Jack Steer LLB (Hons), 2012

Barrister at Hailsham Chambers

Hi, I'm Jack Steer and I studied LLB (Hons) within Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton.

I felt that the Law School was an environment that had been set up to allow its students to succeed

My job entails acting for both Claimants and Defendants in professional negligence, clinical negligence, insurance and general commercial matters. Each area of my practice involves a variety of different tasks but very generally my role is to:

• Advise clients both orally in conference and in writing on the prospects of success of a claim.
• Formulate the substance of a client’s claim or defence.
• Draft Particulars of Claim, Defences and other statements of case.
• Appear in Court before the trial of a claim in order to make interim applications such attempting to have the claim struck out.
• Appear in Court at the trial of a claim, presenting a clients case and cross examining the other sides witnesses.
• Advise on settlement and attempt to negotiate the same with the other side.

I have wanted to be a barrister for as long as I can remember (probably too much Judge John Deed!). When I started seriously looking at the Bar as a potential career I was drawn to the variety of work and the complexity of issues that barristers come across on a daily basis. I was also taken with the idea of being self-employed and structuring my own working life.

I am fortunate that my job is very interesting. No day is the same and no case is the same, which keeps me on my toes and makes everyday/task a fresh challenge.

Studying at UoS Law School provided the basis upon which to build a career in law. This is both in terms of legal knowledge and the interpersonal skills that are developed through the weekly tutorials and extracurricular activities such as mooting. Most importantly throughout my studies the academic staff at the law school gave me constant encouragement and support that enabled me to pursue my ambition of becoming a barrister.

Studying Law helped to shape my thinking and attitude to life. I was lucky enough to be a part of an incredibly talented cohort and the weekly exchange of ideas and approaches with my peers in tutorials helped shape my understanding of the law and ensure that my approach to any given legal problem is well rounded and considered.

Studying at Southampton was special because of the people. Pursuing a career at the Bar, or in law more generally, is difficult and there will always be occasions when it is a struggle. What was special about studying at Southampton was that when I was struggling there were always people available to help, be it the academic staff or my peers. The academics in particular had an open door policy and I regularly picked their brains when I came across a topic that I couldn’t grasp. In particular I was a regular visitor to Leonora’s office! Further, the head of school at the time, Professor Natalie Lee, went out of her way to help me secure scholarships from Lincoln’s Inn, which were an essential step in successfully becoming a barrister. I felt that the law school was an environment that had been set up to allow its students to succeed. Southampton is extremely proud of its successful graduates and the law school continues to give me incredible support.

It would also be remiss of me not to mention the remarkable people I met during my time at Southampton that I now count amongst my closest friends.

To get in touch with Jack, click here.