Journeys into Law: From Diversity to Mentoring

This second series of interviews offers a compelling glimpse into the journeys of three remarkable barristers—Mequissa Magloire, Rebecca Brookes, and Sima Khan from Ropewalk Chambers. This time, we delve into their experiences of balancing a career with parenthood, the importance of diversity in law, and the value of mentorship. Building on their personal and professional insights, these conversations reflect the evolving face of the Bar and highlight the power of inclusion and support within the legal profession. We hope these interviews inspire future legal professionals and shed light on the diverse routes into a career at the Bar.

❖ How do you feel your journey reflects the evolving and increasingly diverse routes into the legal profession?

My route to the Bar has been anything but typical. I didn’t come from a family of lawyers so didn’t grow up thinking that the Bar was even an option for me. My interest in law really began when I attended court as a teenager and became fascinated by advocacy.

The challenge was that my parents couldn’t afford for me to study in the UK, so I had to be creative. Barbados offered free university education, so I stayed home and completed my LLB there. From the moment I started, I began researching how to qualify as a barrister in England and Wales, reaching out to the Bar Standards Board to understand the exemption process before I started the GDL. That early contact with the regulator was invaluable and gave me the confidence to navigate the regulatory process long before most students even think about it.

While completing my LLB, I applied for and was awarded a GDL scholarship. I studied the GDL online which was the most practical option for me. After finishing, I finally moved to the UK for the Bar course which was my first time living here for more than a few months.

Then came the pandemic, which turned everything upside down. I had to return home and ended up interviewing for pupillage from my grandmother’s house, complete with chickens crowing in the background - a story that has since become my favourite to tell!

Throughout all this, I was working at the post office in Barbados and balancing the feeling of living two lives: one firmly rooted at home, the other building toward a legal career thousands of miles away. When I eventually began pupillage, I faced further challenges due to health difficulties, which meant that what was meant to finally be the “typical” part of my journey became atypical again. 

At that point, another barrister in Chambers shared that their own pupillage had also taken an unconventional route. They told me something that has stayed with me: the job will always be there, but your health comes first. That reassurance made a huge difference for me.

Every step of my journey has been non-standard, but that’s precisely what has made it meaningful. It’s also given me the knowledge and empathy to guide others coming after me. Many aspiring barristers worry that one detour or setback will end their chances but oftentimes, the very setback they’re worried about is something I have gone through and overcome. I’m able to share that story with them and give not just encouragement but practical solutions to their problems.

What’s clear to me now, as both a barrister and a mentor, is that there has never truly been one route into this profession, but the myth of a “standard” path has persisted for far too long. The Bar today is filled with people who have taken unconventional routes, whether that’s studying abroad, entering law as a second career, or navigating personal and financial obstacles along the way. I’ve mentored students from all over the world who have each taken their own path, and their determination reminds me of why diversity in experience matters just as much as diversity in background.

When aspiring barristers hear stories like Sima’s, Rebecca’s or mine, or those of others who have carved their own paths, it gives them something tangible to hold on to: proof that there isn’t just one way to reach the Bar, and that the value of what they bring lies not in how closely they follow a template, but in how they persevere through their own.

❖ The traditional distinction between pupil barristers and trainee solicitors is becoming increasingly blurred, especially as career paths diversify. What are your thoughts on this shift, and do you feel it affects perceptions, opportunities or collaboration within the profession?

I agree that the distinction has become more blurred and, to be honest, I think that’s a good thing. We now share many of the same skills, and often similar backgrounds by the time we reach qualification. I see that as a reflection of both how competitive and how diverse the entire profession has become.

Coming from a jurisdiction where that distinction doesn’t exist, I’ve always found it quite interesting. To me, the separation between the two is only as significant as we make it. I haven’t found that this shift affects opportunities or collaboration negatively. Ultimately, the legal culture in the UK still values the division, but I think moving forward, the focus will be more on shared purpose and collaboration because of the blurring of those lines.

❖ What role has mentorship, community or support played in helping you reach this stage in your career?

I would not be where I am today without mentorship and community. My first mentor was actually one of my mother’s former students, a Grenadian lawyer who remembered her fondly and stayed in touch over the years. She took me under her wing when I said I wanted to become a lawyer and gave me early experiences that shaped how I understood both the law and the profession.

From there, I was fortunate to have mentors who reviewed scholarship applications, prepped me for interviews, and offered invaluable encouragement. When I began focusing on the UK Bar, I quickly realised how different the culture was and knew I needed new mentors who understood that context. I put out a message on Twitter asking for guidance, and to my surprise, several barristers responded. Those connections have remained strong since 2020.

Community has been equally vital while navigating this profession and this country. The networks of barristers, immigrants, and Black women around me have been my anchor, especially in moments of doubt. They have lifted me when I could not lift myself, and that kind of support is priceless. I have a close group of women I speak with almost every day. We share our professional challenges, but we also go for food, talk about music, and host each other. It is a community that feels holistic and meets all my needs. I love that I can go to different people for different things, knowing that someone will always be there when I need to laugh or cry.

Now, I try to give back by mentoring others and creating community wherever possible. That means being kind to opponents and sometimes offering them a lift to the station, sharing knowledge with other juniors in Chambers, and making time to do fun things with colleagues like going for lunch and chatting about films. Many of my mentors have become part of my wider community, and I hope to offer that same sense of guidance and belonging to those coming up behind me.

❖ For those of you balancing parenthood with a legal career, what have been the particular challenges - and what support changes do you think are needed to help parents progress in law?

The main challenge for me is the unpredictability of the job. Plans frequently change at the last minute; the timing of a hearing changes or an urgent brief comes in. That makes planning difficult. But you find ways to make it work.

There are lots of parents in Chambers and from what I can tell we all deal with the challenges in different ways. I think the way to support parents working in the legal sphere is to talk about what options are available, the different ways of working. I've certainly been encouraged by more established members having those conversations with me. 

It's easy to forget that despite the intensity and unpredictability of life at the Bar (which is part and parcel), there is also a certain amount of flexibility in being self-employed. In my experience, Chambers are supportive, and people understand when you need a bit of give in your schedule or you need to plan your diary in a particular way. We can be good lawyers and good parents. 

❖ How do you feel your journey reflects the evolving and increasingly diverse routes into the legal profession?

I suspect my journey, which we talked about in the last issue, is not so unique anymore. I meet people from all sorts of schools and socioeconomic backgrounds at the Bar, and that’s a good thing.  That said, I did still have a fairly traditional academic background and took a traditional pupillage route. It will be interesting to see how the new barrister apprenticeships increase diversity and participation at the Bar.

❖ The traditional distinction between pupil barristers and trainee solicitors is becoming increasingly blurred, especially as career paths diversify. What are your thoughts on this shift, and do you feel it affects perceptions, opportunities or collaboration within the profession?

That’s an interesting question. The traditional routes to becoming a barrister or solicitor are quite different, and they set the stage for different ways of working. A good example of this is a friend of mine who transferred from being a solicitor to the Bar and then went back to being a solicitor. She found the culture and demands were not for her and preferred the side of the profession that she’d grown up in.

On a personal level, I like the traditional specialisation and the value I think that adds. But as you say, the pathways are changing. There are more transferring lawyers, and I’ve met a number of people undertaking pupillage at solicitors’ in-house advocacy teams, which do have a different feel. It will be a matter of what works. Tradition is a guide not a jailer.

❖ What role has mentorship, community or support played in helping you reach this stage in your career?

Mentorship has been a huge positive. I have been blown away by that aspect of life at the Bar. People are very generous with their time. I found myself being adopted by a number of brilliant barristers along the way. It’s not just the support; it’s also about providing access and insight into the profession. 

Even as a junior tenant, I have a mentor through my Inn, she’s a KC with a busy practice, and a parent- yet she still finds time to chat, provide support and help me plan my career progression. 

The help I have had has been invaluable and has instilled in me the importance of paying it forward. I’m a trustee of a free legal information project where I help mentor our law students; and I try to get involved in pupillage events where I can, for example, I’ll be at interview and CV clinic for aspiring barristers later this month. I’d like to do more.

❖ For those of you balancing parenthood with a legal career, what have been the particular challenges - and what support changes do you think are needed to help parents progress in law?

The key challenge is no doubt ‘balancing’ it. I have found myself working into the early hours of the morning at times or being riddled with mum guilt because I did not feel present enough whilst pretend playing dinosaurs with my son (for the 5^th time) on any given day because my mind is so occupied with tasks that need doing before the next day. Nonetheless, I feel very supported both professionally and personally. For me, a pivotal factor in advancing my legal career whilst parenting has been maintaining realistic expectations around diary management and communicating my workload needs to clerks in Chambers. It has also been important for me to avoid comparing myself to others and to remind myself that everyone progresses at their own pace. 

I think most people understand that parenting and having sufficient time to parent is non-negotiable and as such I think most working environments, if not all, are understanding that there needs to be a healthy work/life balance which needs to be prioritised. That prioritisation of well-being and balance is of course not only for working parents but also for anyone with a legal career who is not a parent. 

❖ How do you feel your journey reflects the evolving and increasingly diverse routes into the legal profession?

I think the legal profession is incredibly diverse and I hope it continues to be. With most professions where there is a rich history and tradition associated with it, there is also often a fear of potentially ‘not fitting in’ for anyone wishing to pursue it. I think that is largely being addressed by the Bar and the legal profession more widely as there is now so many different initiatives and schemes which address inclusion and diversity. As part of a minority myself, I see those initiatives as a celebration of the diversity and inclusion, but it is of course crucial, in my opinion, that it never becomes a ‘tick box’ exercise and that there is a focus on ensuring that the profession remains accessible to all who wish to pursue it. In terms of my own journey, I was already aware when I was pursuing the Bar that there was not a lot of barristers of Afghan background and in particular women of Afghan background. Using forums such as this bulletin to highlight that, I hope, will provide some reflection of the diversity and inclusion within the profession and encourage it further. 

❖ The traditional distinction between pupil barristers and trainee solicitors is becoming increasingly blurred, especially as career paths diversify. What are your thoughts on this shift, and do you feel it affects perceptions, opportunities or collaboration within the profession?

In all honesty, I have yet to experience any blurring between the career paths myself so I am probably limited in the thoughts I can provide other than to say I do not think there would be any adverse effect to perceptions, opportunities or collaborations. 

❖ What role has mentorship, community or support played in helping you reach this stage in your career?

It has been absolutely pivotal. In terms of support, I know it is cliché but I could not have pursued this profession without the support of my family especially, my mum. At the start of my pupillage, my son was a little over a year old. My mum really stepped in and helped me in my role as a parent so that I could give adequate focus to my pupillage.

I did take part in initiatives which I have referred to in my answer above. For example, some Inns provide mentorship schemes. That was of great assistance to me as it really helped me develop a connection with someone at the Bar, in circumstances where I did not have that prior.  It gives you a chance to really ask and properly enquire about a career at the Bar (for example the work/life balance) in a way which you may not get to do during a mini pupillage. For me, it played an essential part in determining whether the profession was the right fit for me.   

As for community, I totally relied on my friends who also pursued the legal profession. Those were the people who carried me through moments of self-pity when I had pupillage application rejections or the many moments of self-doubt which arose on the way to where I am now and which still arise!