Gone are the days when we can hope to plan our diaries. Fixtures aren’t guaranteed. New dates created often without any consultation with parties. The lack of any certainty cases will be heard on any particular day, week, month or even year has gone. It lets down everyone. Again.

Thank you for attending for your second attempt at a trial listing! Sadly, like last year, we can’t fit you in. We look forward to doing this all again at your trial listing next year! We’ll be able to hear your case for sure then. Maybe.. possibly… dunno.

I have moved from tired of doing these cases to the start of burnout I fear.. and I am far from alone. Often when I discuss those cases at court, people say they simply don’t do sex cases.. and I am starting to understand why.

Today my very distressed client was momentarily distracted and then calmed considerably. Why? ‘Oh wow! Your hair is the same colour as my bedroom walls! It‘s my favourite!’ Takes all sorts in this job!

Nothing like answering ‘how is your week?’ with a pained look and whisper ‘I’m floating. I’m a fixed floater..’ For the non-lawyers in life (and even some of the lawyers..) they look confused and back away. ‘I am flooooaaating… come baaack…’

‘Apologies for the weekend email, can you please respond to X by 9am Monday?’ Ah the joys of well-being! Lucky I am at court today anyway eh.. who needs downtime?!

The joy of multi handed cases is the whispered conversations with other counsel.. the realisation I am getting old and can’t hear them any more is less joyous..

Am in a trial where we haven’t had defendants at court for a 10am start once..

Waking to the reassuring news it is ‘now’ going to be illegal to assault shop workers… who knew.. *sigh*

London lawyers will appreciate the aging pride of the nod of familiarity that goes with the comment ‘I remember you from Tower Bridge days…’

Not one to show off, but I had a cup of tea in custody made with an actual tea bag of excellent quality from the secret stash! I mean, yes it was much stronger than my usual cuppa but it was very much appreciated. Little things..

Aside from the many obvious and worrying flaws with this idea, what’s with the name?! Early Dawn?? This is a very late, post sunset response to a crumbling justice system.. and one that clearly doesn’t understand what we are left to work with…

I wish for the optimism of an officer at 4am promising a time for interview in the morning for the next shift.. ah bless them so believing and full of hope.

I saw someone who prosecuted me in a grim case. Lovely to see her, but as I walked away, I could see the footage from that case in my head.. I’m not sure we look after ourselves enough in this job sometimes…

I am so grateful for the ability to form bonds in long trials. The ability to teach people how I like my tea is only when you hit the next level though.. and the sharing of snacks.. small blessings in a world of stress.,

Anyone got a visit at Wandsworth tomorrow?! How did we get to this? (We can guess many answers but this is the press grabbing end of a very broken system sadly)

Ahh a lovely Sunday chat with officers about why the use of the word ‘complainant’ rather than ‘victim’ is genuinely important…

Vulnerable client due to be sentenced.No PSR uploaded. Check with Probation. Need more time, can’t proceed today.. I politely asked if anyone would like to explain why to my emotional client who was produced for what appears to be no reason? Ah no. That’ll be me then.

There is a gentle irony of representing someone shouting in your face about how they definitely didn’t shout in someone’s face…

Got to love a bank holiday! Sunny beer garden?! Pfft no way! Put that phone on ring and look forward to the police station calls flowing in. What’s not fun about that!? Reminder to enjoy every free second if you get any this weekend..