Rob Rinder, the former criminal barrister turned television judge, has spoken candidly about his lifelong struggle with impostor syndrome. The 45-year-old, who now hosts the TV show 'Judge Rinder', said he feels a sense of not belonging 'at some point every day'. He made the comments while promoting his debut novel, 'The Trial', a legal thriller inspired by his own experiences at the bar.
Rinder, who grew up in the north London suburb of Southgate, described feeling like an outsider from a young age. 'Being gay and growing up in a working-class community, you intuitively understand you’re outside,' he said. 'There was a sense of wanting to reclaim my own thing.' He attended grammar school and then the University of Manchester, but noted that over 80% of barristers when he was called to the bar in 2001 had been to Oxbridge.
The author said he initially struggled to write the novel, having 'overprojected value, even humanity, on the great writers'. He found his voice by channelling the style of Jilly Cooper, whom he praised for her ability to create 'a joyous afternoon'. His protagonist, barrister Adam Green, shares Rinder's Jewish heritage, working-class background, and 'overwhelming sense of impostor syndrome'.
Rinder specialised in international fraud and also represented British soldiers charged with manslaughter. Despite his success, he admitted to moments of doubt in court: 'Would there be moments where I’d be in that room thinking: “What are you asking me for?” Of course.' He is already working on a second novel, partly set in the world of daytime television.
