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You’ve made it to the Bar – spread your wings, trust in your abilities and be your authentic self; candid advice on how to beat imposter syndrome and enrich life and practice
Imposter syndrome: the feeling that you are not good enough, do not belong and will be found out as a fraud. It is indiscriminate but can be more acute for those who differ from their professional peers, for example by race, gender, age, disability, class or sexual orientation. Being a young black female from a single parent family who went to a state school and a non-Oxbridge university makes me the perfect candidate. Working on overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing process. Hopefully my story, and that of others, will help provide some insight and support.
Despite being shy, for the majority of my childhood I was focused on becoming a barrister. My journey was full of failures and rejections: failing to get into my chosen university, several rejections for mini-pupillages and pupillage are just a few examples. However, I persevered, took stock of my skills and actively tried to improve. To overcome my shyness, I became Head Girl. I studied hard for my A-levels and got top marks. I obtained advice, guidance and encouragement from academics at the University of Reading. Whenever self-doubt crept in, I carried on, holding on to the fact that many people, from those who looked over my application forms to those who offered the opportunity to shadow them in chambers or at court, believed that I would make it.
Somewhere between school and training, many of us from non-traditional backgrounds feel that we have to change ourselves in order to be perceived as a barrister. One white, Northern male at the Bar told me: ‘My objective was not only to possess the legal knowledge and professional skills of a barrister but also to look and sound like one. Eventually, I managed to conceal my Northern origins and my just-about-middle-class roots behind a veil of gentility, my newly acquired received pronunciation (teaching languages for a year before converting to law helped) and a collection of slim-fit three-piece suits. I assumed my new character; and hoped that everyone at the Bar would believe (or be misled) into thinking that I would fit right in. But, at the beginning of my career, I was terrified of being found out.’
Having made a concerted effort to ditch my Tottenham accent and acquire nicer suits, I completely understand where he is coming from.
The Inns of Court are a great source of training and support. For someone like me, they can also make you feel like an outsider. A black male BPTC graduate, who is due to start pupillage in autumn 2019, told me: ‘During qualifying sessions I had the tendency to be over polite to Inn members of staff because I didn’t feel like I belonged there. This was probably reinforced by all the paintings and sculptures of old white men on the walls.’ For me, the biggest moment of ‘otherness’ was at an advocacy weekend when a retired judge asked if I was going to ‘go back to my country’ after I completed the BPTC (FYI, I am a born and bred Londoner).
In my first six, I was worried about exposing my personality to members of chambers. In my second six, I worried they thought I was lacking personality. I started counselling prior to pupillage due to depression and low self-esteem but did not tell anyone in chambers out of fear that it would ruin my chances of securing tenancy. Prior to my second six, I ended counselling as I decided that it was incompatible with the unpredictability and last-minute nature of instructions at the Bar.
Pupillage was full of anxiety, loneliness and self-doubt. I was convinced that chambers would realise they had made a mistake and cast me back into ‘my world’. It was one of the toughest periods of my life. I obtained tenancy at the same chambers which felt surreal. Despite my fears, I became a fully practising barrister. However, I later found out that some members had objected to me becoming a tenant which reinforced my feelings of worthlessness.
Imposter syndrome does not end when you are in practice. A black female barrister confided in me about an encounter at court with a particularly vicious opponent: ‘She was so vile! Constant eyerolls, trying to make me look and feel stupid. Being dismissive of me… This massively inflamed my inferiority complex.’
Seniority does not make you immune. One senior white female barrister told me: ‘When I see my cases in writing and what I have done, it really doesn’t feel like it was me. I am still consumed by anxiety before many hearings. It is not getting much easier although I have learned to put things in perspective to a certain extent. I can tell myself over and over again that I can do this but there is often an inner doubt.’ Another shared with me that: ‘I would listen to, and obsess over, the slightest criticism to the extent that I would dismiss or ignore anything positive that happened. I realise now that I spent so much time trying to conceal what I thought of as my shortcomings that I failed to appreciate (or enjoy) some really quite significant achievements and failed to take advantage of some excellent opportunities.’
"For me, the biggest moment of ‘otherness’ was at an advocacy weekend when a retired judge asked if I was going to ‘go back to my country’ after I completed the BPTC."
I can relate. Until recently, I would not take ownership of my successes in court but would blame myself for every loss. I would cling to signs that reinforced my sense of inadequacy and ignore my achievements. Like a leech, imposter syndrome sucked the joy out of my work. It grew with every undermining and patronising comment from other barristers. It was fuelled by the rare occasions where judges would say things to humiliate me in front of my client and opponent. It increased when I experienced harassment at the Bar. It was heightened when I saw other barristers being treated unfairly.
Luckily, change is afoot. The Bar Council is tackling judicial bullying and harassment head on. The Wellbeing at the Bar initiative has brought a realisation that stress, anxiety and depression are not weaknesses but are experienced by many at the Bar at some point. The Bar Council is committed to social mobility. We are becoming a profession with a diverse range of people; there is always room for you.
I feel much more confident in my abilities as a barrister and have a developed a sense of belonging and worth. I take credit for my success and enjoy the work that I do. This is due to the efforts I have made to fight the demons of imposter syndrome, so here are some tips to help you keep it at bay:
Being at the Bar requires a tremendous amount of strength and courage. By being here, you have it in abundance. Our job is incredible and working to overcome imposter syndrome can bring joy to your career. If this article resonates with you, I hope that the knowledge that you are not alone provides you with comfort. I also hope that this article has given you tools to enrich your life and your practice.
Natasha Shotunde is a tenant at 5 St Andrew’s Hill. She is a member of the Young Barristers’ Committee, a Social Mobility Advocate for the Bar Council and has brought barristers together to create the Black Barristers’ Network.
Born in East London and raised in Essex, I am of mixed-race heritage; black Caribbean and white English. My paternal grandparents were part of the Windrush generation and worked incredibly hard to build a life in the UK. I attended local state schools and was encouraged by my family to aim high. However, I was discouraged from applying to Oxbridge by teachers who thought that it wasn’t for ‘people like me’. I persevered and was accepted to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford.
I loved the intellectual stimulation at Oxford, but found the environment difficult. I struggled with imposter syndrome; the feeling that I didn’t belong. In my year group (of over 100 students) I was the only one of black heritage; and none came from Essex.
Another challenge was funding my legal education. I studied the GDL full-time whilst working three to four days a week. I was the first person awarded the Queen’s Scholarship from Middle Temple, which funded the majority of my BPTC. That scholarship, awarded to a ‘student showing exceptional promise’, instilled confidence that I was ‘good enough’.
I’m currently in pupillage at 5 St Andrew’s Hill in London, a multi-practice set in crime, extradition, family and public law. I’m halfway through and already have learnt so much.
Pupillage isn’t easy; it takes you out of your comfort zone. For me, imposter syndrome returned. You learn so much in Bar school but then begin pupillage and it feels as though you are learning everything again. You feel worried about asking ‘silly’ questions or making mistakes, knowing that chambers make a tenancy decision at the end of the year.
I have been exposed to new areas of law and expectations are understandably high, so of course there are moments when I doubt my own ability. I’ll draft a piece of work and read it over and over again, concerned that I’ve completely misinterpreted the task. A few weeks ago a colleague in chambers reminded me that sometimes you do just have to trust in your ability, hard work and preparation. He explained how common it is to feel this way when you are starting out because pupillage is a steep learning curve.
I’m now ‘on my feet’ and still feel a strong mixture of excitement and nerves for each case. I’ve spoken to QCs and judges who say they still feel nervous, which is definitely reassuring!
Chambers has a WhatsApp group to ease us through our first steps. From day one, the most recent tenants have been just a message away, giving us the opportunity to ask questions without judgment. There’s also a ‘juniors’ group chat, which is a lifeline for early days in the magistrates’ court. The imposter syndrome may have re-emerged during pupillage, but supportive networks are making a big difference.
Alexandra Wilson @EssexBarrister is a pupil at 5 St Andrew’s Hill. Her blog ‘Essex to Oxford’ shares her experiences to encourage students from non-traditional backgrounds to apply to Oxbridge and consider a career at the Bar: https://essextooxford.wordpress.com
Natasha Shotunde is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers. She is an elected member of the Bar Council and Chair of the Black Barristers’ Network.
Imposter syndrome: the feeling that you are not good enough, do not belong and will be found out as a fraud. It is indiscriminate but can be more acute for those who differ from their professional peers, for example by race, gender, age, disability, class or sexual orientation. Being a young black female from a single parent family who went to a state school and a non-Oxbridge university makes me the perfect candidate. Working on overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing process. Hopefully my story, and that of others, will help provide some insight and support.
Despite being shy, for the majority of my childhood I was focused on becoming a barrister. My journey was full of failures and rejections: failing to get into my chosen university, several rejections for mini-pupillages and pupillage are just a few examples. However, I persevered, took stock of my skills and actively tried to improve. To overcome my shyness, I became Head Girl. I studied hard for my A-levels and got top marks. I obtained advice, guidance and encouragement from academics at the University of Reading. Whenever self-doubt crept in, I carried on, holding on to the fact that many people, from those who looked over my application forms to those who offered the opportunity to shadow them in chambers or at court, believed that I would make it.
Somewhere between school and training, many of us from non-traditional backgrounds feel that we have to change ourselves in order to be perceived as a barrister. One white, Northern male at the Bar told me: ‘My objective was not only to possess the legal knowledge and professional skills of a barrister but also to look and sound like one. Eventually, I managed to conceal my Northern origins and my just-about-middle-class roots behind a veil of gentility, my newly acquired received pronunciation (teaching languages for a year before converting to law helped) and a collection of slim-fit three-piece suits. I assumed my new character; and hoped that everyone at the Bar would believe (or be misled) into thinking that I would fit right in. But, at the beginning of my career, I was terrified of being found out.’
Having made a concerted effort to ditch my Tottenham accent and acquire nicer suits, I completely understand where he is coming from.
The Inns of Court are a great source of training and support. For someone like me, they can also make you feel like an outsider. A black male BPTC graduate, who is due to start pupillage in autumn 2019, told me: ‘During qualifying sessions I had the tendency to be over polite to Inn members of staff because I didn’t feel like I belonged there. This was probably reinforced by all the paintings and sculptures of old white men on the walls.’ For me, the biggest moment of ‘otherness’ was at an advocacy weekend when a retired judge asked if I was going to ‘go back to my country’ after I completed the BPTC (FYI, I am a born and bred Londoner).
In my first six, I was worried about exposing my personality to members of chambers. In my second six, I worried they thought I was lacking personality. I started counselling prior to pupillage due to depression and low self-esteem but did not tell anyone in chambers out of fear that it would ruin my chances of securing tenancy. Prior to my second six, I ended counselling as I decided that it was incompatible with the unpredictability and last-minute nature of instructions at the Bar.
Pupillage was full of anxiety, loneliness and self-doubt. I was convinced that chambers would realise they had made a mistake and cast me back into ‘my world’. It was one of the toughest periods of my life. I obtained tenancy at the same chambers which felt surreal. Despite my fears, I became a fully practising barrister. However, I later found out that some members had objected to me becoming a tenant which reinforced my feelings of worthlessness.
Imposter syndrome does not end when you are in practice. A black female barrister confided in me about an encounter at court with a particularly vicious opponent: ‘She was so vile! Constant eyerolls, trying to make me look and feel stupid. Being dismissive of me… This massively inflamed my inferiority complex.’
Seniority does not make you immune. One senior white female barrister told me: ‘When I see my cases in writing and what I have done, it really doesn’t feel like it was me. I am still consumed by anxiety before many hearings. It is not getting much easier although I have learned to put things in perspective to a certain extent. I can tell myself over and over again that I can do this but there is often an inner doubt.’ Another shared with me that: ‘I would listen to, and obsess over, the slightest criticism to the extent that I would dismiss or ignore anything positive that happened. I realise now that I spent so much time trying to conceal what I thought of as my shortcomings that I failed to appreciate (or enjoy) some really quite significant achievements and failed to take advantage of some excellent opportunities.’
"For me, the biggest moment of ‘otherness’ was at an advocacy weekend when a retired judge asked if I was going to ‘go back to my country’ after I completed the BPTC."
I can relate. Until recently, I would not take ownership of my successes in court but would blame myself for every loss. I would cling to signs that reinforced my sense of inadequacy and ignore my achievements. Like a leech, imposter syndrome sucked the joy out of my work. It grew with every undermining and patronising comment from other barristers. It was fuelled by the rare occasions where judges would say things to humiliate me in front of my client and opponent. It increased when I experienced harassment at the Bar. It was heightened when I saw other barristers being treated unfairly.
Luckily, change is afoot. The Bar Council is tackling judicial bullying and harassment head on. The Wellbeing at the Bar initiative has brought a realisation that stress, anxiety and depression are not weaknesses but are experienced by many at the Bar at some point. The Bar Council is committed to social mobility. We are becoming a profession with a diverse range of people; there is always room for you.
I feel much more confident in my abilities as a barrister and have a developed a sense of belonging and worth. I take credit for my success and enjoy the work that I do. This is due to the efforts I have made to fight the demons of imposter syndrome, so here are some tips to help you keep it at bay:
Being at the Bar requires a tremendous amount of strength and courage. By being here, you have it in abundance. Our job is incredible and working to overcome imposter syndrome can bring joy to your career. If this article resonates with you, I hope that the knowledge that you are not alone provides you with comfort. I also hope that this article has given you tools to enrich your life and your practice.
Natasha Shotunde is a tenant at 5 St Andrew’s Hill. She is a member of the Young Barristers’ Committee, a Social Mobility Advocate for the Bar Council and has brought barristers together to create the Black Barristers’ Network.
Born in East London and raised in Essex, I am of mixed-race heritage; black Caribbean and white English. My paternal grandparents were part of the Windrush generation and worked incredibly hard to build a life in the UK. I attended local state schools and was encouraged by my family to aim high. However, I was discouraged from applying to Oxbridge by teachers who thought that it wasn’t for ‘people like me’. I persevered and was accepted to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford.
I loved the intellectual stimulation at Oxford, but found the environment difficult. I struggled with imposter syndrome; the feeling that I didn’t belong. In my year group (of over 100 students) I was the only one of black heritage; and none came from Essex.
Another challenge was funding my legal education. I studied the GDL full-time whilst working three to four days a week. I was the first person awarded the Queen’s Scholarship from Middle Temple, which funded the majority of my BPTC. That scholarship, awarded to a ‘student showing exceptional promise’, instilled confidence that I was ‘good enough’.
I’m currently in pupillage at 5 St Andrew’s Hill in London, a multi-practice set in crime, extradition, family and public law. I’m halfway through and already have learnt so much.
Pupillage isn’t easy; it takes you out of your comfort zone. For me, imposter syndrome returned. You learn so much in Bar school but then begin pupillage and it feels as though you are learning everything again. You feel worried about asking ‘silly’ questions or making mistakes, knowing that chambers make a tenancy decision at the end of the year.
I have been exposed to new areas of law and expectations are understandably high, so of course there are moments when I doubt my own ability. I’ll draft a piece of work and read it over and over again, concerned that I’ve completely misinterpreted the task. A few weeks ago a colleague in chambers reminded me that sometimes you do just have to trust in your ability, hard work and preparation. He explained how common it is to feel this way when you are starting out because pupillage is a steep learning curve.
I’m now ‘on my feet’ and still feel a strong mixture of excitement and nerves for each case. I’ve spoken to QCs and judges who say they still feel nervous, which is definitely reassuring!
Chambers has a WhatsApp group to ease us through our first steps. From day one, the most recent tenants have been just a message away, giving us the opportunity to ask questions without judgment. There’s also a ‘juniors’ group chat, which is a lifeline for early days in the magistrates’ court. The imposter syndrome may have re-emerged during pupillage, but supportive networks are making a big difference.
Alexandra Wilson @EssexBarrister is a pupil at 5 St Andrew’s Hill. Her blog ‘Essex to Oxford’ shares her experiences to encourage students from non-traditional backgrounds to apply to Oxbridge and consider a career at the Bar: https://essextooxford.wordpress.com
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