THE MIDDLE TEMPLE CIRCUIT SOCIETIES
Circuit Societies Midland Circuit Society
Northern Circuit Society
Master Blondel Thompson is an international criminal and sports barrister based at St Philips chambers in Birmingham. She prosecutes and defends serious criminal cases and undertakes work at the International Criminal Court, The Hague, The Netherlands. She has numerous appointments to sports disciplinary bodies in England and sits as an arbitrator judge for the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is a member of the Middle Temple Midland Circuit Society.
The Middle Temple Midland Circuit Society, formed in 2018, has achieved its primary goal of re-engaging with members on our Circuit. Thursday nights are traditionally one of the busiest for members of the criminal Bar, in terms of preparing work listed the following day. This was not a deterrent to the vast numbers who attended the Middle Temple dinner in Birmingham on the Thursday 10 October 2019. An enjoyable relaxing evening of delicious food and wine, connecting with old friends, making new ones and enjoying each other’s company. A number of students attended who informed us of the benefits gained from their attendance. Not only had they made new friends, but some had secured mini pupillages. We were delighted that Master Igor Judge and Lady Judge attended, and that he was willing to speak to us of his experiences of practising on the Midland Circuit as a barrister. A delightfully humorous speech ending with words of encouragement and support for the future. He took the time to meet and converse with many of us after the dinner remaining long after the dinner had ended. Sadly, Covid-19 has temporarily clipped our wings, forcing us into isolation with life on Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams becoming the norm. We are still hopeful that our soiree and dinner on Friday 27 November 2020 in Nottingham will go ahead. The Middle Temple Midland Circuit Society activities on Circuit have been growing steadily; events and garden parties planned for the summer months, dinner in the Autumn, with assistance to students throughout the year. The Inn’s support for students on Circuit is wide ranging. Benchers on Circuit are encouraged to and have assisted the Middle Temple Students’ Association at the school of law for the past two years, presenting talks on life at the Bar, how to apply for mini pupillage, and pupillage, the application process, CV structure and content, how applications are viewed in terms of the numbers applying for a small number of pupillages. Some of the students have taken the opportunity to telephone at a later date to request mini pupillages. We look forward to the future with great anticipation as the Middle Temple family on Circuit continues its high visibility.
Midland Circuit dinner at Opus Restaurant, Birmingham
Master Simon Medland is a Circuit Judge based at Preston Crown Court. Before being appointed a Circuit Judge in 2018, he was a criminal law practitioner whose experience and specialisms encompass all aspects of serious crime and fraud. He has prosecuted and defended in some of the region’s most serious cases. He is Chairman of the Middle Temple Northern Circuit Society.
I was very proud to become the Chairman of the Inn’s Northern Circuit Society earlier this year, being lucky enough to inherit a vibrant, busy society from Master David Stockdale who had led it to a peak of excellence. Together with our esteemed colleagues (and friendly rivals) from over the Pennines, we can claim without exaggeration to be real pioneers in bringing the Inn to our Circuits. To mark Master Stockdale’s retirement as Chairman, we nipped in under the wire before Lockdown to have a reception at King Street Town House on Thursday 12 March 2020. There we presented a framed antique fruit plate bearing the Inn’s crest; a small mark of our profound esteem for Master Stockdale and all that he has done for the Inn on Circuit over so many years. It is daunting, but a privilege, trying to fill Master Stockdale’s massive boots. I could not even contemplate it without my excellent Committee and the superb assistance of Colin, Oliver and Francis from the Inn. Regrettably, we have lost Master Jane Cross this year after her retirement from the Bar. Master Cross has been a member for many years and has brought a great deal of skill and, if I may say so, crisp elan to our work. We have refreshed the format of the Committee by making sure every city on Circuit is properly represented, whilst also maintaining the important contribution of the Middle Temple Young Barristers Association and LGBTQ+ Forum representation. One of our new Silks on Circuit, Tim Storrie, is now my Deputy. All of us will by now be familiar with the way social media apps have revolutionised our working day. I am sure this is here to stay and will be a growing trend. Domus has adapted to all this magnificently, and the vital role we have in keeping our student and young members engaged and informed has been maintained and, arguably, improved. We had a Sherrard Conversation on Thursday 21 May 2020 using the StarLeaf app in which I, together with Masters Simon Myerson and Tina Landale, chatted with more than 70 student members of the Inn and gave them our views of life on Circuit. I must express my thanks to Christa, Sally and Jonny for their hard work which made this such an enjoyable and useful success. Lovely though it is to report where we have battled through adversity to keep the show on the road, there have been regrettable casualties in our calendar. The annual Northern Circuit Garden Party, to have been at Lancaster House in July, was cancelled. As I write this (mid-June), I am still hoping that our principal social event of the year in Saturday 28 November 2020, the Joint Dinner in the Georgian splendour of Liverpool Town Hall with Master Richard Wright and his pals from the North Eastern Circuit, will take place as planned. I greatly fear though that it too will be scratched. The Courts on Circuit have been adapting energetically to keep some turnover of work. I am sure Skype will be here to stay for Mentions, PTPHs and many other hearings. I am
2020 Middle Templar
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