For the majority of the population, the ability to use our voices every day is a given privilege, utilised to communicate with others in all areas of our lives. But what happens when you find yourself losing your voice? How does it affect your day-to-day life, career, and livelihood?

Narita Bahra KC  recently found herself in this situation. In this blog, she reflects on her experience.

I Lost My Voice In The Middle Of A Serious Crime Trial

“Recently I lost my voice in the middle of a serious crime trial. Until that point I had never truly appreciated how precious a voice is for any lawyer.

I was fortunate at the time I was working alongside Liz Prosser, a qualified intermediary, who provided welcome advice.”

This event was a reminder that all lawyers must make time for their personal well-being, otherwise they cannot represent their clients to the best of their ability.”

Liz has kindly prepared a voice care leaflet (found below) which all advocates should take heed of.”

Taking Care of Your Voice: A Crucial Asset for Advocates in Court

Your voice is an essential instrument for lawyers representing clients in court. A strong, healthy voice allows you to deliver compelling arguments
and effectively represent your clients. Conversely, voice problems can have significant consequences: as well as impacting your ability to represent your client to best effect, it can also seriously affect your stress levels and your psychological wellbeing, in an environment where you will already be operating under pressure. No
voice, no work, no income.

Protecting Your Vocal Health

As a court-approved intermediary with a professional background in speech and language therapy, I have witnessed first-hand the
challenges barristers face in maintaining vocal health. After working for over 25 years as a speech and language therapist, instinctively I tend to assess all aspects of communication, including the voices I hear in court proceedings. I have witnessed numerous cases over the years where barristers have suffered in terms of their vocal health, and have either lost their voices in court, or lost their vocal power and ended up with very weak voices. The consequences can be devastating so that cases have collapsed, or had to be re-listed, or there have been significant delays to court proceedings whilst other barristers are sourced.

Here are some key factors to consider:

• Vocal Strain: Extended courtroom arguments, background noise, and the need to project your voice can lead to overuse.
• Hydration: Dehydration can negatively impact vocal quality.
• Lifestyle Habits: Stress, poor sleep, and medication can contribute to voice issues.
• Vocal Warm-up: Proper vocal preparation before speaking is crucial.
• Posture: Maintaining good posture optimises vocal performance.
• Medication/hormonal changes also play a role in voice health.

Simple Steps to protect your voice are listed here:

By implementing these simple strategies, you can significantly improve your vocal health:

• Hydrate Consistently: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain vocal fold lubrication.
• Understand Your Voice: Learn what vocal techniques work best for you and identify habits that may be causing strain. As a general rule, try not to clear your voice or cough before speaking.
• Delegate Wisely: KC’s, make use of your juniors where possible, or technology when appropriate to reduce your vocal workload.
• Maintain Good Posture: Stand with relaxed shoulders and open body language for optimal vocal projection.

Additional Resources

For further information on vocal health, I recommend visiting the British Voice Association website, which offers free downloadable resources.

Future Resources

As part of The Intermediary Cooperative’s social enterprise initiative, we are in the course of developing a comprehensive presentation on voice disorders specifically tailored to barristers and legal professionals. This presentation will be available on The Intermediary Cooperative website soon.