Getting wiggy with it: The millennial ‘TikTok barristers’ ruffling feathers with their frivolous court dance videos

It is one of the most revered and respected historical professions, attracting the most serious and intellectual people from the highest echelons of society into a secret world of wigs and robes.

But the legal fraternity has lately been shaken by an unseemly brawl; Some young lawyers are apparently trying to use the mystique surrounding their profession to build social media audiences on TikTok and Instagram.

And older lawyers are outraged at what they see as the frivolity of funny or flashy videos posted by some of their younger colleagues who they think want to combine their legal work with a second career as influencers.

An investigation by the Daily Mail has uncovered a number of young lawyers taking part in the controversial trend.

The lawyer, a former Broadway star, took a smiling selfie while inappropriately discussing his work on a murder case.

Others filmed themselves dressing up in wigs and gowns.

Much of this content has angered and ‘disgusted’ some senior legal professionals, prompting at least one to lodge a complaint with the industry watchdog, the Bar Standards Board.

A senior barrister told The Mail: ‘The prevalence of social media in young people’s lives has led younger generations to think it is acceptable to behave this way when called to the bar, but it is not.

Multilingual lawyer Ife Thompson, who fronts The Black British English Podcast when she’s not practicing law, is also among those fueling the unrest.

‘In fact, it is highly inappropriate to try to reconcile the simple frivolity you see on social media with the dignity demanded by the profession.

‘They have chosen a career that is supposed to be as vocational as entering the priesthood, and that is completely incompatible with performance clowning for clicks.’

Among those posting regularly is Fleur Houdijk, who in her early career as an actress performed on Broadway with Spider-Man star Tom Holland and Game of Thrones star Dean Charles Chapman.

Ms Houdijk, now a tenant solicitor at Lamb Building Chambers specializing in family and criminal law, posted a selfie from a lift inside London’s Central Criminal Court, popularly known as the Old Bailey, on her personal Instagram story where she has 6,000 followers.

The photo, titled ‘Murder Trial at the Old Bailey’ and accompanied by a green tick emoji, is believed to have been taken on February 18.

It is unclear which hearing he is referring to.

It was this post that led several lawyers to lodge formal complaints with the Bar Standards Board, but it appears this was not approved.

Ms. Houdijk is not the only lawyer to find an outlet on TikTok; where dozens of “day in the life” videos are uploaded, often by young lawyers going through their student years; it’s a year-long training period in which aspiring lawyers follow a supervisor and learn the ropes of the trade.

Among them is Nina Reinach, who is currently a member of Bedford Row Chambers 33 and has hundreds of thousands of views and 1,200 followers on her TikTok page ‘Nina.bar.none’.

While a student, he posted a video online of himself speaking at a Crown Court bail application hearing to get his client out of custody.

Ms Reinach also filmed her casework with her laptop and posted videos of herself walking into the Royal Courts of Justice and waving in the mirror at Winchester Crown Court in her wig and dress.

Another legal source said the content ‘summarized the attitude’ of young lawyers.

Multilingual lawyer Ife Thompson, who fronts The Black British English Podcast when she’s not practicing law, is also among those fueling the unrest.

In an extended TikTok, she wears a wig and robe and speaks directly to the camera, repeating the phrase “I’m a radical black female lawyer” and then adding phrases like “Of course I’ll call out racism or police brutality.”

Another shows her and a colleague dancing in their wigs and dresses to Afrobeat star Demi Mulla’s ‘Ms Perfect’; The title says they are in the ‘locker room’, that is, on the court.

Ms Thompson works at Nexus Chambers. The group is chaired by renowned human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, who represents the families of Grenfell Tower victims.

Criminal lawyer Emin Kandola, who spoke in front of the Royal Court of Justice while on strike with hundreds of lawyers in 2022, published a TikTok of himself changing his robe.

Attorneys on this article were approached for comment.

Opinions praised Ms Houdijk, who was called to the Bar in 2021, stating that she ‘always has the client’s best interests at heart and aims to achieve the best possible outcome’.

In one of the extended TikTok videos, Ms Thompson wears a wig and gown and speaks directly to the camera, repeating the phrase ‘I am a radical black female lawyer’

While a student, Ms Reinach posted a video of herself speaking at an online Crown Court bail application hearing to release her client from custody

Ms Reinach also posted videos of herself walking through the Royal Courts of Justice and waving in the mirror at Winchester Crown Court in her wig and dress.

Content ‘summarizes attitude’ of young lawyers, legal source says

But a disapproving colleague said: ‘This photo was incredibly misjudged. I couldn’t believe he shared this publicly.

‘[There is] just the feeling that someone is getting into a very serious situation while seeking social media attention like a teenager.

‘Standards have generally been falling for some time and some of the new solicitors I work with are the most incompetent I have ever encountered.’

Filming and photography around the courthouse is prohibited.

Courts in England and Wales have strong warnings against photographing or recording proceedings, displayed on clear signs in court buildings.

A spokesman for the Bar Standards Board said: ‘The BSB does not comment on whether it has received any information regarding potential misconduct by a barrister, regardless of how any information comes to our attention.

‘Such matters are dealt with in accordance with the procedures detailed on our website. These procedures are generally conducted in secret unless they result in being listed for a Disciplinary Tribunal hearing.

‘Such lists are published on the Bar Courts and Trial Service website and hearings are held in public.’