"Do you want to be a silk? Or become a Judge?" - Redefining the background of the barrister with Denise Breen-Lawton KC

In this episode, Orlagh sits down with joint Head of Chambers at St Pauls Chambers, Denise Breen-Lawton KC. Called to the Bar in 2000, Denise is an experienced criminal barrister, who specialises in terrorism, homicide and organised crime cases. She is first ever female Head of Chambers at St Pauls and the first criminal silk to come from the set. Unlike most practising barristers, Denise's life at the Bar didn't begin until later in her career, when she took a leap of faith from her business and marketing role to the Bar course. Since her introduction, she has been set on changing the industry's status quo. In this conversation, Denise discusses changing etiquette at the Bar, how family can alter attitudes towards criminal work and the industry's role in creating opportunity for undiscovered talent.