‘My Lord my learned pupil master is snowbound in Highgate.’ I was addressing an Old Bailey judge and uttering my first ever words spoken in a court before I had even finished my first six pupillage. Our client was up for a shooting. The judge allowed me to hold the fort said he was about to start the summing up and added kindly ‘Do feel free to interrupt and correct me if needed.’ Fortunately I didn’t need to.’
Judge Greg Sinfield president of the First-tier Tax Tribunal is telling me about turning points in his legal career. ‘I had wanted to be a criminal advocate from age eight or nine. It was watching Crown Court that did it.’ Born in Luton he was the first person in his family to stay at school beyond...
