Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald was awarded the Peter Birks Memorial Scholarship in 2018-19
Name: Ian McDonald
College: Brasenose College
Scholarship: Peter Birks Memorial Scholarship
Summary of yourself:
Ian studied the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at Balliol College, graduating with a Distinction in 2016, before successfully completing pupillage at 4 New Square Chambers in Lincoln’s Inn, London, where he is now a junior tenant. Alongside his practice at the commercial Bar, he is studying part-time for a DPhil in Law under the supervision of Professor Andrew Dickinson.
What are your career ambitions?
At the moment, my primary professional goal is to build my practice and properly establish myself as a barrister. It has been a long (but enjoyable) road to the Bar, and I am determined to give it my all. I do not think that I will ever be able to leave academia behind altogether, though, so I also hope to keep on writing about, and teaching, conflict of laws, for as long as people are prepared to listen to me!
What do you enjoy most about studying law in Oxford?
The sheer intellectual prowess that the Faculty of Law boasts and the quality of teaching that comes with that are what make Oxford stand out for me. When I decided that I wanted to write a thesis on the conflict of laws, the academic home of the likes of Professor Dickinson and Professor Adrian Briggs was the obvious choice. More generally, Oxford is just a magical place in which to spend time reading, thinking, and writing about law. Lord Sumption once described it, in an interview, as a city which evokes something bigger than itself, and I certainly feel that too.
What do you find most challenging about your programme?
Combining studying part-time for a DPhil with a full-time career as a barrister is definitely a challenge. It is one that I took on with both eyes open, though, and my supervisor at Oxford and my clerks and colleagues in Chambers are all very supportive, which makes a big difference. As a research student I have also had to get used to not having the parameters of an Undergraduate or Master’s Degree – or indeed a brief from instructing solicitors! – within which to operate, but it is a new way of working that I am very much enjoying.
What do you find most rewarding about your programme?
Having the opportunity to meet so regularly with Professor Dickinson, and to be able to discuss the conflict of laws with him and have him read and comment upon my work, is obviously a real privilege. I also love catching up with my fellow students – some of whom I know from our time together on the BCL – at CLRM seminars and the like, and bouncing ideas around and finding out how their theses are coming along.
Are you involved with any projects or societies?
For now, and given that my practice and my home are in London, I am mainly concentrating on my DPhil itself. In the not too distant future, however, I intend to spend extended periods of time in Oxford, at which point I plan on taking advantage of such opportunities. That said, I am already doing some teaching in Oxford, both on the BCL and to visiting students, and I have also – perhaps ill-advisedly, at my age – thrown myself back into college rugby, which is an excellent release.
What advice would you give to a new or prospective student?
It is becoming something of a cliched answer, I fear, but I would urge any prospective student who is worried that Oxford might somehow not be for them to spend time in the city and, if still in any doubt, simply to go for it and apply. You will soon find, as I did, that it is a wonderful place to live and learn, and that there are all kinds of people from many walks of life here. As for new students, whilst there is no getting around the workload and the long hours in the libraries (try them all, would be my advice – the Taylorian is a personal favourite), I would also recommend getting involved in as much extracurricular activity as possible, whether law-related or not – it is a lot of fun, and you will make some great friends along the way.