Having recently achieved a market-changing divorce win in the Court of Appeal (Standish v Standish), Tim Bishop KC talks to NLJ about the financial burden of Bar school fees, as well as his own challenges with technology
What was your route into the profession?
I am the first lawyer in my family and developed the idea of a career at the Bar from watching barristers on TV (Rumpole, Crown Court, etc). I studied law at Cambridge for three years and undertook a large number of mini-pupillages during the holidays to find the best fit.
From an early stage, family law caught my eye. It combines the drama of human interest with a range of legal areas, including trusts and company law. Because of the discretionary nature of decision-making, there is much scope to develop attractive and creative arguments and advance them (hopefully) with colour and elan. Additionally, I am proud that over the past 20 years, nothing has done more than family law to advance the recognition of the rights of women to fair treatment, irrespective of the nature of their contribution to the marriage: financial, domestic or both.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
The hours are long, but I have adapted to that well enough. However, I struggle badly with technology and have found electronic bundles and remote hearing less than easy. Luckily I have band of brilliant juniors and sympathetic solicitors who very ably support me with this and are still willing to provide me with hard copy.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Sir Nicholas Mostyn. We had a marvellous eight-year period when I was his regular junior, he was at the height of his powers and we were in high demand, doing cases such as McCartney v Mills McCartney [2008] All ER (D) 269 (Mar) and Miller v Miller [2006] UKHL 24 in the House of Lords. He was a divine orator and a huge scholar of the law.
I have tried to emulate his productivity and energy in court (but have not managed it). He taught me what I regard as the essence of good advocacy: that one’s argument must be pleasing both to the mind and the ear; and both reasonable, factually and legally, but also presented with style. He was also a man of complete integrity, whose word was his bond.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternative career?
Advertising. I turn a good phrase, I think. I would enjoy coming up with snappy taglines and funny ideas for ad campaigns.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
My Cousin Vinny.
What change would you make to the profession?
I am alarmed how the Bar is becoming a profession which only rich young people feel able to enter. I certainly did not come from such a background. Now the huge financial burden of Bar school fees (on top of student debt) mean that it is only the rich young who are willing to embrace the risk.
There are too many people undertaking the Bar vocational course who have zero prospects of finding a pupillage and it is wrong for them to be encouraged to waste their money on such a course.
I think that the vast rents received by the Inns of Court should be diverted from yet more vanity building projects / dinners for the establishment to supporting poorer young entrants on an industrial level.
How do you relax?
Rugby. I ref locally in Sussex and go to Twickenham as often as possible.
My wife and I have a theatre date night most Thursdays. I am obsessed with the theatre and crept the boards a little myself as an undergraduate.
And, of course, my four magnificent children are a source of endless delight, even when they are mocking me savagely. They are a great tribute to my wife’s exceptional powers as a mother.
Tim Bishop KC, of 1 Hare Court, was leading counsel for the successful party in Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA Civ 567, [2024] All ER (D) 104 (May)
