Leading barrister returns to University of Leicester to mark 60 years of Law School excellence
Simeon Maskrey speaking at Leicester Law Schools 60th anniversary celebrations (Credit: RedPix)
One of the UK’s leading barristers returned to the University of Leicester to keynote an event marking the 60th anniversary of Leicester Law School.
Simeon Maskrey KC, a leading barrister specialising in high-value clinical negligence, personal injury and product liability cases, began his legal journey as a student at Leicester Law School in the 1970s.
Discussing his journey into law, Simeon said: “Although I had not had a particularly distinguished career at school and although careers advice had told me not to go to university, I had decided (for no particularly sensible reason) that I wanted to be a criminal barrister.”
He added, “Consequently, I had no option but to try and get to university.”
Founded in 1966, Leicester Law School quickly established a strong national reputation, attracting respected legal scholars including Edward Griew and Jan Grodecki. Simeon credits this expertise as a key factor in his decision to study at Leicester.
He said, “As early as 1972, Leicester Law School had forged a reputation for encouraging advocacy and that seemed to me to be one of my few strengths and it encouraged me to set my sights on Leicester.
“When I arrived, I found I had not been wrong. The teaching was inspirational.”
Simeon found the difference between his experience at school and his experience at university to be worlds apart. He said, “At the University of Leicester, I found encouragement and support rather than dismissal of what at school had been regarded as a presumptive and fanciful ambition.”
During his time at Leicester, Simeon’s passion for advocacy continued to grow, helping to establish Leicester Law School’s long-standing reputation in mooting and courtroom skills.
Simeon said. “I was aware that Ian Croxford (now an eminent and well-known commercial silk) had won the Observer Mooting Competition for Leicester (at the time the pre-eminent inter-university advocacy competition).
“Once my confidence grew, I wanted to try and show that it wasn’t a fluke and that Leicester could compete with the best British Universities. So, in 1976, Leicester tried again and was successful again. It confirmed my belief that advocacy was what I wanted and my suspicion that I might actually manage to be alright at it.”
In 1976, Simeon was introduced by Edward Griew to Harry Skinner QC, a local barrister who had moved to 2 Crown Office Row, Temple in London. Simeon says that this was a pivotal moment for his legal career.
“Because of Edward’s belief that I had some ability, Harry Skinner decided to see me,” Simeon said. “He also decided that I might have promise and told me to apply to 2 Crown Office Row for pupillage. I did, was accepted, and was later taken on as a tenant.”
Simeon said. “I think it is fair to say that Leicester Law School was absolutely central not only to my decision to become a barrister, but to practise at the common law bar from 2 Crown Office Row.”
After Leicester, Simeon battled with imposter syndrome. He said, “When leaving Leicester, there was still a feeling that I would be shown as academically inadequate when the chips were down.”
However, he continued, “Reading for the Bar Finals convinced me that I could at least compete with aspiring barristers from Oxbridge and Russell Group universities.”
“Leicester’s teaching was objectively excellent and that excellence took me through to qualification.”
Simeon stayed on as a tenant at 2 Crown Office Row. For 10 years he practised in crime and a variety of common law subjects before deciding to specialise in medical law.
He became a recorder of the Crown and County Courts and then took silk in 1995. In 1997 the Chambers bought their own premises at 9 Bedford Row, London. In 2001, Simeon was appointed as a deputy High Court Judge, a position he still holds. 50 years after being offered a tenancy Simeon continues to practice from the same set of Chambers, now at 7 Bedford Row.
Simeon Maskrey KC, a leading barrister specialising in high-value clinical negligence, personal injury and product liability cases, began his legal journey as a student at Leicester Law School in the 1970s.
Discussing his journey into law, Simeon said: “Although I had not had a particularly distinguished career at school and although careers advice had told me not to go to university, I had decided (for no particularly sensible reason) that I wanted to be a criminal barrister.”
He added, “Consequently, I had no option but to try and get to university.”
Founded in 1966, Leicester Law School quickly established a strong national reputation, attracting respected legal scholars including Edward Griew and Jan Grodecki. Simeon credits this expertise as a key factor in his decision to study at Leicester.
He said, “As early as 1972, Leicester Law School had forged a reputation for encouraging advocacy and that seemed to me to be one of my few strengths and it encouraged me to set my sights on Leicester.
“When I arrived, I found I had not been wrong. The teaching was inspirational.”
Simeon found the difference between his experience at school and his experience at university to be worlds apart. He said, “At the University of Leicester, I found encouragement and support rather than dismissal of what at school had been regarded as a presumptive and fanciful ambition.”
During his time at Leicester, Simeon’s passion for advocacy continued to grow, helping to establish Leicester Law School’s long-standing reputation in mooting and courtroom skills.
Simeon said. “I was aware that Ian Croxford (now an eminent and well-known commercial silk) had won the Observer Mooting Competition for Leicester (at the time the pre-eminent inter-university advocacy competition).
“Once my confidence grew, I wanted to try and show that it wasn’t a fluke and that Leicester could compete with the best British Universities. So, in 1976, Leicester tried again and was successful again. It confirmed my belief that advocacy was what I wanted and my suspicion that I might actually manage to be alright at it.”
In 1976, Simeon was introduced by Edward Griew to Harry Skinner QC, a local barrister who had moved to 2 Crown Office Row, Temple in London. Simeon says that this was a pivotal moment for his legal career.
“Because of Edward’s belief that I had some ability, Harry Skinner decided to see me,” Simeon said. “He also decided that I might have promise and told me to apply to 2 Crown Office Row for pupillage. I did, was accepted, and was later taken on as a tenant.”
Simeon said. “I think it is fair to say that Leicester Law School was absolutely central not only to my decision to become a barrister, but to practise at the common law bar from 2 Crown Office Row.”
After Leicester, Simeon battled with imposter syndrome. He said, “When leaving Leicester, there was still a feeling that I would be shown as academically inadequate when the chips were down.”
However, he continued, “Reading for the Bar Finals convinced me that I could at least compete with aspiring barristers from Oxbridge and Russell Group universities.”
“Leicester’s teaching was objectively excellent and that excellence took me through to qualification.”
Simeon stayed on as a tenant at 2 Crown Office Row. For 10 years he practised in crime and a variety of common law subjects before deciding to specialise in medical law.
He became a recorder of the Crown and County Courts and then took silk in 1995. In 1997 the Chambers bought their own premises at 9 Bedford Row, London. In 2001, Simeon was appointed as a deputy High Court Judge, a position he still holds. 50 years after being offered a tenancy Simeon continues to practice from the same set of Chambers, now at 7 Bedford Row.