Pupil Reflections: Our Pupils on Their Year at Nine

As our pupils get well underway with their own work, Nathan Tommis, Elizabeth Shanks, Anita Ukah and Emily Freeman share their reflections on pupillage at Nine, in their own words. Alongside each reflection, their supervisors share their thoughts.

Nathan Tommis – Personal Injury

Prior to starting pupillage, I worked for various companies in their Bid Writing departments. I was worried when I came to pupillage that my lack of experience as a paralegal or in a similar role would be a disadvantage. However, I have learned quickly over the course of my pupillage that a wide variety of experience can help build advocacy skills and that there is no one mould that creates a Barrister.

My Pupillage at Nine Chambers has shown me the broad spectrum of work. I have been supervised by our Personal Injury team and, through them, have had several rewarding experiences, including shadowing a Silk on a multi-day trial, observing an appeal on a Highways Act claim, attending Joint Settlement Meetings, and, of course, trials. On starting my second six, I have undertaken Small Claims and Fast Track trials, drafted all types of pleadings, attended application hearings and provided written advice. I have supplemented my PI practice with some Criminal work in the Magistrates Court. This challenge sharpened my skills in cross-examination and advocacy due to the sheer number of trials and difficult decisions to make moment to moment. It has shown me the value of remaining open to instructions even outside Counsel’s usual comfort zone, and I intend to continue accepting opportunities that allow me to grow and develop. Even just being in a Chambers with a broad range of practices exposes Pupils to a variety of approaches, techniques and ideas that help develop their own practice.

Overall, pupillage at Nine has sharpened my advocacy skills considerably, and I have felt welcomed and supported throughout. I am proud of where I have got to and keen to keep growing and developing. I deeply enjoy all the work that I do and find great satisfaction in being a trial advocate.

From Nathan’s pupil supervisor, Elizabeth Murray

“It has been a delight to supervise Nathan during his Second Six. He has demonstrated excellent client care and communication skills, and he approaches his work with diligence and enthusiasm. I know he is already proving popular with professional clients and is receiving repeat instructions. It has been a pleasure to watch his practice develop and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”

Elizabeth Shanks – Employment

Prior to starting pupillage, I completed the bar course at Northumbria University in Newcastle, where I developed a foundational understanding of the art of cross-examination, opinion writing, drafting, and other skills essential to life as a barrister.

During my first six, I had the privilege of shadowing experienced counsel in a full range of employment matters, including in the EAT and the High Court. This not only enhanced my knowledge and understanding of the law but, importantly, helped me understand how to provide the very best service to my clients when starting my second six. I came to understand that having a strong grasp of black letter law is imperative, but so too is thinking about strategy and commercial reality. I also observed very different, but equally effective, styles of advocacy which has shaped my own advocacy since starting on my feet.

Since starting second six, I have completed interesting and varied work, from judicial mediation to a final hearing involving complex issues of liability and remedy. I have thoroughly enjoyed carrying out legal research and advising clients across a range of employment matters and conducting advocacy in the employment tribunal and County Court. I am extremely grateful to all members of the Employment Team at Nine, who are always on hand to answer questions and act as a sounding board when I encounter tricky matters of law or procedure. I very much look forward to the next steps in my career.

From Elizabeth’s pupil supervisor, Lena Amartey

“Elizabeth has shown consistent dedication to achieving the best results for her clients. Most recently she demonstrated her skills in defending a complex 4 day discrimination case. She has a natural ability to reassure her clients and quickly win their confidence. Her client care is second to none.”

Anita Ukah – Business & Property

Before pupillage, I appeared in Small Claims matters as a County Court Advocate, and then moved on to work as a paralegal at a commercial law firm specialising in consumer rights litigation. Having liaised with barristers regularly and observed how they handled their cases in court, I began pupillage convinced I was stepping into familiar territory.

However, I was surprised to find that I learnt something new every day of my first six months. I was exposed to the full breadth of chambers’ commercial work — shadowing senior members across probate, real estate, tax, consumer credit, and contractual disputes, as well as marshalling High Court judges in corporate insolvency proceedings and a three-day property dilapidation trial. I also drafted skeleton arguments, statements of case, appeal grounds, and opinions in order to learn how to balance my court practice with my paper practice.

This gave me the confidence to step into my second six months taking charge of my own cases, being vocal about strategy, and not being afraid to manage expectations.

No two days have been the same in my second six. I have appeared in matters spanning the full range of the litigation tracks in the County Court and High Court alike, given legal opinions which have materialised into live proceedings with statements of case drafted by me, and drafted more skeleton arguments and orders than I can count. I have also put my mind to complex instructions in fraudulent misrepresentation, professional negligence, and TOLATA proceedings, and appeared pro bono on behalf of unrepresented parties in corporate insolvency proceedings through Advocate’s M-CLIPS scheme.

Looking back, the common thread running through my journey to and through pupillage has been a preference for work that combines advocacy with intellectual rigour — and a genuine enjoyment of the unpredictability that comes with both. Growing in confidence as an advocate throughout my first and second six has taught me that a successful barrister is one who approaches each day as a new opportunity to learn. In that vein, I remain open to instructions spanning the breadth of business and property law, with the aim of building a broad commercial practice — one where the opportunities to learn and further refine my craft are endless.

From Anita’s pupil supervisor, David Gilchrist

“In her pupillage with the Business and Property Team, Anita has demonstrated that she has the knowledge and skills to provide a valuable service to her clients and to develop a successful practice. I am confident that she will prove to be an important member of the team.”

Emily Freeman – Crime

Prior to pupillage, I worked as a paralegal for a housing charity, where I managed my own caseload and advised vulnerable clients on housing and public law matters. This gave me an early insight into the practicalities of preparing cases for hearing, including identifying evidential issues, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a case, and finding practical solutions to problems as they arose.

I started my pupillage in September 2025 under the supervision of Philip Barnes KC. During my first six, I observed a wide range of hearings with members of Chambers at both the junior and senior end of practice. This gave me insight into the differing demands and realities of criminal practice as well as advocacy styles and approaches to case preparation. Seeing both the volume and breadth of work undertaken across Chambers, and gaining an understanding of the different perspectives of junior and senior practitioners, placed me in a strong position as I progressed into my second six.

In my second six, I regularly appear in both the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court, acting for both the prosecution and defence. This has included trials, sentencing hearings and interlocutory hearings across a range of matters, including violence, drugs and driving offences. I have particularly enjoyed the variety of work and opportunity to refine my advocacy and drafting as I move through practice and have gained valuable experience in dealing with vulnerable parties and adapting my approach to the particular needs of those involved in a case.

I have greatly valued the collegiate and supportive culture at Nine Chambers and the Criminal Bar throughout my pupillage. Those around me are generous with their time and willing to offer practical guidance and constructive feedback often in the course of practice itself. Whether discussing a case before a hearing, reflecting on advocacy afterwards, or sharing an alternative approach to an issue, these informal opportunities to learn from more experienced practitioners have been invaluable. This combination of increasing independence and accessible support has allowed me to develop my own style, judgement and confidence while continuing to learn from the experience of those around me. It has been an important part of my development during second six and has provided a strong foundation for my career at Nine Chambers.

From Emily’s pupil supervisor, Phil Barnes KC

“Emily is formidable, both as a person and as a barrister. Her work is characterised by focus, intelligence and understanding, and her manner is professional, compassionate and warm. She has been a pleasure to supervise, and I look forward to watching her go on to achieve things which — such is her humility — she will not presently even allow herself to dream of.”

Thank you to Nathan, Elizabeth, Anita and Emily for sharing their reflections, and to their supervisors and all members of Chambers who have supported them throughout their pupillage.