Michaela Onuchukwu > Chambers of David Josse KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Michaela Onuchukwu

02073325400 MichaelaOnuchukwu@5sah.co.uk

Work Department

Michaela is a first-six pupil who is currently supervised by Louisa Collins.

Position

Michaela began her pupillage in October 2023 and is currently supervised by Louisa Collins. Louisa is a barrister specialising in extradition, international crime and human rights law. Michaela is observing and assisting in various matters across Chambers’ practice areas.

Before commencing pupillage, Michaela worked as a paralegal in Professional Discipline and Regulatory law at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and as a screening case officer at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

During her time at the RCN, she handled a substantial caseload of substantive order review cases and prepared them for hearings on behalf of RCN members. Michaela also supported the representation and defence of RCN members facing professional conduct proceedings brought by the NMC. She drafted written submissions, compiled bundles, and submitted them to the NMC and Fitness to Practise Committee panels.

At the NMC, Michaela investigated referrals from statutory organisations and the public and conducted evidence-based risk assessments to determine whether interim orders should be imposed on registrants. Her experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of professional discipline and regulatory matters.

Prior to this, Michaela worked as a paralegal at various criminal defence firms, including working as sole paralegal within the Sexual Offences department at ITN Solicitors. She has gained significant experience in Magistrates’ and Crown Court cases, ranging from driving offences to more serious violent offences. In addition to domestic criminal matters, Michaela has an interest in international criminal law and has worked as a defence intern conducting legal research for the Jovica Stanišić Defence Team at the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

Michaela has a strong interest in Youth Justice work having worked with Westminster City Council, where she served as a Referral Order Panel Member and volunteered with the Schools Consent Project by delivering workshops to schoolchildren on the law of consent and sexual offences. Additionally, she was appointed as an Independent Custody Visitor for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), primarily covering the Borough of Hillingdon and surrounding boroughs.

Memberships

• The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
• Women In Criminal Law (WICL).
• Financial Services Lawyers Association (FSLA).

Education

• BVS, City University
• LLM Public International Law and Human Rights, Utrecht University
• LLB (Hons) Law, The University of Kent

Awards/Scholarships

• Dutton Bursary Recipient, Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers
• Jules Thorn Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple