ICC Judge and Durham Alumnus Mark Mullen hosts Durham Law Students for a unique marshalling opportunity in February 2026.

16 March 2026

Mark Mullen hosts Durham Law Students for Marshalling Opportunity

In February, third year Law Students Julia Berti and Ione Banks attended a unique marshalling opportunity, kindly arranged by ICC Judge Mark Mullen.

Judge Mullen, an alumnus of Van Mildert College, was called to the Bar in 2001 by Lincoln’s Inn and has served as an Insolvency and Companies Court Judge since 2018.

Julia shadowed Judge Mullen from Monday 9^th to Wednesday 11^th, observing the responsibilities which he, and the barristers who argued before him, discharged each day. Ione joined Judge Mullen shortly after on Thursday 19^th and Friday 20^th February, sitting on the emergency applications list.

In offering these opportunities, Judge Mullen and Durham Law School sought to open the door for those without existing legal connections, who might otherwise have been unable to consider a career at the Bar.

On completing the opportunity, Julia Berti reflected:

“I must begin by thanking Judge Mullen, first for his time and second for his insight. The opportunity to shadow any judge would doubtless have been informative, however with Judge Mullen I gained not only this, but also the chance to speak extensively with a learned legal professional who was extremely patient in listening to my many questions and equally transparent when answering them. Our discussions ranged from largely theoretical and academic considerations on the nature and application of Company Law, to more practical advice concerning career trajectories and the correct approach to prepare for future pupilage applications. In addition to my gratitude to Judge Mullen, I would also like to thank Associate Professor Lana Ashby and our Law School Alumni Association for arranging the opportunity”.

Ione Banks also commented:

“I, too, am highly grateful to Judge Mullen and Lana Ashby for this opportunity; this was my formative insight into life at the Bar, and an incredible opportunity to witness a range of advocacy styles - including that of experienced Silks - which has expertly informed my own approach. The atmosphere of the legal quarters alone was invaluable, only deepening my dedication to this field. Judge Mullen was a wonderful superior to shadow, generously offering insights that both settled my nerves and sparked my curiosity. I would passionately encourage any student with an interest to apply.”

Durham Law School First Generation Scholars Lead, Associate Professor Lana Ashby added:

“My intention in arranging this opportunity with Judge Mullen was to provide our undergraduate student community with meaningful legal experience, specifically targeted toward students from backgrounds that often face additional barriers to entering the legal profession. Initiatives of this nature are essential in addressing structural barriers and in fostering a more inclusive and equitable professional landscape. We, at Durham Law School, owe a sincere debt of gratitude to Judge Mullen for his generosity in giving his time and expertise. We are equally thankful to the members of the Durham Law School Alumni Association, whose continued commitment plays a vital role in enriching the academic and professional development of our current students.”

Judge Mullen also reflected on the experience:

“I was very pleased to be able to host two Durham students in February. It’s important that both the legal profession and the judiciary continue to attract people from a range of backgrounds, and I think that experiences like this can help demystify the legal world for aspiring lawyers. I hope that the opportunity allowed Julia and Ione to gain an insight into how court proceedings work in practice and strengthened their interest in a career in law. It was a pleasure to meet students who are enthusiastic about the law as an academic study and a future profession.”