Time for a new post since I have a new post.

In October I left the charming, old fashioned and cosy environs of the Royal Courts of Justice after just over a year working as Clerk to one of the Lords Justices to become a trainee legal adviser in one of London's less aesthetically pleasing Magistrates' Courts.

This has the benefit of offering me legal training which will at least enable me to become a solicitor, after two years, and in the meantime will provide me with Chambers friendly experience.

One of the first lessons I had to learn is to remain calm and impartial in court, particularly when witness to some frankly stunning displays of advocacy. If video cameras were permitted in the courtroom I could easily make a DVD for use as a teaching aid in BVC institutions entitled "How not to... make a bail application / argue abuse of process" etc.
I have two main observations on this, firstly, some poor sap is likely to be sent to jail by a bench who should (and could) have been asked to impose a community penalty. This is clearly A Bad Thing.
Secondly, a group of professional lawyers thought that advocates like this were good enough to be taken on... making it even more frustrating for those of us with demonstrably better advocacy skills who have yet to secure pupillage.