Andrew Langdon QC reflects on the adverse effect of judicial case management on advocacy
From time to time every lawyer is asked to explain to a lay person the difference between a barrister and a solicitor. Whereas rights of audience extend to both professions, ‘horses for courses’ seems to continue to play its part in career selection. So while there are many skill-sets that draw aspiring lawyers to our sister profession, it remains the case that those who want above all to become courtroom advocates are drawn to the Bar, which remains the natural home for professional excellence in advocacy.
Advocacy is personal. It depends upon judgement, courage, independence of mind, hard work and a capacity to take responsibility for the consequences. I have always been struck by the fact that as individuals, barristers from the most junior to the most senior, have to take full responsibility as individuals for their professional conduct as advocates. They are not entities, but individuals. In the end, as advocates they stand and fall by their reputation as individuals.
Barristers nowadays are highly trained.
