This week, our spotlighted barrister is Morgan John.
Tell us a little about yourself and your practice.
“I am now 44, 21 years call and after a few years of common law practice, I specialise in personal injury and credit hire law, areas which I shall continue to practice until I retire.”
What is your first memory of wanting to be a barrister?
“I was called to do jury service at a Coroner’s Court in my second year of university. I had thought previously about a career in law, but this was my first exposure to advocacy in the most serious of circumstances and, though a daunting responsibility, I knew I had witnessed firsthand the job I wanted.”
Is there a certain case that stands out to you in your career? If yes, why?
“I have had far bigger cases in terms of financial value, but the one that comes to mind often was for an older lady who suffered a hand injury at a nail salon. It was difficult for her because culturally getting her nails done was seen as an indulgence and for her to have to explain how this had happened, including to her family, was embarrassing for her. Over the months of the litigation process she was clearly under strain. It was very early in my career and when we won the sheer release of tension from this lady and the relief after what was, for her, a very long and stressful process, hit home that what we do, in the end, is about people and the effects they suffer in their lives. I remind myself that the system is built so people have a place to go to get redress, a neutral system, which although it takes such a long time, remains a place for people to air their grievances in a civilised manner with a legitimate expectation that they will be listened to. It’s a case that reminds me that even relatively small matters can have a big effect on people’s lives and every case, no matter how big or small, is important to the person bringing it.”
What’s your favourite thing about being a barrister?
“Knowing that the effort I put in really makes a difference to the outcome.”
What do you do to relax?
“Generally, I just like reading, anything and everything, from biographies to science books to science fiction to chess books, anything really. I am not sure if I would call it relaxing but I also derive great pleasure from losing to my children at our weekly Mario Kart competitions on an old Nintendo Wii and watching their increasingly flamboyant and imaginative victory dances at my expense.”
If you weren’t a barrister, what would you be?
“An architect.”
