The Annual Bar Conference and Young Bar Conference 2015 took place on Saturday 17th October, in London. Hundreds of barristers attended this annual conference where they debated about the roles of advocates in keeping civil liberties safe, as well as discussed about how to survive at the modern Bar.
There are many high-esteemed barristers in London who may have faced many challenges in the initial stages of their careers. One such well-respected barrister is Shiva Ancliffe (46), who was called to the Bar in 1991. She joined Coram Chambers in 2014, dealing with public law care proceedings and also undertakes work on forced marriage, child abduction and adoptions.
Regarding the early challenges she faced, Shiva Ancliffe said, “In pupillage I felt I had to shine more brightly to get ahead because of my background- whether this was a reality or my own internal belief system, my hard work paid off. I initially resisted doing family law because I felt women were often pigeon-holed so I did mainly crime and civil. But I did a bit of family and gained a reputation for being a good local authority barrister, so public law became the mainstay of my work.”
She also believes funding is the biggest challenge in her area of practice.
Shiva Ancliffe has also lectured to social workers and solicitors over a number of years, as well as provided training to social workers on court procedures and giving evidence. Outside of work, she is a trustee of Wycombe Women's Aid and is involved in the children's work at her local church.
