Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,26
the careless drivers of the region.”
She giggles.
“Ewan seems to think that too. I’ve tried to reassure him that I don’t actually have to do anything apart from writing down what’s happening but he’s not convinced. Mind you, I hope I am included in some of the extra-curricular parts.”
“Like what?”
“Well the case dinner for a start,” she muses.
“Always a recipe for disaster!” I laugh, “Getting drunk on a school night is never the best idea, but doing it with the Judge and your opposition present? Is it still Corr and Harte prosecuting?”
George Corr QC is something of an idol of mine. A man of few words, he makes the ones he does deploy count. Feared by criminals across the country he is a meticulous Prosecutor, with a reputation for demanding perfection from his juniors. He is head of a set of Chambers in London that has a reputation for housing some seriously brilliant criminal advocates.
Samantha Harte is a member of our Chambers, about fifteen years call and holds the junior brief in the Hobbs case. Late thirties with a bob so sharp you could cut yourself on it, she takes no nonsense from anyone, including judges. She gave me some useful advice at a drinks reception when I first joined Chambers seven years ago We were both pretty tipsy and had been discussing the difference between men and women at the Bar. A friend of hers had just had a baby and was being treated like a second class citizen in the tax law firm where she worked.
“It’s pure nonsense,” she had raged. “They think that now she’s a mother she has lost the killer instinct that makes her such a success.”
I nodded, knowing that the solicitor in question could give any man a run for his money on the professional field.
“The worst thing about this is, she is now starting to doubt herself. Lauren, please, please never forget that no matter what, have confidence in your own intelligence. You got here because of your talent, but you’ve stayed here because you’ve never doubted yourself. When all else fails, remember that you can rely on yourself.”
I’ve always tried to use that when I’m having a bad day, but it’s easier said than done. I’ve been against her in court a few times and I’m always awestruck by how formidable an advocate she is. I hope one day I can be half as good as her.
Serena interrupts my reverie.
“Did you send off your form for the Nottingham do?”
Whoops.
“No, I meant to. In fact, didn’t I ask you to remind me?” I rummage round in my bag to see if the form has survived a week of abuse in its leathery depths. I eventually locate it folded into a reminder that my tax bill is overdue. Double whoops. “Right, I’ll bring my cheque book in tomorrow and sort it out then.”
“Fair enough” replies Serena. “I’ll send you a text about it tomorrow too, make sure you don’t forget again.”
“Cheers. I’d better get my act together otherwise knowing my luck all of the tickets will have gone.”
“Yeah and I’ll be left sitting between Lucinda and Holly”
I groan, envisioning a repeat of last week. “Please tell me they’re not going?”
“No idea, but I doubt she’d have the front to show her face there”
“That woman has more front than Blackpool!” I laugh, scooping up some chicken.
As Sebastian returns with a chiller bucket containing another bottle of wine I smile at him. He takes his seat and starts fiddling with his cutlery.
“Serena? I’d better go before Sebastian kills me, but before I do are you sure everything’s ok?”
“Positive. I’m sorry I overreacted, I was just terrified that people would think I was incompetent.”
“They could never think that. Say ‘hi’ to Ewan for me?” I ask, mentally vowing to spend some time this week trying to undo any damage the Lenihan case has caused.
“Will do, speak soon!”
“Take care.”
As I fumble to disconnect the call, Sebastian munches thoughtfully on a piece of lettuce he’s pinched from my plate.
“What was that about?” he asks, looking quizzically at me.
“Nothing, just Serena flying off at the deep end about something.”
He picks up another piece of my now discarded lunch as I turn my attention to the fresh bottle of ice cold wine.
“Not more crazy wedding ideas?”
I think before Ewan proposed to Serena, Sebastian would have entertained the idea of marriage. Since he’s seen the way in which their plans have escalated exponentially I bet I’d have to physically drag him to a