Our Pupils (trainee barristers)

Neil Ross

Neil did his primary degree in Psychology at Oxford before becoming a project editor at a marketing firm specialising in education. He then took the plunge and converted to law, undertaking the GDL and the BVC at BPP Law College in London and winning the Lord Justice Holker Scholarship from Gray's Inn during his BVC year.

Having been on his feet as a pupil since October 2007, Neil has appeared in the Magistrates' Courts to deal with all types of hearings including trials and legal arguments on bad character; in the Youth Court to manage trials and sentences; in the Crown Court on mention hearings and preliminary hearings and has even exercised his right of audience in the Court of Appeal.

Victoria Yates

Having studied Law at King's College London, Victoria completed the BVC at The College of Law. As part of her Pro Bono work during her BVC year, Victoria won a Service Charge dispute against Islington Borough Council at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.
Following completion of her studies, Victoria worked at Linklaters as a Legal Assistant for their online Blue Flag Legal Services. As in-house counsel, Victoria dealt with clients including Goldman Sachs, Hermes, Royal Bank of Scotland, JP Morgan, Dresdner Bank and other platinum clients.

Victoria is currently a third six pupil, having started on her feet in October 2007. Victoria has conducted numerous trials in both the Magistrates' and Youth Courts and has dealt with a variety of hearings including legal argument on bad character, confiscation hearings, hearsay, abuse of process, extreme hardship, special reasons and exclusions of evidence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Victoria has also conducted a variety of hearings and trials in relation to Road Traffic Offences. In addition, Victoria has conducted various hearings in the Crown Court including plea and case management hearings, preliminary hearings, mention hearings and sentences. Victoria has her first Crown Court trial later this year.

Victoria also has experience of civil cases having conducted a possession of land hearing in the County Court.

Ruth Hobbs

Ruth achieved a first class law degree from the Open University as well as undertaking a Diploma in English Law and winning the Open University Mooting competition in 2006. Ruth was awarded the Lord Denning Scholarship from Lincoln's Inn in 2006 and the Shelford Scholarship in 2007. Prior to being called to the Bar, Ruth was an experienced senior manager with a FTSE 100 retail company.

Ruth has experienced a broad spectrum of the legal profession from conducting pro bono prison work, marshalling, working at criminal defence solicitors in Harlesden and being a caseworker and administrative officer for 9 months with the CPS. Ruth began pupillage in October 2007 and started appearing in court in April 2008.

Ruth has conducted a number of trials in the Magistrates' Court and has dealt with a variety of hearings in both the Magistrates' and Youth Courts.

Hannah Stephenson

Hannah received a First Class degree in LLB Law with Politics from the University of Hull in 2005 before gaining an Arts and Humanities Research Council Scholarship to study for her LLM in Human Rights Law at the University of Nottingham in 2006. She was awarded the Middle Temple Queen Mother's Scholarship for her Bar Vocational Course and was called to the Bar in 2007.

Previously, Hannah has worked as a generalist advisor at the Citizen's Advice Bureau, assisting people with housing, benefits, immigration and employment issues and she is currently involved with the Social Mobility Foundation which promotes entry to the Bar for applicants from low income backgrounds.

Hannah has conducted trials in the Youth Court and the Magistrates' Court in addition to various hearings involving robbery, threats to kill, assault, child cruelty, drugs and driving offences. Hannah has conducted legal argument as to warrants for further detention, hearsay, special measures and bad character and has represented clients in the Crown Court for mentions and preliminary hearings.

Hannah is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and the Human Rights Lawyers Association.

Michael Collis

Michael graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge in 2003 and was called to the Bar in 2004. Since then he has conducted numerous Crown Court trials, both prosecuting and defending, including a two-handed conspiracy to defraud and a wounding. His Magistrates' and Youth Court experience includes trials in robberies, sexual assaults, grievous bodily harm and numerous cases defending serving police officers.

Michael has prosecuted for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Probation Service, the Youth Offending Team, the Department of Work and Pensions, Revenue and Customs and numerous local authorities.

In addition to his criminal law practice, Michael also has experience acting for defendants in extradition cases.

Robert Ward

Robert completed his law degree at Leeds University before undertaking a Masters in International Law at Glasgow University, where he achieved a distinction. He subsequently completed an internship at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, working in the Security Council.

Upon returning to the UK, Robert completed the BVC in Leeds. Prior to commencing pupillage, Robert worked as an immigration and asylum caseworker, giving legal advice as well as representing clients and conducting appeals in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. Robert started pupillage in April 2008 and will start appearing in court from October 2008.

Frances Ridout

Frances successfully completed a law degree at Queen Mary University of London and the BVC at BPP Law College in London. In 2006 she received the Queen Mother Scholarship from Middle Temple.

Prior to starting at Chambers, Frances had a great deal of experience clerking for a number of solicitors firms. She has undertaken case work for the Free Representation Unit where she represented clients in Social Security tribunals. In addition, she was heavily involved in setting up and running the student pro bono group during her time at university. Frances is looking forward to starting her own court work in October 2008.