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“I haven’t seen enough barristers who look like me – I’m changing that for others.”

Konstantina is a law graduate and pupil barrister who lives with Ullrich muscular dystrophy. She shares her journey into this career, the discrimination she’s faced in her journey to becoming a qualified barrister, and what she’s doing to pave the way for future disabled barristers.

I cried the first day I entered the court as a first-six pupil (the non-practising part of the work-based learning as a barrister). After five years of obstacles, several chest infections, and many hours of revision done from my bed, I have achieved what most people said I couldn’t do – I secured pupillage and am a step closer in pursuing my dream to become a barrister.

My ambition to follow a career as a barrister stems from my desire to help vulnerable people who have been failed by the justice system. Experiencing inaccessibility and discrimination in the courtroom is an issue I come up against daily though, and I’m fighting to change this.

Training to be a barrister

I did an undergraduate degree at the University of Reading, followed by a masters in human rights law at University College London. Then I completed the Bar Course specialising in advanced criminal advocacy, and I’m currently undertaking my pupillage at Nexus Chambers. This is a work-based learning period provided by an authorised education and training organisation.

Training to be a barrister is an intensive process and I’ve had to learn to be smart with how I plan my days to minimise fatigue.

“As a full-time wheelchair user who wears a torso brace for more than 15 hours a day, I have chronic pain and fatigue, which can be made worse by having a stressful job.”

When I undertook my first mini-pupillage, which is a short work experience placement, this presented a host of challenges that shocked me. On my first day, I had to park my wheelchair in a corridor and listen because there was no space for a wheelchair in the courtroom as the benches were fixed. This was in 2019. Five years later, it hasn’t changed.

Every time I go to a different court, I have to worry about whether there’ll be an accessible courtroom. Whether there’ll be somewhere I can use my laptop. I’m currently just observing the court proceedings, but I can’t sit next to my supervisor like an abled-bodied pupil would.

It’s frustrating that I have to work ten times harder than others just to prove I belong in this industry. As a disabled migrant, I don’t want to show any weakness because it will prove the people who think I can’t do this right. I know this is partly something to do with my own internalised ableism, but I also need to show others that disabled people have just as much to offer as everyone else.

Fighting for change

“I’ve been so shocked by the lack of accessibility in the courtroom that I decided to do something about it.”

I launched Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) in 2021 to improve access for disabled aspiring barristers. We help people with mentoring and finding work experience that will suit their needs. My hope is to open up discussions with able-bodied individuals to show that just because we’re disabled doesn’t mean we’re incapable. Too often, people don’t feel confident enough to ask questions, so nobody learns.

We’ve also launched a court accessibility survey. There’s currently very limited public information about the accessibility of different courts. We’re putting together a map that will provide details of the access in courtrooms such as disabled parking and accessible tables, as well as contact information if you need further details.

Muscular Dystrophy UK’s employability helpline is an amazing project

More support to help disabled people in work is so needed. I didn’t know anything about the Access to Work Government scheme until a friend told me about it. It’s great that Muscular Dystrophy UK has a dedicated person who can recommend resources and help you learn about things like travel expenses and reasonable adjustments. It can be hard to explain your needs to people that don’t understand, so having someone who just gets it is really important.

Barriers exist to be run over

When I get frustrated by the number of obstacles I encounter every day at work, I remind myself of how many people I’m helping by encouraging them to follow their aspirations. I haven’t seen many people like me at the Bar or throughout studying law, and I want to change that. It’s not an easy process. But if we don’t push, the barriers will always be there. We need to become lawyers, doctors and politicians to challenge preexisting stereotypes.

Learn more about Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar).

Find out how our employability helpline can support you.

Our Employability Service will help you get into employment that works for you. Or if you’re already employed, we can provide advice and support to help you continue working in a way that is safe and sustainable.

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