Barristers

Sophie Howard

Sophie Howard

St John's Chambers, South West

Work Department

Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, and Inquests

Career

Call : 2016

Sophie specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquest work.

She acts for claimants and defendants in a variety of personal injury cases including RTA claims, employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, fraud and credit hire. Sophie is an experienced trial advocate and is regularly in court for all types of interim hearings and trials across all tracks. She also drafts pleadings and advises in writing for both defendants and claimants. Sophie is happy to consider instructions on a CFA.

Sophie accepts instructions for claimants and defendants in clinical negligence work. Sophie drafts pleadings and advises on quantum in all areas of medicine including dental negligence, delayed diagnosis of cancer and alleged negligence in cardiac surgery.

Sophie has an interest in inquest work and accepts instructions to represent interested persons at inquests and pre-inquest review hearings. Sophie is developing her practice in professional regulation in a medical setting.

She also has an interest in professional negligence cases brought against legal professionals in the personal injury context.

Sophie is a member of the Attorney General’s Junior-Junior Scheme.

She is Lincoln’s Inn’s junior representative for the Western Circuit and a co-opted Bar Representation Committee member. Sophie also represents Hall on Lincoln’s Inn’s Chapel Committee.

Background

Sophie joined Chambers in May 2022 following a specialist third six pupillage under the supervision of Jimmy Barber. Sophie successfully completed a common law pupillage in London before joining Chambers. Prior to pupillage, Sophie worked in professional indemnity and insurance litigation at a leading international law firm. Sophie also has experience working for the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Memberships

Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA) Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA) Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL) Court of Protection Bar Association (CPBA)

Education

University of the West of England – BPTC (Very Competent) University of Exeter – LLM International Human Rights Law (Distinction) Commendation for academic achievement from the University of Exeter Cardiff University – LLB Law and French (Hons) 2.1 Sir Geoffrey Nice Foundation Bursary, Lincoln’s Inn Lord Denning Scholarship and Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn