Login
‘Your reputation is everything’ as a barrister
This barrister went straight to the Bar after graduating – and she says that although building a network was difficult, the connections she’s made have inspired her.
Lauren Croft
Vicki Geraghty is a barrister at Blackburn Chambers based in Canberra. Speaking on a recent episode of the Lawyers Weekly Show, she delved into the process of becoming a barrister, as well as practical steps to be taken in getting to the Bar.
“I never had an intention to practise, but during my time at ANU, I fell in love with the law, especially advocacy. So, I knew very early on that I wanted to be on my feet in a courtroom, but I very much sort of pushed the idea out of my head because of the stage of life that I was at. I didn’t think that I was in a position where I could start all over again,” she said.
“I wasn’t aware that it was an option to go straight to the Bar until I spoke with my husband’s uncle, who was a barrister, and he started talking to me about it. He made it very clear from the beginning [that] it would be a more difficult path, but it was certainly an option. And once that idea was there, it was something that I couldn’t get rid of.
“I think it is a difficult path to take because you have to stop earning an income; you have to have money behind you. For people with children, there’s an enormous time sacrifice. So, I think the information’s available if you want it, but it is a difficult path to take.”
At different stages of one’s life, Geraghty continued, there are different questions lawyers need to ask themselves before entering the Bar.
“For me, the first question I had to ask myself was, how much do I want it? Because it is a huge sacrifice. Studying for the bar exams is undoubtedly the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my career. It’s a tough exam, and it takes a lot of sacrifice, emotional endurance, I would say. And then after that point of passing the exam, there’s the question of can you start a business? Because your practice is your own business, and you do need to have money behind you because there’s a period where you earn nothing, so you have to be able to support yourself. That’s a big one,” she said.
“And also, I think it’s really challenging and can be really isolating. So, I think you have to be quite driven to overcome those challenges in the initial stages. Once you’re at the Bar, you can build a network and relationships, but again, then you have to ask the questions and be really honest with yourself about what you need and make those decisions early.”
There have also been a number of surprising things about becoming a barrister, Geraghty added.
“The biggest surprise to me is what’s been hard versus what’s been easy. I thought my biggest challenge would be just getting work because I didn’t have that network. I moved to the ACT for the first time joining the Bar. If you’re willing to network and put yourself out there, the work is there. I mean, that obviously depends on what area you want to practise in. But coming across work has been easier than I thought. What’s been more challenging than I thought? You learn so much about yourself, and you really have to be honest in terms of what you should take on. It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” she said.
“I have had to take an active step back in my reading year to make sure that I’m not taking on more than I can, because your reputation is everything. So, it’s about being really honest with yourself and not trying to jump in too fast or looking sideways and trying to keep up with other people who have come with you. Everyone’s going to have their own journey, and just having sort of a lack of ego to make the right decisions for yourself.”
Building her network up is also one of the things Geraghty is most looking forward to this year and for years to come.
“My favourite thing about coming to the Bar is the network of people that it’s exposed me to, not only within my chambers. I’ve met some, particularly women, some fabulous women at the Bar and the ACT who are becoming fast friends, who they just really inspire me, not just in their professional lives, but how they balance motherhood,” she said.
“That has been the most exciting thing about coming to the Bar. The calibre of people that you meet and who are becoming friends, that has added so much to my life already, and I’m really grateful for that. But also just settling into Canberra and really being more comfortable in what I do because I love the work.”
The transcript of this podcast episode was slightly edited for publishing purposes. To listen to the full conversation with Vicki Geraghty, click below:
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
