Tommy Seagull, a pupil at Garden Court Chambers, is the winner of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) Inaugural Chair's Essay Prize in the area of Equality and Diversity. The Essay is open only to under seven years' call barristers and pupils.
Tommy started his pupillage at Garden Court Chambers in October 2022. He intends to develop a broad practice in criminal defence, including related areas of public law and human rights. He also hopes to build expertise in cases involving modern slavery and human trafficking.
As a Kalisher Scholar, Tommy spent time in Florida assisting on death penalty cases at an Amicus-affiliated public defender office. He previously worked at a public inquiry and co-founded 'I Too Am Human', a campaign to tackle negative perceptions of refugees, by telling the stories of those he met at refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk. He has also represented parents appealing against their child’s permanent school exclusion and interned at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Geneva. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from St. Peter's College, University of Oxford and completed the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at City University.
Congratulations to fellow winners:
- International: Ylenia Rosso of Guernica 37 Chambers
- RASSO: Chloe Lennon of 4 Breams Building
Each winner will receive a prize of £3,000.