Criminal lawyer courts UK charts in her alter ego as pop star

A typical day involved arriving at court and preparing a case before racing off in the evening for shows.

SYDNEY: An Australian barrister who for years has traded her staid court robes and wig for fur and lycra to sing pop tunes in her off hours now stands only a step away from every musician's dream - breaking into the top 10 on the music charts.

"Luv Bomb", the debut single by "Bowie Jane", the 27-year-old's musical alter ego, has climbed to No. 11 on the UK Pop Club Charts in the high point of a double life she has kept secret for more than four years.

"Of course my close friends were aware ... but generally it hasn't been too hard to keep the two separate," said Bowie Jane, declining to reveal her real name, in an email to Reuters.

"I dress differently in court and I don't have a fringe. On stage you wouldn't pick it was the same person."

Passionate about music all her life, she originally wanted to pursue it as a career but went to university and became a barrister to please her parents, who wanted her to have something practical to fall back on.

A typical day involved arriving at court, meeting with clients and preparing a case before racing off in the evening for her shows. Once, she had to leave early to get to her performance on the main stage at the Australian Open tennis.

"I'd perform, then go home with a husky voice, rest and get up and do court the next day," she said.

The hectic double life occasionally has led to her wearing her stage costumes under her legal robes.

"I really have to flick my mind from one mode to the other. I am very serious in court and on stage I am the complete opposite," she said.