Sorcha Dervin

Sorcha Dervin

  • Called in 2021

Sorcha joined chambers as a tenant in 2021 and is happy to consider instructions in all areas of chambers’ expertise. Sorcha has a busy practice with particular emphasis on personal injury and employment. She brings to the Bar her past experience as a paralegal where she specialised in employment law in the health and social care sector.

Sorcha appears in court on a daily basis for claimants and defendants, both remotely and in person. She accepts a range of instructions including small claims, fast track trials, and interim applications. Sorcha also appears in the Employment Tribunal and has conducted multi-day Tribunal hearings.

In addition to her court work, Sorcha is developing a busy paperwork practice. She accepts instructions to advise on liability, quantum, and tactics, as well as drafting pleadings, schedules, and counter schedules.

 

 

 

 

Personal Injury

Sorcha is developing a busy personal injury practice. In court, she appears in fast track trials, quantum-only disposals, and interim applications. Sorcha also advises on and settles pleadings in matters involving road traffic accidents, occupiers’ liability, employers’ liability, Highways Act claims, and cases involving fundamental dishonesty.

Employment

Before coming to the Bar, Sorcha was an employment paralegal where she worked on a wide range of cases including unfair dismissal, misconduct, and whistleblowing. She is now developing her employment practice and has experience with dismissals, discrimination, and trade union detriment claims. Alongside her court work, Sorcha can advise in conference at an early stage of the litigation and is happy to accept paperwork instructions.

Credit Hire

Sorcha is regularly instructed in credit hire matters for both claimants and defendants and is well versed on emerging case law in this area. She is adept in handling all aspects of credit hire, including cases concerning profit earning vehicles and corporate claimants. She also has significant experience in making and defending abuse of process applications arising from mixed personal injury and credit hire claims.

Clinical Negligence

Sorcha has an interest in clinical negligence and is keen to continue to develop her practice in this area.

Civil Fraud

Sorcha is happy to accept instructions from claimants and defendants where issues of fraud or fundamental dishonesty arise, both in road traffic accident claims and personal injury claims in general.

General Common Law

Sorcha accepts instructions in all types of general common law matters. She is confident in handling a range of money claims and contractual disputes.

Notable Cases

W v London Borough of Islington (2021)
Sorcha was instructed to represent the Claimant in a seven-day Tribunal hearing and succeeded in claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments. The Claimant was disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act by reason of Crohn’s Disease and was dismissed on grounds of capability after his requests for flexible working were refused. The Tribunal accepted Sorcha’s submissions that the dismissal was both unfair and itself an act of discrimination because the ground for dismissal constituted ‘something arising in consequence’ of the Claimant’s disability.

If you would like to instruct Sorcha Dervin or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk

For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.

Appointments & Memberships

Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA)

Advocate Panel Member

 

Education & Qualifications

2019 – 2020: BPTC – BPP University (Outstanding)

2015 – 2018: Law LLB – University of Bristol (First Class)

 

Scholarships, prizes and awards

  • 2021: Inner Temple Outstanding Award
  • 2019: BPP Academic Excellence Scholarship
  • 2018: Best Student Award, Reproduction Law, Ethics and Policy, University of Bristol
  • 2017: Winner, The Hunt Cup Debating Competition
  • 2016: Finalist, Herbert Smith Freehills Mooting Competition

During her studies, Sorcha was a keen mooter and debater. In 2017, she was selected to represent her university at an international mooting competition held in India. Sorcha then went on to win the annual Hunt Cup Debating Competition, founded by Lord Hunt.

Personal Interests

In her spare time, Sorcha enjoys baking, going to the theatre, and Zumba. She also likes to visit her home county of Cumbria whenever she can.