Business and pleasure
Relatives and friends will know all about the work you do. They will hear about your cases from colleagues or solicitors. They may read about them in the newspapers. Should you let them come and watch you?
^ TOPTeenage Debating
When I was a teenager I did a lot of debating and public speaking including competitions. I never let family come and watch me. I did not want any distractions from the task in hand. If there was a 1% risk that I would be thinking about what they were thinking rather than the job I was supposed to be doing, it was not worth it.
The only speech during this time which my parents ever heard was one at the school open day where a large hall had been divided into two, using a screen . By looking at the exhibition on the other side of the screen, they were able to hear my speech. Whilst it meant that they were standing next to two boys who were discussing what an arrogant so-and-so that the speaker was, at least they got to hear my speech.
^ TOPException to prove the rule
I was always against having family or friends come to court. I only ever succumbed once.
I was a relatively junior barrister. My girlfriend was a university student, studying a branch of medicine. She was curious to see me in court and had asked on a number of occasions if she could come along and watch. I had always said no.
On this particular day I was due to appear at a nearby court that was a fairly quick and easy drive away. It was a very easy case. It was only likely to last a few minutes, and was something that you would really have to try hard to get wrong. I wasn't listed (due to appear) until 11 o'clock in the morning. We were lounging around in bed before I went to court and I thought, what the hell, if I'm ever going to let her see a case that must be the one.
^ TOPRegret
I regretted my decision as soon as we got there. My girlfriend was an absolutely stunning blonde, of the "turn all heads in a room when walking in" variety. That was fine going into a bar or a nightclub, not so fine going into a court room. Sometimes judges will ask the usher to find out who a particular person in court is. (It might be a relative of one of the parties, it might be someone nothing to do with the case, but judges being human beings can be curious). I dreaded the question being asked, the judge finding out that she was there in her capacity as my girlfriend, and deciding that I was totally unprofessional. (Showing off to a girl rather than concentrating on the case? Fitting a court appearance around my social life?).
^ TOPDistracting
The question was never asked, but the whole thing was distracting. Fortunately the work I had to do was so simple that being distracted couldn't make any difference. As she said afterwards, "now I know why you were willing to let me come". However the whole thing had made my mind up. Never take partner, friend or relative to court. Never mix business with pleasure. For court appearances, difficult or simple, only 100% will do.