‘We are expected to brush away the trauma of one case and pick up the next’
Fans of legal dramas will be forgiven for thinking that life at the criminal bar is one of glamour, wealth and non-stop excitement. But the reality is quite different: as evidenced in a recent Twitter thread by Richard Bentwood, a criminal barrister at London’s 23 Essex Street Chambers.
Kicking things off, Bentwood explains that he has just come to the end of a “nasty kidnap trial” involving a “violent London gang”. His client was convicted along with his two co-defendants, Bentwood writes.
I have just concluded a nasty kidnap trial. In essence, it was all gang oriented with the victim kidnapped, beaten and humiliated , having stolen drugs from a violent London gang.
My client was convicted along with his two co-defendants.
A brief thread 1/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
The experienced barrister continues to describe how his 18-year-old client “demonstrated a bravado and nonchalance” throughout the trial, treating his legal team with “little respect”.
Throughout the trial my client demonstrated a bravado and nonchalance, almost a ‘don’t give a shit’ attitude. He displayed little awareness of the seriousness of the matter. He treated his legal team with little respect.
My client is only 18 years old.
2/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
Bentwood goes on to say how his client’s demeanour quickly changed following his conviction. “The gangster façade had dropped”, he explains.
Following conviction I went down to see him in the cells. It’s never an easy conversation. There is little left to say. As I waited to be let in I wondered how he was taking the verdict. I imagined it would be with profanities and arguments.
3/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
In the cells, he had his head atop his arms, resting on the table. He was sobbing his eyes out. Quite literally, inconsolable. The gangster façade had dropped. He was just an 18 year old boy, looking at 10 years plus. Lost.
4/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
Accepting that there is no reason why he should feel sorry him, yet he does, Brentwood reflects on the chances he had compared to those of his now sobbing client.
It isn’t always easy doing our job. The client is not one obviously deserving of sympathy. On the crown case he showed little sympathy or mercy towards his victims. There is no logic why I should feel sorry for him, yet I do.
5/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
As I left to the sound of his crying, I couldn’t help but think as to the life chances he had, and those that I had. Role models, education, prospects are something he never had.
I’m not saying there but for the grace of god go I, equally, people aren't born inherently bad.
6/9— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
In a series of further tweets, Brentwood describes how life at the criminal bar is “tough” and “emotionally draining”, explaining how barristers are expected to “brush away the trauma of one case and pick up the next”.
Glorious wins in court make for nice war/Twitter stories, but the day to day losses less so. Ours is a tough job. Emotionally draining.
7/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
Tomorrow, I will start to prep my next case. A late return on a rape. We are expected to brush away the trauma of one case and pick up the next. That’s what we do. That’s the job.
8/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
Rounding off his emotional thread, Brentwood tells his followers that the pay is “demeaning”, the hours are “long” and that he receives little thanks for his hard work. “I feel drained, he feels far worse”, he concludes.
The pay is demeaning, the hours long, and the thanks few and far between. However, what we do matters.
This story has no moral, no pithy ending. I tried a case, the client lost. I feel drained, he feels far worse.#justanotherday
9/9
— Richard (@c0unse1) April 15, 2019
