"Notable Advocates" will be the title of a new section of BoB that I hope you may enjoy. Working at the Royal Courts of Justice allows me to spend a considerable amount of time in court, either in support of a client or popping in to an interesting case as a spectator.
Legally speaking, an advocate is one who speaks for another. In the higher courts of England and Wales (and many other common law jurisdictions) this function is traditionally carried out by barristers, though nowadays some solicitors can also appear before the High Court, Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.
English and Welsh legal advocacy is an exercise in intelligence, language, preparedness and manners. Establishing a rapport with the judge is crucial, as is maintaining coherence when making complicated submissions. Court time is very expensive so an advocate who wastes it through being ill-prepared will not be tolerated. An element of the theatrical is also involved; a verbal flourish here or a perfectly-timed silence there can serve to underline the point and help it to stick in the judge's (or jury's) mind.
I have seen and heard some wonderful advocacy in my time at the RCJ (and elsewhere), and I would like to share some of the pleasures of watching marvellous advocates at work with the BoB's readers; elegant turns of phrase, clever strategies and other interesting courtroom moments.
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Disclaimer: The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of my employer.
