You might have assumed that the title of this post is something to do with Fifty Shades of Grey, or one of the many other questionable publications advertised at train stations. However, thankfully this is instead all about the curious relationship betwixt barrister and clerk.

It is an extremely complex symbiotic partnership that transcends the normal employee and employer relationship. It is shrouded in mystery to all but the few who actually see it up close. I have in the past tried to explain it to friends, family and to random blokes in the pub by referring to the class sketch from the Frost Report. It’s not a perfect analogy, but there is a definite class and status theme which runs, like a floppy faithful hound, through the barrister/clerk double act.