

My family comes first. I am an avid reader, a cinema anorak, and a theatre enthusiast. I love all sorts of music, consume podcasts and never get bored of watching my favourite sitcoms.

The point is, there are so many other things I think about myself before I consider my professional identity. In my view, it keeps me refreshed and helps me do a better job because I have so much else that I value in life.

What three qualities are important for a career in law?

• Motivation. A career in law is not for the faint-hearted. It is competitive, challenging and can, at times, be exasperating. If you are interested in pursuing a legal career, research everything you can about it. Speak to people. Get work experience. You need to be able to demonstrate that you have properly considered your choices, that you know what is involved and that you are going in with your eyes open. Develop your commercial awareness; understand the business model so that you can best deliver your clients' needs.
• Communication. Whether you're crafting a persuasive closing argument or simplifying complex legal matters for a client, strong oral and written communication skills are essential. You need to be able to think on your feet, argue a point and exercise judgement in formulating the best means of persuading others.
• Resilience. I know firsthand how difficult it is to get into the barristers' profession. I did not give up and believe that those qualities of perseverance now serve me well in helping me deliver for my clients because I adopt a no-stone-left-unturned mentality. You must be determined and driven.

Can you debunk a myth about working as a barrister?

You do not need to be self-employed to practise law as a barrister.

The 2023 figures published by the Bar Standards Board recorded that of the 17,782 practising barristers in England and Wales, 3,116 practised at the employed Bar (about 17.5%).

There are lots of opportunities to work as an employed barrister, either within the public sector, industry or as in-house counsel within law firms. You should be guided by what type of work primarily interests you, but there are also other practical issues that might inform your decision.

What are your views on diversity in the legal sector? How can it better reflect the society it serves?

The legal sector should not be the preserve of any one type of person. There are many talented individuals from across society, each of whom brings a unique perspective to their work and the sector more generally. Once you are in the room, you will find that your platform is enhanced and it becomes easier to advocate, for example, for better access to the profession regardless of background.

It would be churlish to say that things are not improving. Improvements might be incremental, but they are in the offing. For example, Bar course scholarships are often means-tested, and the applications take into account factors such as overcoming adversity to give a wider range of candidates those opportunities that might otherwise prove elusive.

I think it is important for those of us already in the profession not to pull up the drawbridge when we achieve our goals, but rather raise awareness and help foster opportunities for others.

What are your career ambitions?

One of the key attractions to practising as a government lawyer is the variety. There are so many areas of work, and we are encouraged to move around and develop our expertise accordingly.

It is refreshing and reassuring that colleagues and superiors encourage us to develop our careers as we would like, which facilitates open and honest discussions without having to worry about office politics. There are several teams and areas of work that are of interest to me, and I aim to make the most of my opportunities.

What advice can you give to other aspiring barristers?

• Don't give up. If there is one lesson that anyone takes from me, it is the importance of perseverance. If you are committed, it does not matter what anyone says to you; you will not be put off. In saying that, always have a back-up plan, by which I do not mean an alternative to your primary goal, but rather working out a different means of getting there.
• Take every opportunity that comes your way. Had things progressed according to plan, I would have gone straight from university to Bar school, to pupillage, to qualification. I didn't and this allowed me to pursue and benefit from other professional experiences. I was a paralegal at Herbert Smith Freehills, I qualified as a New York attorney, I won a scholarship to work at the European Court of Human Rights and I learned much from reporting on and drawing up practical guidance on legal developments in an editorial capacity at Thomson Reuters Practical Law. I learned much from each experience and came into practice with (what I hope was) a maturity and appreciation of the value for what I had achieved. In turn, I hope that has made me a better lawyer than I would otherwise have been.
• Have outside interests. A legal career can be incredibly versatile and fulfilling, but your profession is only one thread in the rich tapestry that makes up the totality of your being. Cherish time spent with loved ones. Watch that show. Satiate your wanderlust. You will thank yourself and your clients will trust they are in good hands when they see how energised you are.

Find out more

• Learn more about the role of a barrister.
• Discover more about Bar courses.
• Read up on pupillage.
• See what the law sector has to offer.