Park Square Barristers

Crime, Family

Crime

Emily Jo Willis has successfully completed her pupillage under the supervision of Dr Christopher Wood and became a tenant at Park Square Barristers in 2025.

Emily Jo regularly prosecutes and defends a variety of matters from the Youth Court, Magistrates Court and Crown Court. Her Crown Court experience ranges from sentencing hearings, bail applications and appeals across a wide range of offences. In the Magistrates Court she has successfully represented prosecution and defence on numerous occasions in trial.

Prior to obtaining pupillage, Emily Jo obtained several mini-pupillages, where she was provided with invaluable exposure to various aspects of the judicial system, such as conferences, bail applications, and witness handling. She gained a vast amount of transferable skills and knowledge from chambers across the North-Eastern Circuit. 

Emily Jo's excellent work experience proved useful during her time at Northumbria University. Emily Jo graduated with a Master's in law and received a Distinction in the Bar Practice Course. She excelled in advocacy, particularly in her examination-in-chief module, 'Criminal Professional Practice'. Demonstrating professionalism and confidence through the use of appropriate questions.

Children law

Emily Jo Willis successfully completed her pupillage under the supervision of Dr Christopher Wood and became a tenant in September 2025.

Throughout her pupillage, Emily Jo has developed her family practice in both public and private proceedings representing a range of clients in hearings involving urgent matters, domestic abuse and forced marriages.

During her first six, Emily Jo has shadowed barristers in fact-findings, final hearings and interim care orders. These cases included neglect, non-accidental injuries and the need to challenge expert evidence.

Emily Jo also undertook marshalling at Newcastle Civil and County Court. Emily Jo gained invaluable insight from the bench into judicial decision-making, which influences her advocacy. The experience allowed her to gain advice from current Judges on Circuit.

Before commencing pupillage Emily Jo worked as a Court Clerk in the family courts on the North Eastern Circuit. Due to this, Emily Jo has developed excellent insight into family court process and procedure. Whilst working as a clerk, Emily Jo encountered and assisted vulnerable parties and litigants in person. Her confident and approachable manner proved essential when advising and supporting individuals through the varying stages of family proceedings.

2021 - Financial Assistant at Sodexo, NUFC

2023 - Court Clerk for HMCTS

2024 - Pupil Barrister at Park Square Barristers, Teesside

2025 - Tenant at Park Square Barristers, Teesside

2022 - University of Sunderland, Batchelor of Law Degree

2023 - Northumbria University, Masters in Law

2023 - Northumbria University, Bar Practice Course, Distinction