To be a Bencher and a Judge
(Judge John Samuels’ interview)
“Don’t do it, unless you are unstoppable…”

It was my great pleasure to interview Judge John Samuels, Q.C. a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn, while he visited me in St. Lucia this past February. I met Judge Samuels at a West Dean weekend, as part of the requirement for my dinners with Lincoln’s Inn, in January 2000, and we have remained friends ever since. His lovely wife Maxine, who has been a lay magistrate since 1979, also accompanied him to St. Lucia. The Samuels have two sons and a grandson.
Samuels was only a child when he decided to take up a career in law. He was listening to a radio programme with the distinguished advocate, Lord Birkett QC who was talking at the time about the importance of effective advocacy. Samuels was called to the Bar by the famous Lord Denning in June 1964, having become a member of Lincoln’s Inn in 1961. His decision to join Lincoln’s Inn was through the advice of a family friend, who was the then leader of the Chancery Bar.
Samuels developed a love for advocacy, changing the law in many of the cases he undertook in his thirty three years in priva practice rising to be the Head of Chambers at 22 Old Buildings in London which he founded in 1987. Although his speciality in practice had been Civil and Commercial law, and he had been a deputy High Court Judge since 1981, this was short-lived on the Bench, and Criminal law became his selected legal passion.
One of the numerous projects most recently spearheaded by this Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn is the Pupillage Foundation scheme which offers Lincoln’s Inn members who have completed the Bar Vocational Course, but have not secured pupillage, an opportunity to develop their applications for pupillage, interview techniques, and the creation of a resume.

They enjoy the expertise of both practising Barristers and members of the Employed Bar. This course is run twice a year now. The rationale behind the course is to provide those without pupillage with the necessary tools to seek pupillage and offer alternative opportunities in training. It shows that the Inn is interested in the continuing education of its members beyond admission and the Bar Vocational Course (BVC). Samuels noted that the number of pupillages offered has fallen in recent years: there are about 2,000 places on the BVC and a mere 400 pupillages offered each year. There are only five years after call in which to seek pupillage, and this course provides students with the opportunity to socialise with members of the Inn at the end of each session in a less formal manner.
As the Chairman of the Admissions Call & Pupillage Committee of Lincoln’s Inn, and a Bencher since 1990, Samuels was also in the forefront of the Inn’s opposition to reverse the proposal to defer call. The Bar Council’s recommendation was to link Call to the Bar to the satisfactory completion of pupillage. International students are unlikely to secure pupillage, and this would have closed the doors for international students, including our nationals, to study law in England. Lincoln’s Inn spearheaded the argument for keeping the status quo, and was successful. Samuels explained that it was important to maintain strong ties with international students as the Inn is not just for English students but welcomes with equal enthusiasm students from overseas.
Samuels’ passion for the Law and Lincoln’s Inn was evident throughout the interview, and this writer appreciated his candour and advice.
Ms. Trudy O. Glasgow is a practising attorney at the law firm Gordon, Gordon & Co., (and has also taught law at University level in the UK)*
This column is for general use only, for advice specifically for your case, please see your lawyer.
Next week: Book launch