Who needs legal directories?
The much-awaited Hottest Junior Barristers List 2016 is finally here, and it’s the commercial barristers that have come out on top.
The brainchild of the self-proclaimed ‘Hottie Experts’, the list features 10 of the country’s hottest newly qualified barristers — and two honourable mentions — all of less than five years call.
The list debuted in 2013, with the now Amal Clooney scoring first place long before she hooked up with George. Despite attracting controversy along the way, the list pushed through and the 2016 edition is now here.
Competition, according to the Hottie Experts — a journalist and an art historian — was stiff, with nominations apparently pouring in from across the bar. But it’s now been revealed that commercial set rookies dominate the top ranks.
Harriet Ter-Berg — a barrister at London-based commercial chambers Hardwicke — came out on top in the girls’ category. Not only is she a “goddess”, it’s also been pointed out that Ter-Berg is a genius: she boasts a first class law degree from Oxford, an award for best performance in — arguably four of the most horrendous law modules — contract law, tort law, land law and trusts, and was the lucky recipient of the Lincoln’s Inn Hardwicke Entrance Award.
And it’s Maitland’s Ed Granger that took the crown in the boys’ category. Qualifying into the commercial set in October 2015, the Cambridge grad’s new title as hottest junior barrister is just yet another achievement to add to his staggering collection of prizes and awards.
Two more commercial barristers snatched second place in both the male and female categories: Claudia Renton, from Essex Court Chambers, and pupil Chris de Beneducci from 4 New Square.
Legal aid lawyers do feature on the annual list, just a little lower down than the commercial big shots. Criminal barristers Abimbola Johnson and Hannah Evans took third and fourth place respectively in the girls’ category, with family law specialist Lily Mottahedan coming in fifth place. It’s human rights specialist Ifeanyi Odogwu in fourth place out of the boys, with his fellow Garden Court barrister Paul Clark given an honorary mention in the ‘sophomore class’ section.
The other barristers to feature are Littleton‘s Jamie Susskind and St John’s James Hughes, with Guildhall’s Suzanne Staunton also receiving an honourable mention.
The full 2016 Barrister Hottie List is here.