HOW I GOT HERE
Barrister Abimbola Johnson on her career
Abimbola Johnson, 31, grew up in north London and graduated from Oxford with a 2:1 in law in 2009. She now practises as a criminal defence barrister at Londonbased chambers, 25 Bedford Row.
I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO BE A BARRISTER.
I’m British Nigerian and grew up in a family where almost all the adults had law degrees, so it was on my radar. I’ve always been outspoken and driven, so my personality suited the industry. I took A levels in history, economics and philosophy of religion at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for
Girls, going on to read law at Oxford.
AT ONE STAGE, I WAS ATTRACTED TO CORPORATE LAW, UNTIL A NETWORKING DINNER CONFIRMED MY CAREER PATH.
I got chatting to a criminal barrister and we were getting on well, so
I asked if I could shadow her. She agreed, and I went to the Old Bailey to the magistrates’ and crown courts and had a flavour of what life was like as a criminal practitioner. As soon as I saw the wigs and gowns, and felt the buzz of the courtroom, I knew it was what I wanted to do.
FOR ME, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN AVERAGE WORKING DAY.
If I have a trial, I’ll be in court from 9am to 5.30pm, but I tend to be instructed on six or seven other cases simultaneously and spend evenings doing paperwork for those until 8pm. If I don’t have a trial, I can be sent to a hearing anywhere – Brighton one day, Preston the next.
MY PRACTICE ENCOMPASSES ALL AREAS OF CRIMINAL DEFENCE AND REGULATORY MATTERS,
including fraud, violence, public disorder, sexual offences, trading standards and professional misconduct. One week I could be representing someone with no previous convictions who’s accused of punching a guy in a club, the next it could be a vulnerable teenager involved in a drug offence. My role is to inform and advise to achieve the best outcome for that person.
I’M IN MY EIGHTH YEAR OF PRACTICE, BUT I’M ALWAYS LEARNING.
During bar school, I remember one teacher telling me that my voice was annoying. Initially, I was offended, but we all speak faster and higher when we feel strongly about something. There’s an element of acting to the job; you need to be assertive without being aggressive – it’s something I’m still working on.
NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO SELF-DOUBT.
I’m never visibly nervous in court, but if I’m doing a speech or crossexamining a witness, beneath my gown, I’m sweating. My colleagues who’ve been practising for over 20 years say the same. To be a barrister, you need to be outgoing, tenacious and fearless, but you also need nerves. Adrenaline is so important – it drives you to succeed.
I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING LAW ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
That’s why I sit on my chambers’ committee as diversity officer and junior tenants representative. We look at work experience opportunities, charities we can support and recruitment strategies. We also visit schools to host mock trials. I was quite privileged to know what a lawyer was as a child – so it’s about exposing and normalising the profession to encourage applicants from all backgrounds.
SOME OF MY HAPPIEST CLIENTS ARE THE ONES WHO PLEAD GUILTY.
My role isn’t premised on winning. I’m meeting people at what is likely to be the worst moment in their life – even light sentences have far-reaching consequences. They’re relieved to have somebody to engage with, advise them and put them at ease. Many just want to feel heard – knowing that I help them is the best part of my job.
‘ADRENALINE DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED’