Barristers

Tom Farr

Tom Farr

Work Department

Criminal

Position

Tom prosecutes and defends in cases covering the full spectrum of criminal offences, and has experience in cases involving serious sexual offences, homicide, serious violence, and organised crime. He is a RASSO-approved prosecutor, and much of his workload involves serious sexual offences [including child complainants and defendants] and domestic violence. Tom has also appeared, and had success, in the Court of Appeal.

Prior to coming to the Bar, he was an established law-reform specialist working in the non-profit sector as the Head of Legal Advocacy for a national human rights and anti-sexual-exploitation charity. There, his role comprised of producing legal research and proposing reform of legislation and Government policy relating to sexual offences, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and violence against women and girls.

He has proposed legislative and policy reforms to the United Nations, the Law Commission, the Home Office, the Scottish Government, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and has been sought out to advise on drafting Government legislation, such as amendments to what is now the Nationality and Borders Act.

He has previously worked and advised on cases in the First-Tier Tribunal [SSCS], Magistrates’, High Court, Court of Appeal, and the European Court of Human Rights. He has been specifically referenced in Hansard as one of the individuals responsible for driving proposed amendments to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and is a published author and writer on the subject of the commercial sex trade and associated sexual offences. His writing has been reproduced internationally in Portuguese, French, and Spanish.

Tom’s extensive experience working with extremely vulnerable victims of trafficking and sexual offences prior to coming to the Bar has assisted him when dealing with clients – vulnerable or otherwise – from all walks of life, regardless of whether this is in a defence or prosecution capacity. He prides himself on being approachable, friendly, and committed to achieving excellent results in all the work he does.

Tom graduated first in his year in law school and holds a Master’s degree [Distinction] in Human Rights Law, with his thesis subsequently being published by the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation. He is a three-time law school scholar, and received a full scholarship to complete the Bar course. Prior to working in the legal industry, Tom was the Managing Director of an international music publicity and booking agency, which saw him negotiating with and on behalf of companies and artists from all across the world.

Memberships

RASSO-approved prosecutor

Human Rights Lawyers’ Association

Criminal Bar Association

Young Legal Aid Lawyers

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Centre for Women’s Justice Legal Reference Panel

Education

Barrister Training Course – 2020/21

LLM Human Rights Law (Distinction, 1st in year) – 2019/20

Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction) – 2019

BA (Hons) Philosophy – 2009/12

Scholarships/ Prizes

Middle Temple Gardiner Scholar 2020

BPP Law School Advocacy Scholar 2020

BPP Law School Career Commitment Scholar 2020

Mentions

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