After processing the news, I am happy to announce that I have an offer for pupillage with Nexus Chambers commencing later this year.
To my mom, who made the brave decision to move from Greece to the UK with her kids so she could give me a better and fairer future - thank you!
First day of Bar School! After so much bullying, discrimination, stress and imposter syndrome, I can’t believe that today I am starting the BVS! Thank you
@TheInnerTemple
for all your support!
Today I started a mini-pupillage. As I took this photo, I realised how uncomfortable I felt wearing a jacket. Being disabled can mean that you must deviate from the accepted Bar professional attire. Next time, I will listen to my disabled body & choose smart accessible clothes.
This is a picture of
@7BRchambers
sesame steps! When I arrived at the Chambers, I could hardly spot them as I was expecting something that would stood out. I was impressed by their elegance & how easy was to operate them. More Chambers need to invest on accessibility.
We did the LLM together ✅
We completed the BVS together ✅
We laughed and cried during pupillage apps and exams together ✅
And now we have matching wigs and gowns ☺️
@wigintraining
thanks for being the best friend!
🎉I AM RECRUITING!🎉
I am looking to employ an Executive Assistant to assist me during pupillage.
Salary: £42,120
Starting date: 31st May 2024
Application process: send a CV and two references to nouka.konstantina
@gmail
.com
Deadline to apply: 3 May 2024
Law degree done ✅ can’t wait to start my LLM Human Rights at
@UCLLaws
and explore some fascinating modules which will assist me in pursuing my dream as a human rights barrister 🥰
Honoured to announce that I am an
@TheInnerTemple
Exhibition Scholar! I can’t put in words how I feel! Thank you Inner for your support and faith in me! Thank you Inner for your faith in diversity and inclusion!
Recently, I undertook a mini-pupillage to examine the logistical challenges I will encounter during my pupillage. Whilst the court staff were lovely and supportive, the accessibility within the courtroom was appalling for wheelchair users.
(Part 1)
First week as an LLM Human Rights student ✅ Thank you
@UCLLaws
for ensuring that everything was accessible and having some extremely interesting modules! Can’t wait to explore further each module!
Being a disabled aspiring barrister who uses a wheelchair is stressful when trying to apply for pupillage! It is even more stressful though to keep finding out that the Chambers that you dream to be a member of aren’t accessible for wheelchair users!
#disabledaspiringbarristers
Today was an emotional day because I couldn’t stop thinking of all the bullying & prejudices I had experienced in Greek education up until I was 15. However, wheeling over those stereotypes and being resilient has now enabled me to be a law grad & start the BVS is few months!
Very excited to announce that I have just accepted my offer to study Bar Vocational Studies with Specialism at
@CityLawSchool
this September! One step closer to becoming a barrister!
#disabledaspiringbarrister
#BVS
I knew my journey to the Bar would be full of challenges. It is isolating & frustrating to see that the disabled community has been forgotten in courtrooms. If we want a legal system where justice is accessible to everyone, why have 16 million people been forgotten?
(Part 3)
Thank you
@TheInnerTemple
for organising such an amazing event today! The dinner for universities was my first event as an Inner Temple member. It was a great opportunity to get advice and network with some incredible barristers and judges. I felt so welcome and supported!
After a stressful summer of studying and working full-time, I am delighted to announce that I have passed the Bar Course 🥰 Many thanks to my family, partner and friends for supporting me throughout this process! Can’t wait to be Called to the Bar in November now!
I decided to create an initiative for Aspiring Barristers with Disabilities. This project will provide support, advertise social mobility initiatives, create a mentorship scheme, and lobby the Bar Council to improve accessibility. Sign up here:
Looking at court accessibility is a shocking experience. As a disabled aspiring barrister who uses a wheelchair & intends to practice in public, crime & immigration, trying to arrange to visit courts & marshalling is a stressful experience.Very few courts seem accessible.
I am excited to announce that I have joined
@BhattMurphy
as their new COVID-19 Inquiry Paralegal!🥰
I am looking forward to this new chapter in my career! Most importantly, I am proud to be joining a firm with an outstanding commitment in social justice & civil liberties!
Please don't view this post as a complaint; its purpose is to be constructive feedback.
1. If there is a disabled advocate in the room (or observer), they need an accessible.
2. There should be a dedicated member of stuff to deal with accessibility requirements.
(Part 2)
I can’t believe that after three years of LLB at
@UniRDG_Law
& an LLM at
@UCLLaws
today I am advocating for myself & representing myself in front of
@TheInnerTemple
& explaining why I am good candidate for a scholarship! I am my first client! Good luck everyone for your interview
Happy International Wheelchair Day! Many people view a wheelchair as a limitation or a sign of struggle. For me, wheelchair = freedom. It enables me to pursue my career goals, be independent and fulfil my potential!
Completed the 1st month of my BVS ✅ Launched the
@BDABarOrg
Mini-Pupillage Scheme ✅ Recovered from a flare-up ✅ First Inner Temple Debating Session as Co-President ✅ Attended
@TheInnerTemple
Qualifying Sessions ✅ it’s been a good month!
Finding a PA to assist me with facilitating my independence should not be a task where I should be feeling constantly patronised by carer/PA agencies. The care sector has to understand that young disabled individuals can be active, can have top education and can pursue careers.
Self care relaxation day before my Inner Scholarship! Re-reading for the final time my application & taking care of my mental afterwards! It’s okay to stress & worry but confidence in your abilities is fundamental! Good luck to all the applicants being interviewed tomorrow!
After a challenging year, I am very excited to announce that I will be graduating from
@UCLLaws
with a Merit in my LLM Human Rights Law!!! Had the best time at UCL and made some long-lasting friendships! Next step… BVS at
@CityUniLondon
!
Getting ready to speak at the
@AllBar
“Applying for Pupillage as a Disabled* Person or Person with Physical and Mental Health conditions”! Really excited for this collaborative event between
@AllBar
@BDABarOrg
@disabledlawyers
&
@BLEMI_UK
! See you at 5 pm!
Thank you so much
@7BRchambers
for inviting me to speak about
@BDABarOrg
at you Open Morning today in order to celebrate accessibility and inclusion!!!
The Global Accessibility Awareness Day reminds me that much more need to be done in order to improve access at Chambers! Thank you
@7BRchambers
for being at the forefront of accessibility with your sesame steps- you give me confidence that Chambers can become more accessible!
As a disabled woman trying to pursue a legal career, and be as independent as possible, I find the state of public transport in the UK shocking 😢
Just in the past two weeks
@TfL
forgot to provide me with a boarding ramp so I can depart from the train. This is just one example.
Doing LLM coursework,
@BDABarOrg
work, mini-pupillage & internship applications at the same time, has been a challenging process for my Ulrich Muscular Dystrophy body (see neck brace). However, I developed my resilience! Life can be hard but keep fighting for our goals is key.
Delighted to have represented
@BDABarOrg
at the LegalEdCon 2023 organised by
@legalcheek
🙂
I discussed the inaccessibility of the pupillage recruitment process & the obstacles disabled candidates face in their journey to the Bar.
This week has been scary. After two years of being COVID free, now I am battling COVID. Even as a triple vaccinated adult, this virus has been so difficult to deal with. Please, if you feel unwell, get a test and protect others from catching the virus. COVID is still very real.
Visiting
@CityLawSchool
today as I will be studying the BVS in September there! It is important to meet with my new university in order to ensure that I have the best access adjustments in place!
#aspiringbarrister
#disabled
#BVS
So excited to announce that I secured a place at the
@TheInnerTemple
PASS initiative!!! This kind of social mobility initiatives are crucial in order to improve the diversity and inclusion of the English Bar!
Back at
@UniRDG_Law
to discuss “Disabilities & the Bar”! I will be sharing my experiences as a disabled aspiring barrister and representing
@BDABarOrg
!
It’s so positive to see Chambers mentioning reasonable adjustments on their Gateway vacancy advertisements and on their websites 🥰 This is so encouraging to see!
#diversity
#accessibility
#reasonableadjustments
BCAT exam ✅ and passed! One step closer to becoming a barrister! It was interesting to see that all of my reasonable adjustments were in place and how welcoming the environment was!
#aspiringbarrister
#disabled
#bcat
I realised it’s 10 years since I started using a wheelchair & I am happy about it. Many see wheelchairs as “bad” taboo things. However, for me my wheelchair is my sign of independence & autonomy. It has transformed my life & enabled me to go to law school & live an active life.
I am happy to announce that I have received the
@OneYoungWorld
Scholarship 2023, sponsored by
@Deloitte
, for my work as the Chair of
@BDABarOrg
.
Many thanks to my
@BDABarOrg
family- together, we can raise awareness that disabled people can be successful barristers!
#IAmBDABar
@GinnyAndT
People need to understand that we are independent in a different way- if I pay my assistant for supporting me and I am the one in control of my life, that’s independence. We need to educate people!
The past three months have been full of stress and hope.
Even if the 2023 pupillage application cycle only resulted in being a Reserve at a chambers that I liked, it has nonetheless been a result that I am proud and grateful for.
(Part 1)
Yesterday I represented
@TheInnerTemple
at the Inter-Inn Debating Competition taking place at
@lincolnsinn
! I enjoyed thinking on my feet & defending my motion. Crucially, I enjoyed being part of such an amazing team! Thanks
@lincolnsinn
for accommodating my access adjustments.
I am recruiting an Executive Assistant to assist me during pupillage.
Salary: £42,120 per annum
Starting date: 31/05/24
Application process: send a CV and two references to nouka.konstantina
@gmail
.com
Deadline to apply: 3/05/24
Legal Twitter, I need help!😊 I have some upcoming First Round Pupillage Interviews & I want to arrange mock interviews to practise. Would any barrister or pupil be willing to help me with a mock? I am interested in crime, inquests & inquiries as well as IHRL. 😊
Earlier this week, I was interviewed by the
@lawsocgazette
to discuss the Court Accessibility Project that
@BDABarOrg
is currently conducting. If you want to assist BDABar with data collection, please fill out this form:
@BDABarOrg
Launch is less than two hours away! Ready and excited (and stressed)! Thank you so much everyone who have supported us so far and showed faith in our mission! See you at 5:30!
Came home to this surprise by my boyfriend❤️ This reminded me how important it is to have a strong support network during BVS exams & pupillage applications! Our loved ones can make such a huge difference when we are under so much stress & the imposter syndrome has kicked in!
Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at “Celebrating Lawyers and Lawyers with Lived Experience of Disability” - an event organised by
@AllBarUK
at the
@TheInnerTemple
with the support of
@39EssexChambers
! The purpose of this event was to celebrate Disability History Month!
Congrats to everyone who submitted their pupillage apps 🥳 As interviews will be approaching soon, I would like to help candidates by conducting mock interviews. If you applied to criminal or public sets, please drop me a DM & we can arrange a time in February or March 🥰
Good luck to all of my fellow Bar Course students sitting Criminal and Civil litigation exams next week 😊
We may have drunk too much coffee, ate too many chocolates and panicked, but we got this!
Lulu wants to send some positive energy (and virtual hugs) to every aspiring barrister who is stressed right now! This is a hard month when it comes to BVS exams and pupillage apps! Therefore, photos with 🐶 are necessary!
Good luck everyone! We’ve got this!
So so so proud that the Greek Parliament has finally legalised same sex marriage. This is a big win for human rights and civil liberties - μπράβο Ελλάδα! Είμαι περήφανη!
So proud and honoured to have received the Outstanding To Develop Inclusivity on Campus Award by
@RUSUtweets
! It has been an amazing and fulfilling experience to be involved in so many diversity projects and thank you to the people who nominated me for this award!
Just started my BPC Scholarship application at
@TheInnerTemple
and everything feels so real and exciting right now. Never thought when I started my LLB at
@UniRDG_Law
that I would be pursuing an LLM at
@UCLLaws
and at the same time applying for BPC Scholarships.
I want to take a moment to thank all the 116 participants who attended the
@BDABarOrg
Launch last night! Also, thank you to our panelists & thank you to my wonderful Committee!! Now, the work starts! Together we will support disabled aspiring barristers in accessing the Bar!
Just received the news that my team has successfully progressed to the oral rounds of the
@LGBTmooting
representing
@TheInnerTemple
! Very interesting fact pattern on public law & human rights! Also such positive news are great at the moment as I try to finish my LLM dissertation!
My excitement for this weekend is immeasurable! The time has finally come for a small holiday to go and watch
@coldplay
in Manchester! 🎉
No laptop, no law books, and no Bar/exam stress for 72 hours!
Busy week ahead! a) 4 BVS Seminars to prep, b) meetings with Chambers to discuss
@BDABarOrg
Mini Pupillage partnerships, c) attending
@WeAreAdvocate
Pro Bono Awards, and d) ending the week by competing at the finals of the 6KBW Advocacy Competition at the Old Bailey! 😊
Very excited to be the new Women’s Officer for
@UoRLawSociety
@UniRDG_Law
I will work hard to ensure best representation for female law students and find some great opportunities for the them!
#womeninlaw
Finally, everything feels real! We worked the past 4 months on planning and launching the
@BDABarOrg
Two-Way Mentoring Program and last night we finally did it! You have until this Sunday 7pm to sign up to become a mentee or mentor! Visit
#IAmBDABar
Proud to have attended the
@WeAreAdvocate
Awards with
@Maria_Munir
&
@ZoeSTChan
representing
@BDABarOrg
! It was great meeting the other nominees & celebrating pro bono work! Thank you to the BDABar Committee who volunteer their time to help disabled aspiring barristers!
Feels very unreal to be going in an in-person International Human Rights Law seminar today! First seminar at
@UCLLaws
and first seminar face to face since the start of the pandemic!
On my way to
@CityUniLondon
to collect my student ID! On Monday, I will start the BVS and I think this is probably one of the best books to motivate me for this very challenging year to come! 📚 👨🎓
I was finally able to visit the Parthenon - something that wasn’t possible until very recently. However, I wish that the gov realises that whilst making monuments accessible is important, what is more important is investing in infrastructure & increasing benefits & support.
As we are 10 days away from Pupillage Gateway closing, I need to make a new motivational music playlist to power through the final applications. Legal Twitter, please help with some motivational songs! Good luck everyone applying - we’ve got this! 🥰
With the Pupillage Gateway deadline approaching soon, I wanted to wish good luck to all those applying! If I can help in any way, please let me know by sending me a DM!
You’ve got this 🥰
In few weeks, my partner and I will be running/wheeling at the Oxford Town & Gown 10k race to raise awareness and funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK☺️
Therefore, it would mean the world if you could make a small donation:
I can’t believe that the
@UCLMainLibrary
looks so beautiful! It is so important to study in a space that motivates and you feel excited to be there! Can’t wait to drink many cappuccinos and stress over assignments in this beautiful setting!
@ucl
But it is not just about the barristers. Defendants need accessibility too and witnesses need accessibility too. But why is accessibility forgotten then? Even with listed buildings solutions can be found and must be found. It is in the interest of justice.
In my life, I have to overcome challenges and be resilient. I founded
@BDABarOrg
in order to help the next generation of disabled barristers and make the profession more accessible and inclusive; if you want to be a barrister, no one can tell you the opposite!
Good luck to those applying for pupillage! It is a long and stressful process and so remember to take breaks and ask for support!
@BDABarOrg
will also be hosting an event to discuss how to draft applications. More details will be announced soon!
Receiving comments like “we will allow you to select your own clothes” when I am explaining that my life includes attending formal events are the type of comments where I never had anticipated to hear in 2022. Change in attitudes is urgently required.
I can’t believe that
@BDABarOrg
Launch is in 2 days & I can’t believe that everything started from a tweet that I (a disabled immigrant aspiring barrister) made after a frustrating experience at the Bar! Now…198 people have supported to us by registering to attend our Launch!
Thank you everyone who attended (in-person or remotely) the launch of our Two-Way Mentorship Scheme! Special thanks though to
@PriorQc
and
@ChrisWBarrister
as well as my colleague
@AFCJupes
! More exciting things will come soon!
Excited to announce that I have accepted an offer to volunteer as a Legal Researcher at
@intervenepro
. This organisation aims to offer representation & advice to prisoners facing injustices. I am looking forward to contributing to the research that this organisation is producing.
Do I have a lots of studying to do ? YES. Do I just get breaks every 10 minutes to go and cuddle and take pictures of Lulu? YES. Conclusion: A puppy is the best and strongest distraction from uni work 😊😂
#llm
#barristerinthemaking
#puppy
When
@BDABarOrg
launched in January 2022, I never thought that 10 months later we would be shortlisted for Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year (In Partnership with
@thebarcouncil
) at the
@WeAreAdvocate
Pro Bono Awards 2022! Thank you everyone for your support
#IAmBDABar
⚡SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEMENT!⚡
We are SO EXCITED to announce our shortlist for the 2022
#BarProBonoAwards
!
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees who have gone above & beyond in their
#probono
work.
MEET OUR SHORTLIST🔽
The reality of using a powered wheelchair due to my disability includes calling up 25 taxi companies and none of them having wheelchair accessible vehicles. Is this frustrating? Yes! Do I feel discriminated and that my travel choices as well as freedom being limited? YES!
Today I became a
@UCLLaws
alumni 👩🎓 During my LLM in Human Rights Law, I learned the following: a) challenging yourself academically gives you the opportunity to improve & explore new interests, & b) having a support network is key to excel! Next Chapter: Becoming a Barrister!
I am really proud to be Chairing the “Pupillage: Mentoring & Disability” event on behalf of
@BDABarOrg
tomorrow! 😊 If you want to find more about pupillage applications and why mentorship is invaluable (for both mentees & mentors), then register here:
Welcome to our family little Lulu 🥰 thank you everyone who donated to get this little beautiful creature home so she can eventually become my assistant dog🥰