Camels and Mules

          A typical insight into the last day of a criminal trial, a junior barrister’s perspective:

            08:30 – Have a conference early in the morning to discuss the case. Point out some clever points that your leader can make in his closing speech.

            10:30 – Listen to the Judge recount every boring detail of the entire case thus far. Struggle to stay awake.

            12:30 – Listen to various barristers making earnest speeches apparently from the heart.

            12:48 – Listen to your leader use all of your own brilliant points.

            13:25 – Listen to your leader take the credit for all of your own brilliant points over lunch with the others. Sit in respectful silence.

            14:00 – Incredulously watch the jury acquit some of the Defendants but not others, apparently at random.

            15:24 – Sit in the robing room watching all the barristers count up their various spread bet earnings. They each bet on various different outcomes and events throughout the trial and settle at the end.

            16:02 – Get to the pub and watch all these grown men get drunk on self-satisfaction and wilful ignorance of reality or meaning.

            17:56 – Listen to your leader practically offer a dowry of camels and mules if you’ll take his step daughter.

 

            The worst thing is. I’m no better, deep inside. I feel myself hurtling towards these people on a runaway train of social conformity.