NAME

Cadi Dewi

JOB TITLE

Barrister

WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?

Self-employed at 9 Park Place Chambers

Why did you decide to follow your career path?

I wanted a career with an element of practical work as well as desk-based paperwork. I enjoyed public speaking and meeting people and this profession seemed a good fit.

What are the three best bits about your job?

1. Variety. I meet different members of the public every day and work with lots of different colleagues in chambers and in the court system. Each case is different.

1. My job involves helping people through a difficult experience which is rewarding. I also do lots of legal aid work which means that people who would not otherwise have access to legal advice can be helped through the court process.

1. I’m self-employed so I am my own boss (although this can be difficult too).

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about a similar career?

It’s challenging and you have to be willing to work hard so if you want to finish work at 5pm this is not the job for you. If you think you might be interested in being a barrister try to do some work experience to get a feel for what it’s like. You can also sit in the public gallery in court buildings and watch cases on your own so don’t worry if you can’t find any formal work experience. Try to take any opportunities available for public speaking or debating to practise the skills you’ll need as a barrister. Work hard at school because you need good grades and a good degree. Try to enjoy life while you’re at it – it’s nice to be able to switch off with some fun activities that aren’t related to work so keep up your hobbies if you can. When my chambers recruits ‘pupils’ (trainee barristers) they look for people who also have a life outside work so this is important too.