A barrister has been cautioned by police after fighting broke out at a formal dinner in Middle Temple Hall.

The lawyers were attending a lecture given by Bernard Richmond QC titled, "Lessons from Jamaica". The talk, which was organised by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, was followed by a drinks reception and dinner. Sources report that one of the two (male) barristers began flirting with the other one's date and that, when she rebuffed his advances and turned her back to him, he pulled her hair. The uncouth gesture sparked a fight with her "incensed" boyfriend which was broken up when a member of the catering staff intervened.

    "Jamaica?"
"I tried."

Witnesses say that the woman was keen to forget the incident and go home, however her date insisted on calling the police. When they arrived, they cautioned the barrister for being drunk and disorderly although decided against arresting him on suspicion of assault.
 
Because the first rule of The Honourable Society of Middle Temple is you do not talk about The Honourable Society of Middle Temple, it did not respond to requests for comment.

The scrap signifies the formal commencement of the Christmas party fight season. Last year's merriment saw two Linklaters lawyers resign after one thought he saw the other grope a vac schemer and punched him repeatedly in the face.
 
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Comments

Anonymous 20 November 15 09:18

His charming behaviour is doubtless the fruit of a single-sex public school and Oxbridge education...

Anonymous 20 November 15 09:59

@ anonymous at 09.18:

Chip, shoulder, much? Or are you just a plastic toy with big eyes and a flare of brightly-coloured hair?

As the fortunate beneficiary of an Oxbridge education (where, horror of horrors, both sexes seem to co-exist quite happily), I don't recall anything which would encourage or justify that sort of behaviour. Still, I was probably too busy being rogered with a silver spoon and vomiting on poor people to notice. Apparently.

Anonymous 20 November 15 10:31

Oh aye, because trying it on with someone you shouldn't / having a scrap with someone for looking at your bird is sooo posh.

Anonymous 20 November 15 12:02

Not necessarily the product of a top-tier institution. I was playing pool with a character in a pub yesterday who was recounting an incident of a similar nature where he singled handed took on a group of travelers after one of them behaved in a less than gentlemanly manner to the girl he was buying chips for. He now has a steel plate in his skull, but that is beside the point. Needless to say, no member of either party had benefited from an Oxbridge education.

On a slightly unrelated note, he played a fabulous game of pool, but should really work on his break.

Anonymous 20 November 15 14:26

You know what this and last year's linklaters debacle have in common? Sexism. Men thinking women are precious flowers who must be defended like some kind of King of the Apes blue bottom waving ceremony.

Instead may be think of women as people who can deal with unwanted sex pests pulling our hair and just butt out of it....or novel idea - don't come on to us at all at work parties.

Roll On Friday 20 November 15 14:30

It does seem like an overreaction to punch another barrister for pulling your partner's hair. I grant you that this is entirely dependant on what hair was pulled.

I'm new to this law game but is there a sign up sheet for the rogering or do I take a number? Also, is an Oxbridge education required because I danced my way out of the mean street to get where I am today...sat uncomfortably.

Anonymous 23 November 15 14:03

Sounds like a DLA Piper Christmas party I attended a few years back - reported on this website here: http://www.rollonfriday.com/TheNews/EuropeNews/tabid/58/Id/2410/fromTab/36/currentIndex/0/Default.aspx