The appetite for in-house pupillages has never been stronger—yet most councils still overlook the barrister talent pool. In this thought-provoking session, Michael Graham and Ursula Barlow from the Joint Legal Team at Reading BC explain how local authority in-house legal teams can benefit from offering pupillages and structured pathways for aspiring barristers.
Drawing on real experience from the Joint Legal Team, we’ll discuss what’s working, what’s missing, and the simple steps your Council can take to tap into this remarkable source of legal talent. Join us to rethink recruitment and help shape the next generation of in-house advocates.
Michael Graham is a solicitor and has worked in local government since 1991, with 20 years’ experience as Monitoring Officer at three different councils. He is currently Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services at Reading Borough Council, where he is responsible for the legal shared service between all the Berkshire Unitaries for Children’s Services, Adults and Education legal support. He was previously Head of Corporate Governance at Spelthorne Borough Council and Head of Legal Services at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and led both councils in a shared legal service. He has over 30 years’ experience as a solicitor in local government having also worked at Cleveland County Council, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council and Surrey County Council. He has wide experience of local government across all its functions.
Ursula was called to the Bar in 2001. She undertook pupillage, and then gained tenancy, at a leading family law set. Since 2007, she has worked as an employed barrister in local authority childcare legal teams, including as a lawyer and deputy team leader at Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (Bi-Borough Legal services) and as a senior lawyer at London Borough of Lambeth. She has been the Strategic Lead for Advocacy in the Joint Legal Team, Reading Borough Council, since May 2025.
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13:00 - 14:00
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