Nia Marshall

Pupil Barrister

Hello, my name is Nia Marshall. I am a common law pupil barrister.

I am a proud yet humble Black Barbadian woman. In 2017 I was availed with the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom (UK). I was awarded a Barbadian national government scholarship. This prestigious Barbadian academic scholarship financed my legal tuition and contributed to my living expenses.

Without the scholarship and my parents’ financial support, I would have been unable to afford to study in the UK. I moved to the UK at 18 years old. It was the most terrifying and electrifying experience of my life. I became acutely more aware of my race, nationality, and my accent. I recall sitting in the lecture theatre (which seated approximately 250 students) and only being able to count seven other Black persons in a sea of faces. Thoughts of doubt lingered in the corners of my mind about whether this young Black West Indian lady could be successful in navigating this lonely new space. Nevertheless, there was always a Godly inspiring voice from within stating repeatedly “You are a conqueror. You will not accept defeat.”

Where did your aspiration to become a Barrister stem from?

My love for theatre and the performing arts alongside being an avid debater and public speaker laid the foundation for my aspiration to become a barrister. In my formative years, I won several national awards (silver and bronze medals) for drama and spoken word. In 2014, I was the winner of the Caribbean District Optimist International Oratorical Competition. I participated and won numerous debating and public speaking competitions throughout my secondary school years. These experiences culminated in me being selected to represent Barbados at the World Schools Debating Championship in Stuttgart Germany (2016) and in Bali Indonesia (2017). I knew I wanted to advocate on the behalf of others. My aspiration to pursue the Bar bloomed as I developed my analytical abilities and advocacy skills.

Journey to the Bar:

My journey to the Bar comprised the completion of my studies, obtaining work experience and then applying for pupillage. While I undertook my studies, I pursued mini-pupillages, marshalling, pro bono and voluntary work experience.

I pursued my LLB at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (Newcastle University).

Upon completion of my LLB, I pursued the Bar Practice Course and a Master of Laws in Bar Practice at the University of Law, Leeds. After I completed my studies, I became an Advocate also known as a County Court Advocate with Quest Legal Advocates and LPC Law. I represented clients in a wide range of hearings including:

• Return of goods

• Mortgage possession

• Mortgage applications

• Charging orders

• Landlord and tenant possession

• Bankruptcy and debt recovery

• Civil applications

• Dispute resolution

• Preliminary hearings

• Directions Hearings

• Infant approval settlements

• Small claim trials

The court based experience that I gained contributed significantly to attaining pupillage.

Why did you choose to pursue a career at the Bar?

I saw the Bar as a stage that would provide me with the opportunity to combine my love for theatre and advocacy. I envision the court room as providing a setting in which I must convince another type of audience. Being an amateur actress, a national debater, a mooter and making submissions in Tribunal and County Court hearings taught me that the art of persuasion is determined by what will resonate, precision and brevity. Additionally, my experience drafting letters of advice, authoring two articles, and writing skeleton arguments have equipped me with the skills necessary to write persuasively.

Commendations on my thorough analysis and persuasive submissions from solicitors and District Judges have further convinced me that I am suitable for a career at the Bar. I always embrace the intellectual rigour that is ingrained in preparing for cases. I make a concerted effort to approach each of my hearings with a comprehensive understanding of legal and factual matters.

Moreover, my experience working as a self-employed advocate confirmed my desire to be a self-employed barrister. I enjoyed liaising with diary clerks and members of the allocation team to manage my busy diary. I have honed the temperament to manage a busy practice and accept last minute instructions. I learnt to manage increasing caseloads while providing quality work and maintaining excellent client care. Importantly, I welcome the fact that being self-employed grants me the flexibility to manage my well-being by discussing with the clerks’ my unavailability to facilitate my rejuvenation.

Ultimately, I desire the freedom to develop my practice and how I am marketed. I believe that discussions with my clerks about my preferred practice areas would facilitate the development of my practice. Moreover, I have developed my personal brand via my YouTube Channel ‘Life Law Bim.’ This assists in networking and marketing myself with members of the profession.

What were some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Although there are numerous initiatives about equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at the Bar, it is no secret that the Bar is not as diverse as it should be. The Bar should be an accurate reflection of the society it serves. I could not help but notice that at the law fairs, pupillage fairs, work experience at the Bar that I would rarely ever see a barrister or a judge that looks like me. This was daunting. I often had thoughts that the Bar would not be a welcoming space for me.

Although there is still significant work that the Bar must do to improve EDI, I found that the network of support and mentorship opportunities that the Bar provides continues to be encouraging. Aside from the support at the Bar, I felt that it was necessary for me to enter this space and successfully navigate it to inspire other Black women and men and other persons of colour. I am a determined individual.

As an international student, I overcame many systemic hurdles. Namely, I worked within the restrictions of my visa’s limited weekly working hours (including voluntary work) to ensure that I gained legal and voluntary experience as a mini-pupil, Caseworker and McKenzie Friend, student advisor, advocate, Street Law presenter and a volunteer teaching asylum seekers and refugees English.

As an international applicant, I faced numerous challenges including:

• Costs associated with obtaining visas to study and work in the UK- I have spent thousands of pounds to seek and pursue job opportunities in the UK.

• Payment of rent in advance- Given that I did not have anyone to act as a UK-based guarantor, I was often required to pay rent 6 months in advance at the beginning of a new lease.

• Psychological trauma of being away from my primary support network- This is emotionally taxing and draining as a quest for the development of my career felt like isolation. I continuously rely on my relationship with God, friendships, video calls (to my parents) fortitude and resilience to overcome any lack of face-to-face familial support.

• The myth that obtaining pupillage as an international applicant is impossible- I recall being told on numerous occasions: “You should not endeavour to pursue the Bar because there is no acceptance of international applicants.” “Gosh! The Bar is hard enough to join. You should return home or consider becoming a solicitor because the firms may be able to accommodate your status as an international applicant.” Never once were these comments based on whether my skillset was suitable for a career at the Bar. This was extremely alarming to me! I stubbornly refused to allow these comments to prevent me from pursuing the Bar.

Who were some of your role models or motivations to pursue a career at the Bar?

My female role model is my mother, Victoria Castello-Marshall. She has taught me very important life lessons which have served me well on my journey to the Bar. Some of her lessons included perseverance, resilience, determination, commitment, and a positive attitude especially in trying times. As a child and a teenager, I was like a sponge. I inadvertently watched her overcome hurdles, juggle competing demands while demonstrating selflessness in her parenthood.

I still remember when I wanted to quit Brownies during primary school simply because I was bored of our weekly meetings. She used that as a teachable moment. She prohibited me from quitting, and she impressed upon me that I must remain committed to a project once I gave a guarantee about my participation. I still recall the Tuesdays when I had to force myself to attend the meetings. But I can proudly state that I remained committed, and I obtained numerous badges including the top badge. Thanks mum!

My mother is a very fair person. I still recall her wanting to know the details of an incident so that she can assess which party committed a wrongdoing. Her decision-making never took into consideration that I am her daughter.  Her sense of integrity, justice and solid moral compass inculcated an ethical code of conduct and an ability to speak fearlessly and politely when an injustice has occurred.

How did you feel navigating a career at the Bar?

Navigating the Bar is daunting at times to say the least. I have always been plagued with questions in my mind like: Why don’t I see many people that look like me? Does this mean that I will have to deal with racism and sexism while trying to simply be a good advocate? Is my skillset good enough to be a barrister? Will being a Black woman detrimentally impact my ability to be successful at the Bar? Will I be discriminated against because of my Barbadian or Bajan accent? Will I fit in well with my colleagues at Chambers?

As an advocate, I have also experienced the psychological setbacks that are part of advocacy. Despite performing at your best, some outcomes and occurrences shatter your confidence. It is often a struggle to pick up the pieces, put it back together in a piecemeal fashion and hope that no one sees the fragility underpinning the hairline cracks. Nevertheless, I continue to invent new ways to “rise like a phoenix from the ashes” to perform at my best for my upcoming hearings. It really is an emotional rollercoaster. 

The Bar can be quite intimidating. Nevertheless, I developed a strong spiritual relationship with God. I cultivated my inner strength and determination through prayer. I also obtained support from my parents who assisted me when I felt like I was at my breaking point during my LLB and the Bar Course. The various Bar related initiatives (Gray’s Inn Association of Gray’s Inn Students [AGIS], mentorship, mini-pupillages, pro bono) also encouraged me that securing pupillage is achievable.

My mentor Andrew Powell played an integral role especially during pupillage application season. His advice pre and post pupillage offers helped me to feel like I was not alone in navigating the ebbs and flows of the Bar. Andrew continues to be a pillar of support. It really helps to have a mentor who is invested in your success and selflessly assists especially during crises. Thank you, Andrew!

Insight into your achievements:

The highlight of my journey to the Bar so far is obtaining pupillage as an international applicant. This is complemented by the fact that I received multiple pupillage offers. Hopefully, this inspires other international applicants that they too can be awarded pupillage.

My legal journey in the UK would not have been possible without the Barbados national academic scholarship. I was awarded this scholarship in 2017 due to excellent grades at CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations). CAPE is the equivalent to A-Levels. I attained Grade 1s in all my CAPE subjects. A Grade 1 is the highest grade that a student can achieve in these examinations.

I was also awarded in 2017 the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Undergraduate International LLB Scholarship for the duration of my law degree.

I was also awarded the Optimist International Scholarship due to winning the Caribbean regional round of the Speech competition.

I am also proud of my publications in which (in the former) I was a co-author and the latter I authored solely:

• “The Student as Lecturer: building confidence, collaboration, and community in first year undergraduate law lectures” Rosie Brain, Lydia Ezekiel, Arian Mansur, Nia Marshall, Namwila Mulwanda, Darby Okafor and Hélène Tyrrell The Law Teacher, Sept 2021

• “Rough Seas or Smooth Sailing for UK- CARIFORUM Relations in No-Deal Brexit” SRC Trade Blog / Barbados Today, Sept 2019

I was contracted as a Legal Consultant to join the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) team at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus on the UWI Repair and Renewal Research Project. I joined the SALISES team to research and advise on a Reparations Investment (Trust) Fund. My task encompassed researching, considering legal frameworks, and proposing a viable Reparations Investment Fund model which supports Caribbean development initiatives. The financing is expected to be obtained from countries and institutions that benefitted from genocide, enslavement, and colonialism of Caribbean countries

Most recently, I was a tutor in the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus. I delivered tutorials in Semester I and II in Jurisprudence, Commonwealth Caribbean Human Rights Law and Real Property II. It was an enriching experience engaging with budding legal minds. 

Empowering the next generation:

It means the world to me to be a Black Barbadian woman at the Bar of England and Wales.

I know that I have made my ancestors who grew up under the union jack proud. I am grateful for their rebellion against centuries of slavery, exploitation, oppression, and racism. Without that, this little Black girl from “Bimshire” would never have been able to enter a historically white profession. They have passed the proverbial baton to me, and I aim to leave this world a little better than I found it.

I have written my name on history’s page in a way that can inspire other Caribbean people. We may be from small islands, but we have the ability to think on a global scale.

What are some things you are working on to increase diversity and representation of women at the Bar?

I am one of the proud champions of equality, diversity, and inclusion. My YouTube Channel ‘Life Law Bim’ aims to reduce the lack of access to critical information when pursuing the Bar. Through testimonials, success stories and self-help videos, I equip my listeners with knowledge. Knowledge is powerful because it is the foundation of achieving our goals. It educates my viewers and empowers them to pursue the Bar while being astutely aware of some of the challenges.

Emanating from Life Law Bim, International [Future] Barrister Mentorship (IFBM) creates a bespoke three-stage mentorship scheme for international applicants. As an international applicant, I understand that often we are a neglected community of aspiring barristers. I had little guidance regarding visa requirements, ineligibility from some local scholarships and much more. There was no blueprint for me as it pertains to being an international applicant. Therefore, I created IFBM to offer guidance to all international applicants. This can be an isolating journey for us. Therefore, I realised the importance of building a community.

I believe that as the female leader of these powerful platforms it encourages other women to pursue the Bar fearlessly.

How can we all work towards creating a diverse representation at the Bar?

Regular meetings with underrepresented communities and key stakeholders such as Chambers, The Bar Council and The Bar Standards Board are pivotal. Dialogue about the challenges and the assistance needed to overcome these hurdles are integral. Action plans must then be implemented with members from underrepresented communities at the helm of the initiatives. Below are two challenges that still face the Bar:

• Many chambers still lack the knowledge of the requisite paperwork and process for international applicants who will become pupils and eventually tenants. Therefore, some are unaware of the time scales and the documentation involved in the different stages of the application. Some Chambers are unaware of the stages of the application process and the importance of submitting information in a specific timeframe. International applicants who are reliant on the Skilled Worker visa for pupillage and tenancy require key information like pupillage details and tenancy offers well in advance of the expiration of their visa. If the information is tardily provided, international applicants would incur further costs returning to their home country to apply or renew their visa.

• Some chambers are still underequipped for neurodiverse persons and persons with different abilities. They simply do not have the knowledge of the reasonable adjustments necessary.

What is something you would say to the next generation of upcoming barristers and why?

Your light is necessary at the Bar.

The Bar needs your background and experiences to serve the diverse society of England and Wales. Don’t you dare let anyone or anything try to hide your light or discourage you from the Bar. You are powerful beyond measure, own it! With every lesson and rejection your imperfectly flawless armour gets stronger.

Embrace rejections, lessons, and failures. Your training for the Bar has begun. Once you can develop resilience, you will be unstoppable. When you feel overwhelmed, ensure that you take a break, get some rest and then say to yourself aloud:

• Rejection and setbacks do not define me.

• My experiences make me an asset to Chambers. If a set does not value them, that is their loss, as I know another set will appreciate and value my experiences.

• I will be a barrister.

Don’t you dare walk away from your calling or purpose. You got this

Written by Nia Marshall