MICHAEL Auty was just a boy when he decided he wanted to become barrister.
But some of his teachers were not as enthusiastic. One told him: "Michael, you're just not bright enough".
Those words have stayed with him ever since – and only made him more determined to succeed and inspire others.
He said: "Initially, because the comment had come from a schoolteacher, it made me feel worthless and dejected but, over time, I began to educate myself more widely by reading a whole variety of books on a range of topics, becoming (at 18) an avid listener to Radio 4, listening to persuasive speakers, etc, until I was able to see that by focusing my energies and doing everything incrementally, I could achieve my dream."
Two teachers, he says, did have faith in him – Joyce Reay and a Ms Rogers – and inspired him to pursue his goal.
He read law at the then Trent Polytechnic, now Nottingham Trent University, and trained to be a solicitor at Chester College of Law.
He joined a law firm in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Mansfield, becoming a partner in the business, before he arrived at the Nottingham chambers of No 1 High Pavement six months after the practice opened on New Year's Day 1990.
Now Mr Auty has "taken silk" – the term used in the legal world when a barrister becomes a QC and wears a silk gown – he will be the lead barrister in murder trials in the East Midlands.
He will follow in the footsteps of Richard Latham QC, who prosecuted Mick and Maireid Philpott for the manslaughter of their six children in Derby, Nottingham's Peter Joyce QC, a prosecutor in most city high-profile murder trials, and Birmingham-based barrister David Crigman QC.
Mr Auty said: " Proud as I am of having taken silk, it would never have happened but for the support and encouragement of my wonderful wife, devoted parents, a fantastic clerking team and the best set of legal chambers you could ever wish to be a part of.
"It's almost impossible to fail when your heads of chambers have been HHJ Milmo QC, Peter Joyce QC, HHJ Dickinson QC, Shaun Smith QC and Steven Coupland."
Friend and colleague Mr Coupland said: "Chambers is delighted with Mike's appointment. He has spent many years prosecuting and defending in some of the most serious cases dealt with locally. His appointment is well deserved and shows he is regarded as one of the best advocates in the country, and he is regarded by all who know him as a generous, humorous, larger than life character."
Mr Auty's friend John Tomasevic, executive head teacher at Toot Hill School, Bingham, said: "Despite leading a very busy life, Mike is a great champion of providing opportunities for aspiring future barristers. He has been inspirational in encouraging many students from Toot Hill School to go into the law.
"His appointment to QC is richly deserved. He has worked tirelessly for many years to develop his skills in advocacy."
The day I stared down the barrel of gun: More of Mr Auty's story in the Post tomorrow