Day 1:

My first day at Matrix Chambers began with warm welcomes from the front-of-house team, Olivia and Abbie, who gave me an induction to Matrix and spoke about their own experiences working in the chamber. Following this, I was introduced to the Legal Support Team, particularly Donella Torcassi, who is working towards the Bar. She gave amazing insight about the progression in her legal career, what her work entails, and her personal experience of taking a GDL rather than an LLB degree. This was most useful as I have been stuck on what path to take, and this gave me more clarity and confidence to pursue a law degree at university.

After setting up with the LSS team, we began research on the case we would be shadowing at the Royal Court of Justice the next day. From studying the skeleton argument, I gained a greater understanding of tort law and the balance between duty of care and contributory negligence.

Perhaps the highlight of my work experience was having coffee with Catherine Dobson. I was shocked when I found out she shadowed the Attorney General in the Miller II v The Prime Minister Case (2019), given the countless lessons I have studied this case in Politics A-level. In fact, my most recent mock exam was centred around her work! Not only has she done impressive work as a government barrister but has done extensive work in environmental and international law, working on the Thomas Dyilo case in the Hague. Meeting her has solidified my interest in international law but also showed me the scope in which Politics and our Judiciary are related, sparking my interest in public law.

Day 2 & 3:

Over the next two days, I shadowed two varied but equally important cases in the RCJ. The first case was the one we had researched: Ashton v Flutter. Observing the proceedings gave me a greater appreciation of the extent and seriousness of gambling disorder. The case highlighted the legal questions surrounding the duty of care owed by gambling operators to their customers. It was particularly interesting to observe how Jesse Nicholls sought not only to advance his client’s case but also to push for meaningful change within the industry.

During a break in the hearing, I spoke with another member of the public gallery who had been involved with a charity supporting the case. They explained that several similar cases are currently progressing through the courts, which broadened my understanding of the issue. This experience reminded me that, whilst legal disputes are often studied through judgments and legal principles, each case ultimately represents the experiences and interests of real people.

The second trial we shadowed was an international dispute in which over 1,700 Malawian villagers sued a British company for negligence in the floods that destroyed Kanseche village. This case showed the scope of tort law and how it acts in international disputes. What stood out to me in this case was deciding whether to apply English or Malawian law, which at first seemed simple, given that both are grounded in English common law. However, the defence suggested that English law overlooked the indigenous customary laws in Malawi regarding land disputes. Observing these arguments reinforced my interest in international law and demonstrated the complexity of achieving justice in cases that cross jurisdictions and legal practices.

Day 4:

On my final day, I had an interview for the Future Lawyers Programme. This involved time to write an argument against one of the five statements provided, to then give a 5-minute presentation on the argument. Annie and Alex carried out the interview, asking various questions regarding the topic, followed by more general interview questions. This was an invaluable experience, and regardless of the outcome, I enjoyed researching and discussing a topic of controversy in depth. Finally, after lunch, we met with Florence (a trainee at Matrix), who answered a lot of questions about the law, her legal journey and career and how Matrix has helped her develop.

Overall, my experience at Matrix has been incredible and has provided me with greater experience and insight into the legal profession.