Siven Watt, former Kalisher intern, wins prestigious scholarship
We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of a recent Kalisher Intern at JUSTICE, Siven Watt, who has been awarded one of Gray’s Inn’s most prestigious scholarships (the Prince of Wales Scholarship) as he embarks on his BPTC. Siven’s determination and talent speak for themselves: he has shared an account of his path to the criminal Bar, here:
‘My commitment to a career at the Bar stems from a long-held sense of injustice. Growing up in South Manchester during the 90s — when the city was widely dubbed “Gunchester” — exposed me to the realities of the justice system and state impunity. One of the few men in my very big family not to have been incarcerated, I often overheard “adult kitchen talk” about mysterious characters — barristers — who helped exact justice and accountability. My teens were challenging: several school exclusions for being “too outspoken”; coming out as gay aged 15 and being shunned by loved ones, friends and the community. It opened my eyes to discrimination and left me feeling somewhat voiceless. But I learned to advocate for my own rights or face injustice.
Kalisher has propelled me at speeds and to places that were unimaginable two years ago. A scholarship to intern at JUSTICE — working on Racial Disparity in Youth Justice — opened up the floodgates to opportunities. I marshalled HHJ Rafferty QC at the Old Bailey, spoke at high schools alongside senior judges, and worked with senior practitioners to deliver legal workshops in prisons to those serving life sentences. I now work as JUSTICE’s Senior Legal Fellow, leading on implementation work for the When Things Go Wrong report and co-leading a project on parole. I also write the Early Edition, a daily guide to U.S. national security developments for Just Security, part of the Reiss Center on Law and Security. These have honed my research and drafting; built my confidence to speak with practitioners on complex legal issues; and expanded my professional network.
I still have challenges ahead — securing pupillage, tenancy and staying the course — but the above votes of confidence, as well as receiving the Gray’s Inn Prince of Wales scholarship, make the career feel more attainable than ever before’.