Lee Johnson

Senior Clerk


Overview

Lee Johnson has been a clerk at Serjeants’ Inn since 1981. He has a wealth of experience obtained over 40 years of clerking and expertise in all Chambers’ specialist areas of work, combined with an in-depth knowledge of the working systems of the courts and various tribunals in England and Wales. He is approachable and has a reputation for accessibility, integrity, and an understanding of the needs of the client.

“A lovely and down-to-earth senior clerk with a solution-orientated approach.”
Chambers & Partners

Winner of The John Carter Trophy – 1988 – awarded each year to the clerk who finished 1st in the Clerks’ Professional Exams

experience & Expertise

Lee is responsible for the overall clerking of Chambers. In particular he heads the team responsible for the day-to-day practice management for the King’s Counsel and senior juniors in Chambers.  This includes fee negotiations, work allocation and practice development.

He is recognised by clients for his approachability (day or night) and his adaptability in matching their expectations and requirements. He has a flexible approach to fee negotiation and is happy to discuss individual fee requirements which suit the needs of a particular individual or specific case.

Lee, with the two Joint Chief Executives Martin Dyke and Catherine Calder, is part of the Senior Management Team, which in tandem with the Heads of Chambers, implements Chambers’ strategic business plans.  This innovative structure and approach has seen Chambers presented with numerous awards and accolades.

recommendations

‘The inimitable Lee Johnson leads the team and deserves to be known as a legend in his own lifetime.’
The Legal 500

‘Lee Johnson stands out – he absolutely understands the role of a senior clerk and what his solicitor clients need. He is accessible, co-operative and pragmatic.’
The Legal 500

‘Lee Johnson doesn’t even need to give his name on the phone, his reputation precedes him.‘.’
The Legal 500

‘The clerking team are excellent and go above and beyond. Lee Johnson and Tom O’Connor in particular are very responsive and can usually find a solution to any dilemma we come across‘.’
The Legal 500

‘Lee Johnson is extremely resourceful in urgent and complex cases, moving anything he can to get the right barrister in place for your case, and keeping you updated every step of the way – an absolute professional‘.’
The Legal 500

‘Lee Johnson is the man for the job when the bullets start flying‘.’
The Legal 500

‘Senior clerk Lee Johnson ensures a smooth service from chambers‘.’
The Legal 500

‘Absolutely superb clerking team headed by the remarkable Lee Johnson, who is always such a pleasure to deal with, has a wealth of experience, and will always go above and beyond to assist. ‘.’
The Legal 500

“Lee Johnson is one of the best – a sensible leader who manages his barristers and their diaries really effectively”
Chambers & Partners

‘They are my go-to set. Lee Johnson (senior Clerk) can move heaven and earth to get things done. He is such a pleasure to deal with, always calm and reassuring.’
The Legal 500

‘Uniformly excellent service from Lee Johnson and his clerking team.’
The Legal 500

‘Always professional, personable and accommodating – he is very adept at matching needs with skills.’
The Legal 500

‘Well run and efficient. Lee Johnson is particular is organised, friendly and helpful.’
The Legal 500

“I have been extremely impressed with Lee Johnson: his client service is brilliant. He is very organised, very responsive and builds a strong relationship with instructing solicitors.”
Chambers & Partners

“The service and clerking is very good, especially Lee Johnson who is always willing to assist and who goes the extra mile.”
Chambers & Partners

“The senior clerk, Lee Johnson, leads the team brilliantly. He’s a fantastic clerk and he has a real understanding of the cases and the needs of the instructing solicitors. He will go to the ends of the earth to make sure what we need to happen, happens.”
Chambers & Partners

“Lee Johnson’s clerking team is fantastic. Really, really helpful. Always very quick to refer me to available counsel, very proactive and mindful of what we need and how quickly we need it.”
Chambers & Partners

“Commentators direct praise at the set’s absolutely brilliant Lee Johnson.”
Chambers & Partners

“Excellent senior clerk Lee Johnson goes the extra mile.”
The Legal 500

“Serjeants’ Inn has very efficient clerking. Their senior clerk, Lee, will resolve any issue.”
Chambers & Partners

“Lee Johnson’s team of clerks are extremely well thought of by interviewees, with one source saying: ‘The service is second to none.'”
Chambers & Partners

“Senior clerk Lee Johnson oversees a strong clerking team. ‘They are extremely calm and resourceful.'”
Chambers & Partners

memberships

Institute of Barristers Clerks

awards

Winner of The John Carter Trophy- 1988 – awarded each year to the clerk who finished 1st in the Clerks’ Professional Exams

Reflections

Clerking a set of chambers in our specialised areas is extremely rewarding. You feel you have contributed personally and made a difference in some small way to the whole process. My years of dealing, for example, with urgent medical treatment decisions – day and night – make me thankful that we have specialist barristers to guide and support people through these very distressing situations.

I have witnessed first-hand the tears of joy and relief when a case finally resolves to the relief and satisfaction of the client, as well as the sadness and despondency when judgment is entered against them. Either way it is a release of many emotions which they have lived with for many years. It hopefully allows them to move on to a new chapter in their lives.

“Clerking a set of chambers in our specialised areas is extremely rewarding.”

The rule of law is important. The work we undertake makes me appreciate more than ever that it is there to protect the vulnerable who require it. I also see how hard people work to implement it.