Joanne Sear

Date of Call 2004

Joanne was called to the Bar in 2004 and practices exclusively in criminal and civil law.

Joanne prosecutes and defends all areas of crime, from violence and sexual assaults to fraud and business related offences.  Recent instructions in serious cases include:

  • Prosecuting a blackmailer who had been obtaining money from a vulnerable man with paranoid schizophrenia and a learning disability over a period of some years. This case involved the vulnerable complainant giving evidence through an intermediary;
  • Defending a man charged with sexually assaulting an 11 year old girl. This involved sensitive cross examination of the young complainant;
  • Defending a man charged with serious historic sexual offences against his cousin and an unrelated complainant, committed whilst he was a youth;
  • Defending a woman of previous good character charged with a series of fraudulent offences to the value of more than £50,000;
  • Pursuing an unusual private prosecution against a Local Authority for criminal damage. The complainant’s vehicle had been crushed following it having been deemed abandoned. I was able to establish that the Local Authority had not complied with the proper legal procedure, and that the vehicle had therefore been destroyed unlawfully.

Joanne is a member of the Proceeds of Crime team, and has appeared in high-value POCA applications.

Joanne’s previous experience of the civil and family jurisdictions complement her criminal practice. She is regularly instructed to advise on disclosure of Social Services and family court records, both to individuals and into criminal proceedings.

She also has experience of the Court Martial system and the Coroner's Court (including inquests with juries).

Qualifications: 

  • 2003 : LLB (Hons), University of Wales, Cardiff, "1st Class"
  • 2003 : Richard Yorke Scholarship, Gray's Inn
  • 2004 : Bar Vocational Course, Cardiff Professional Law School, "Outstanding"
  • 2005 : Ellenbogen Prize for Advocacy, Gray's Inn

CAREER PATH

Joanne completed a 12 month pupillage at 7 Bedford Row, Chambers of Kate Thirlwall QC, in London.  She entered into a third-six pupillage with 13 King’s Bench Walk, Chambers of Julian Baughan QC, in November 2005.  She became a tenant in June 2006.