‘People like you don’t become barristers’

A 24-year-old man who was once told by a teacher "people like you don’t become barristers" has qualified as a legal professional and been called to the bar. Dévante Gravesande-Smith grew up in Brixton's Myatt's Field Estate, an area which became notorious for crime in south London.
Around 3.2% of members of the Bar are from black backgrounds. Mr Gravesande-Smith, who saved £19,000 to study law, said it "wasn't easy" but he felt he "had to persevere".
Video by Jamie Moreland.
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[@bbclondon]

Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gB

[@ruffey1748]

I can't imagine the sacrifice of a family working multiple jobs to put one relative through law school. That is an immense contribution. He is practicing at the criminal bar, which is chronically underfunded, but it is vital, necessary work. I hope he enjoys his career, and can offer help to others along the way.

[@jaida9254]

Good on you Devante! People like you are the role models we need in society, not the current batch of egotistical ‘celebrities’. Well done 🌺

[@vegetabrah1889]

His whole family are role models for sacrificing time and money to help fund him. What an achievement for them all :)

[@pippipster6767]

Losing hair through stress ... that’s what the wig is for 🤣

[@ntbri]

So proud of him, so inspiring!

[@julianaylor4351]

Many of us had teachers who doubted us. This a very exemptional case. Good for him. ❤️

[@ayeeyojecel3811]

Where is that ignorant so called a teacher who told him that he can't be a Barrister. Shame on him!!!

[@simonhool3073]

How do you know it was a female teacher? Doesn’t make a difference what gender the teacher is.

[@ayeeyojecel3811]

@@simonhool3073 you are right we don't care what gender they are.

[@davideldred.campingwilder6481]

Rubbish, I do this all the time to encourage students. It's called reverse psychology.

[@ihatemyfish5683]

@@davideldred.campingwilder6481 I see how it can be effective but a lot of the time it can give the exact opposite effect.

[@davideldred.campingwilder6481]

@@ihatemyfish5683 I know, and I\m not a careers teacher. That is up to them, plus, kids many times, follow what their parents do, and the yalso follow what their peers do. I think my advise isn\t so important...

[@mercuryrising4323]

We ethnics need to stick together within the profession and support each other as we progress in order to redress the imbalance caused by racism, inequality, social economic disparity. Im not sure what you specialise in but I see you are standing outside the High Court so possibly a Public Lawyer of sorts. I will look you up brother. Great story of struggle and determination. Your family must be proud of you as well as the community. As for that teacher, well I hope he sees this video and reflects upon his words.

[@Blueocean881]

So proud of you Dévante! Keep repping the underrepresented!

[@anthonylewis2080]

At long last we're presented with a story about one's "climb up the ladder" and there's not a single mention of being in sports and/or music. Where are these stories?. Just a never ending spiral of those who wilfully get involved in bringing children into the world, long term unemployment, life of crime and no discerning plans for their future - worth mentioning!.

[@Cynthia-kp2le]

A remarkable and encouraging role model! So proud of you! I hope one day to be able to accomplish my career goals and share my story with the younger generation.

[@matthewjones4454]

Great story, well done, keep up the good work.

[@robinbutler4515]

What a great story, very motivating! 👍

[@JL-xd4cn]

Just brilliant story. Salute to the strength of character.

[@noslacking3856]

It’s one of the most difficult professions to study and qualify for, especially when self funding! Well done to you and your family for supporting you on your incredible achievement 🤗

[@111Econ]

A young person is like an open book, with the right guidance she/he can do anything.

[@ladyclaire6389]

Simply a beautiful human being put on earth to help others x

[@firstclassfoundation3060]

Love this

[@mightyme.makingitnew9979]

Proud of u ☺️☺️☺️

[@abiodunmichaelolatokun2844]

Devante you are a champion.

[@scl9371]

Black excellence. So proud of him.

[@user-uh3db9wk3r]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@diawasafa1]

Good luck 🍀🙏🏿🍀

[@tooc8251]

Lovely👏

[@amandatpwk6693]

😁👏👏all the best

[@laclarkson532]

God bless you brother 🙏, question thoe illegal aid ongoing?

[@mandemstudios1049]

Congratulations

[@andyMSH700]

Nice guy but the problem is there is so much corruption in the legal system that barristers and solicitors quickly become tarnished.....so much corruption it’s incredible. Total lottery and I would passionately hate to be working as a barrister due to the type of people who you would be around including corrupt judges corrupt CPS and corrupt police......my worst fear actually. I am currently trying to help a lady who was convicted without evidence for life in prison. She was not even at the murder and these days the barristers are managing to put these unfortunate people behind bars with little evidence. Try and unravel the mess they make during the trial is next to impossible. What sort of people would do this?

[@cupcake1065]

Went to Bar school with him..

[@thudor1]

It's a good thing that barristry (if that's an actual word!🤣) has been opening up to more women and non-Whites because judges, barristers, solicitors, attorneys and lawyers need to reflect the diverse communities in which they work.

[@JohnPaul-ii]

Mmmm, seems the “people like you” line didn’t apply. Well done sir.

[@bubandlisa]

Those wigs look ridiculous 🤣🤣 hard to take someone serious wearing that

[@designer_cloth3537]

Tell your mum to send me food i wanna eat some carribean food

[@fernandasa2158]

Its true , in England there is this thing about people telling you “you cant be that” or “ you wont get it “ if your a not a certain color, if you have a accent ....

[@vinnie1350]

Just in England? Nonsense

[@mrtesseract99]

@@vinnie1350 England's much worse. There are thousands of black attorneys in the US.

[@jonathanzeckler]

I think their tree-climbing abilities are much better than their legal skills.

[@marvaff6878]

You shouldn’t talk about your parents like that. Tut tut.

[@KodjoWedja]

And yet they are better than you

[@doreimiii]

Devante... Did you not approach Society of Black Lawyers?

[@vinnie1350]

Sounds like a very racist organisation. Best avoided I'd say.

[@mdeahiamolla8128]

InshaAllaha🌻

[@hellodavey1902]

Positive skin colour stories based on study, hard work & tight family..this is what we need...not angry, thick self-serving black women shouting ‘structural racism’ at anything that moves!

[@mrtesseract99]

The Mcpherson enquiry disagrees with you. Institutional racism permeates the English legal system and study, hard work and a tight family doesn't work for talented minorities, anywhere near as much as it should.

[@paulbell9519]

you wearing a blonde wig fix up man

[@positivethoughts1229]

Somebody told me that it isn’t good for Asians etc to do Bar Practice Course as it is almost impossible to become a Barrister in the UK. You have to be white to become a barrister 😖😣💔❤️‍🔥

[@vinnie1350]

Nonsense