Disability's Not A Bar

For our Season 2 Finale, we are joined by the wonderful Jessikah Inaba. You may recognise Jessikah from the huge media attention generated as the first black, blind person to be called to the Bar of England and Wales. Jessikah has appeared in British Vogue, on This Morning and across the news. In this special, extra long finale episode, we talk to Jessikah about her time in education and studying for the Bar Course in Braille and beyond.

“Be the Bar that you want to see” - Ambiya Khatun joins us on this episode to discuss a very rare and, due to media such as the film ‘Split’, often misunderstood condition; Disassociate Identity Disorder. We are grateful to Ambiya for sharing the story of her (and the girls') system and journey to the bar, as well as wider discussion of race and disability, gaining non-mini-pupillage experience and advocating for yourself.

CW: Mentions of DV and exorcisms

Can you have a career at the Bar with autism? Deborah Revill, a barrister at One Pump Court, joins us for this episode to show that you can; many of the traits are positive for the Bar. For Deborah, this is a hyper focus on immigration law and an eye for detail. Her journey has not all been smooth, however. Listen to this episode to find out more!

Peter Tongue joins us this week to discuss practice in Canada with cerebral palsy as a criminal defence attorney. Since leaving practice, he has focussed on disability issues and policy development. We also discuss para-sport and Peter's wheelchair fencing!

In this episode, it's just the hosts with a mid-season update. We discuss a celebrity book that we are mentioned in, review this year's pupillage season and get frank about health. We wanted to take a break from guests to give you these updates and explain why our episodes have been sporadic! We hope that you enjoy!!

In this episode, we talk to Diego F Soto-Miranda, a practicing barrister on commercial, defamation and human rights from 1 Essex Court Chambers. We talk with Diego about having spinal muscular atrophy type 2 and how he manages his practice with the physical help and support. We also talk about the positives of supportive influences and what drives us through the profession.

We are delighted to be joined in this episode by Bar student Holly Parker who discusses her experience of having lupus. As a member of Bringing Disability to the Bar and having been the wonderful Christina Warner’s assistant (warning: this episode contains some fangirling!)

This episode comes at a perfect time for those preparing for pupillage interviews. Holly discusses scholarship applications and interviews but provides great advice for transferable skills, particularly how to come back a year after being unsuccessful.

In this episode we are joined by former barrister, teacher and Chair of the Haemophilia Society, Clive Smith, who discusses growing up with the blood disorder haemophilia, life at the Bar, leaving on good terms and teaching since. This is a delightful episode that the hosts enjoyed recording. Congratulations to all of our listeners who submitted pupillage applications this week! 

In today's episode, former solicitor, barrister and deputy District Judge Stephane Osborne discusses changing career paths, the importance of self-advocating and what practice has been like with bipolar disorder.

Rounding out 2022 is one of our most enjoyable episodes to record. Joined by Em Lawton to discuss her accident, her journey to the Bar as a career changer and her training in schools, this episode finishes the podcast's year on a high. Thank you for listening and Happy New Year to all of our listeners!