My journey to the independent Criminal Bar

By Adam Furze

I became a tenant at Drystone in May 2025 after completing my third-six. I now have a mixed practice of prosecution and defence work on the Western Circuit. I have also recently trained as a Case Presenting Officer for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

I am proud to say that I am the first in my family to attend university and I was educated at a state comprehensive school. I read law at the University of Portsmouth and previously worked as a legal researcher for a barrister specialising in litigation involving civil liberties, prison law and criminal appeals. This is what sparked my interest in criminal law and confirmed my desire to train as a barrister. I was fortunate to receive an Advocacy Scholarship to complete the bar course and I was called to the bar in 2023. In 2024, I completed my pupillage at the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex and qualified as a Crown Advocate.

I thoroughly enjoyed my pupillage at the CPS and had a wonderful supervisor who continues to mentor me today. During my first six, I shadowed my supervisor on a wide range of matters varying from routine Crown court hearings to a 6-week complex RASSO trial with a vulnerable defendant and a number of complex legal issues. I regularly provided written advice to the police both pre and post- charge under supervision from senior prosecutors who provided me with invaluable insight into CPS decision making.

I also completed secondments to a set of chambers on the Western Circuit and the Service Prosecuting Authority. On secondment I met some members of Drystone Chambers. I was taken back by the standards of advocacy and quality of representation displayed by the team as well as how down to earth and friendly the team were in the robing room. I always had an inkling that I wanted to have a mixed criminal practice of both prosecution and defence work. So, at the conclusion of my pupillage I applied for a third-six at Drystone and to my surprise, I was offered a start date in November 2024.

I was allocated a supervisor who was a constant source of support throughout my third-six. I noticed a considerable jump in the quality of work I was receiving in chambers compared to the employed bar. This was initially terrifying, but with the guidance of my supervisor, it quickly became a challenging but rewarding experience. I completed my first Crown Court trial at Winchester Crown court in December 2024 and my client was acquitted of all charges. I will never forget the feeling of completing my first closing speech and the sense of elation when the verdicts were returned.

Throughout my third-six, I was required to complete the chambers in house advocacy training programme. This comprised of masterclasses and assessed advocacy exercises led by experienced members of chambers. One session was led by our head of chambers and focussed on cross examining children. To my surprise, chambers had arranged for an 11-year-old actor to be cross examined! These sessions allowed me hone my advocacy skills and experiment with alternative styles in a safe space.

Moving to Drystone from the employed bar was a big step in my professional and personal life. Adjusting to being a self-employed barrister was challenging but I was supported by Drystone at every step of the way. Drystone offer a guaranteed earning scheme for third-six pupils which allowed me to not worry about the financial implications of transitioning to self-employment and focus on developing my practice. The clerking team work tirelessly to ensure my diary is full when I want it to be, and do not waiver when I request leave. If you are thinking applying for pupillage at Drystone- DO IT! Joining Drystone was the best decision I have made in my career and I am very excited for what the future holds.