Sunday 29 March 2009

2nd Six Excitement

Many thanks for all the comments on my last post. The question mark over my gender made me chuckle to myself. For obvious reasons I have tried not to let out any personal information that could cause me to be identified. I do not regard my sex as information which could cause me to be identified, but for my own amusement I will keep you all guessing.
The dark days that spawned my last depressing post are over. I am feeling much more comfortable around chambers, and am enjoying the single like in London. I continue to be busy with various bits and bobs of work from my PM, as well as trotting off to court most days.
In preparation for my impending 2nd six, I have been spending a lot more time shadowing tenants in the magistrate courts. The difference between the mags and the Crown Court is stark. A busy morning in Thames mags is akin to being at the NEXT sale on Boxing Day, it's difficult to move around and everybody is cross. In comparison most Crown Courts are like Health Clubs, with regular hours and plenty of breaks for tea and biscuits. What strikes me most is the complete mess the CPS are in. Occasionally members of chambers will act as an agent for the CPS, and I get to see first hand how miserable and downbeat all the CPS bods seem to be. They battle against severe time and financial constraints, as well as snotty defence advocates coming to annoy them about their particular case every five minutes, so it's not surprising they're a little down in the mouth, but the inherent jobsworth attitude gets a little wearing. In terms of my own career progression, I can safely say going in-house with the CPS is well and truly off the list.
The days of me simply following others around all day like a meek little lamb are nearly over. I cannot wait, it has been a long time coming.
I hope everyone is getting to grips with the new Pupillage Portal, and it proves fruitful for all.
Have a good Easter.
PB

9 comments:

barboy said...

PB, good to read the fog has lifted. Best of luck with the second 6. Do you have to wait until right until the end of that second 6 before being considered for tenancy ?

Swiss Tony said...

Hey Mr PB, good news. Glad things are going well.

Swizzle

Minx said...

All the very best for your Second Six, PB - am glad to see you are feeling better!
( I'm with you on the in house CPS thing by the way - never have I seen so many people comprehensively worn down by life and drowning in paperwork...!)

Minx said...

( PS: I think you are a GIRL, because you mention health clubs and shopping in Next!!)

Android said...

I'm with Lawminx - I was going to make the same Next reference! :))

PB, I enjoyed reading about your CPS observations. It's funny how on the TV they show how happy they are about the paid holidays in particular. Now we know that it's all a cover-up! :)

Good luck for the 2nd six!

Minx said...

Im glad you agree Andro - I have never met a man prepared to do battle in the sales at Next, let alone speak of them!!!

Lost said...

I always thought you were a guy??

I live down the road from Thames Magistrates, it is astonshingly busy most of the time..

Have you seen the elderly gentlemen who prosecutes there? Wears a waistcoat and a pocket watch? He is delightful! As is a certain chap in the CPS office... hmmm....

Some solicitor advocates I saw there were quite shit! A SA had intended to make a half time submission but only remembered this after she had called up her client the defendant for examination in chief!!

Hope you enjoy Thames... Sommerfield do nice sandwiches

Pupil Bean said...

Lost, I may well be a guy!

The old chap with the waist coat - his name is Donald and I know him well. I wonder which chap in the CPS office you're talking about?

I will defo check out the sarnies, but Thames also have a great canteen on the top floor, at the back. All very secret, but brilliant ommlettes.

PB

Lost said...

Very tall handsome mixed race man... is the other one I am talking about..

TV Edwards have a strong presence down there, and their SAs are quite good.