We are delighted to announce that Amabel Kerr, Elisenda Mitchell, Heidi Burrows & Michaela Onuchukwu have all completed their 1st Six months of pupillage and now have their rights of audience. They can now accept instructions.
Amabel, Elisenda and Michaela are undertaking criminal pupillages and Heidi is undertaking a family pupillage. Amabel, Elisenda, Michaela and Heidi all bring a huge amount of experience and knowledge prior to commencing pupillage and we know they will utilise this experience in their second-six and beyond.
Amabel Kerr
Prior to commencing pupillage, Amabel volunteered with Amicus ALJ, assisting the London office with casework concerning mitigation for death row inmates in the United States. Prior to this, she interned in the office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner where she produced a report detailing the UK’s legal obligations towards victims of slavery and trafficking and recommendations as to how best to comply with these obligations.
Amabel has also volunteered with ALJP, researching and identifying war crimes alleged to have been committed during the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Elisenda Mitchell
Prior to starting pupillage, Elisenda was a paralegal at Pury Erskine Solicitors where she assisted with a broad range of criminal defence, regulatory and military proceedings.
From preparing cases for trial in the Crown Court, she gained considerable experience of cases involving serious violence and sexual offences.
Elisenda previously worked for an MP where she undertook a variety of roles, including successfully challenging negative coronavirus grant decisions on behalf of local businesses. Elisenda has also worked for a Police and Crime Commissioner where she gained extensive knowledge of the working practices of the police.
Michaela Onuchukwu
Before commencing pupillage, Michaela worked as a paralegal in Professional Discipline and Regulatory law at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and as a screening case officer at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). During her time at the RCN, she handled a substantial caseload of substantive order review cases and prepared them for hearings on behalf of RCN members.
At the NMC, Michaela investigated referrals from statutory organisations and the public and conducted evidence-based risk assessments to determine whether interim orders should be imposed on registrants. Her experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of professional discipline and regulatory matters.
Prior to this, Michaela worked as a paralegal at various criminal defence firms, including working as sole paralegal within the Sexual Offences department at ITN Solicitors. She has gained significant experience in Magistrates' and Crown Court cases, ranging from driving offences to more serious violent offences.
Heidi Burrows
Prior to commencing pupillage, Heidi worked as a senior fee earner at the UK’s first fertility law firm; NGA Law. In this role, Heidi was supervised by the UK’s leading surrogacy lawyer; Natalie Gamble, and gained considerable experience working with modern families in all areas of family law.
She specialised in UK and international surrogacy but also worked on child arrangement matters, declaration of parentage cases, known donor/co-parenting cases and relocation disputes.
Heidi has also worked in a leading Legal 500 London legal aid firm, where she managed a caseload predominately made up of care proceedings, private children matters, and matrimonial finances.
A warm welcome from all of us at 5SAH Chambers.
