Fran joins our leading Chancery and Commercial team as a pupil under the supervision of Annie Sampson.

Prior to pupillage, Fran worked as a paralegal for a Bristol law firm, litigating a residential landlord and tenant caseload. She drafted advice for clients and prepared all aspects of their claims up to trial. Fran also volunteered for the Legal Advocacy Support Project (‘LASP’) at the Bristol Law Centre, representing individuals appealing their Personal Independence Payment (‘PIP’) decision to the Social Security Tribunal. She often drafted grounds of appeal and represented clients in court, both in-person and remotely.

She has also volunteered with Advocate, formerly the Bar Pro-Bono Unit, preparing cases for work by counsel.

Fran completed her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature at Oxford and an MPhil in Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge. After graduating she worked in marketing for a short while within the education sector before retraining in law. Having grown up in the South West, Fran is excited to build her career in Bristol whilst learning from leading barristers and seeing their advocacy first-hand.

Fran enjoys running, and is currently training for several half-marathons to fundraise in aid of Cancer Research. Besides running, Fran enjoys painting, baking and reading. The classics, fantasy, and historical fiction are her favourites.

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  • Qualifications & awards:

    • Bar Practice Course (Outstanding), University of Law, Bristol
    • Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction), University of the West of England
    • MPhil Medieval and Renaissance Literature, Girton College, University of Cambridge
    • BA English Language and Literature, Christ Church, University of Oxford

    Awards:

    • Winner, Gray’s Inn Moot, 2023
    • Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement, The University of Law, 2022.
    • George Miles Prize for Best Performance on the GDL, UWE, 2022.
    • Uthwatt BPC Scholarship, Gray’s Inn, 2022.
    • Ellice Aylmer GDL Scholarship, Gray’s Inn, 2021.

  • Professional memberships:

    • Member of Gray’s Inn