Old Hymerian (1999- 2009) Connie Purdy came to talk with our students and share her career journey to her current role as Barrister & Head of Private Law, Children Team at Spire Barristers. 

Connie regularly appears in public and private law children matters and she is also instructed in domestic violence injunction proceedings. Connie has undertaken an array of hearings from ex parte applications for non-molestation and occupation orders to lengthy contested finding of fact and final hearings. Before studying law, Connie read Financial Mathematics at Newcastle University. Thereafter, she completed the GDL at the University of Law and was awarded a Dean’s Award Scholarship for the BPTC at Northumbria University. Whilst at the latter, Connie undertook pro bono family law cases at their Student Law Office and won an international human rights internship a non-profit organisation, Lawyers Without Borders, in the USA. Upon her return to the UK, Connie worked as a County Court Advocate on the North Eastern Circuit and a parliamentary assistant to the Rt Hon Alan Johnson (then MP) at the House of Commons. She then joined a solicitors’ firm to work as a family law paralegal.

Prior to joining Chambers, Connie successfully completed a mixed family and criminal law pupillage. During the same, Connie prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court and was regularly instructed by defence solicitors for both Magistrates’ and Crown Court hearings. She advised and represented Defendants in respect of serious offences including knife point robbery and GBH.

Our students were delighted to hear about Connie's journey and the route she took to becoming a Barrister after Hymers. Connie answered questions about the varying types of specialism in law and shared valuable insights in to work experience. She shared her own experience of changing from her original plan to follow a Medical route after her A levels. Connie spoke fondly of her time at Hymers and her memories of her former teachers, including Mr Prescott and friends that she made for life at Hymers.

Thank you to Connie for her gifting her valuable time to chat to our next generation of Barrister perhaps!