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

Depressed PB

As the title suggests this may not be the merriest of posts.

I have just completed the compulsory first six advocacy course, so can now go forth into my second six. The course was useful, and on the whole enjoyable with many eminent (if a little out of touch) barristers regaling many anecdotes from their careers at the Bar since the ice age.

I am not feeling as comfortable in Chambers as I was. I am at a loss to explain why this is, but I sometimes feel that I come across as a bit dull, particularly with the younger members. As a pupil it's simply not my place to make comment on any gossip or the like being discussed, but nevertheless I feel a bit of pressure to have a bit more about me. Perhaps I'll learn to juggle and flame throw in order to entertain like a court jester. Come April, this may be rather too analogous than is comfortable.

To be completely honest, I'm finding it hard to care. My significant other and I decided to go our separate ways after 5 years. It was in the end a mutual decision based on the fact that we live in different parts of the country and have entirely separate lives. Having managed to get this far, I can't jack it all in for a frolic of the heart, but it is a hard reality to come to terms with. I simply feel sad.

I hope the high price this career comes at both financially and emotionally will be worth it. Looking at it from where I am at this particular moment, I think not.

Happier posts to come, hopefully.

PB

Busy busy bee ...

As my first six swoops steadily to its conclusion, I have been kept busy. The odd chap mentioned in my previous post has gone from not looking or talking to me, to suddenly acting like my best friend. He has provided me with a few bits of interesting work, not simply confined to crime, which is good. I did a couple of Appeal advices for him, and they were both sent off to the solicitors unamended, so gold star to me! Also an advice on a slightly boring Commercial contract/Business rates matter is currently being worked on. Despite strange initial dealings with him, I now find this chap to be interesting and funny.

Other than this I have been sitting in a couple of very interesting trials. Last week it was a charge of double GBH in circumstances where if found guilty, the Defendant would have been subject to an indeterminate prison sentence because of his previous. Fortunately for our guy, the jury took just 9 minutes to acquit him! A record time for the experienced barrister I was sitting behind. This week it's another serious GBH, coupled with a kidnap, so all very God Father like. Such gratuitous violence makes a welcome change, as my PM deals with a lot of sex crime, particularly dealing with children, which can get rather heavy going and yucky dealing with the Defendant's involved. Further a senior member of chambers has got a murder retrial coming up, so I've also been familiarising myself with those, extensive, papers.

I'm still very eager to get on with my second six - got my advocacy course before then though, which no doubt will prove interesting.

All the best to everyone - I see Olpas its gearing itself up to "that" time of year again. If I can be of any assistance to anyone embarking on the sole destroying pastime of pupillage applications, please feel free to get in touch.

PB

Merry Festive

Apologies again for the sporadic nature of these entries. This is in part down to it being logistically difficult for me to post (in the interests of anonymity I have decided posting from an Inn computer is not sensible), also I have been a bit lazy.

The other contributory factor is simply that I do not have much to say. Each day is different and always interesting, but unfortunately does not provide material I can put on here. I am now half way through my first six, and currently enjoying a two week holiday. I really can't wait for my second six, because as much as I feel I get on with everyone in Chambers, I find the constant following others around and feeling like a bit of cling-on/mute is becoming a bit tiresome. I whole heartily feel that watching and observing others who are very good at what they do is the very best way of learning, but I don't always feel particularly useful. To start doing work in my own right, and show that I may have the potential to make some contribution will be welcome. However it's easy for me to be all confident now, I don't doubt that come April I will be yearning to simply follow others for the rest of my days!

As I've said, I think I get on with most people in Chambers. However there is no doubt that there are some strange personalities knocking about. There is one chap who won't even look at me, let alone actually embark on a conversation. Apparently he was the same with the last Pupil, he simply has a rule whereby he doesn't talk to (or look at) pupils. Weirdo! I shall try and keep you posted in relation to this as I feel sooner or later there will be some movement here which may prove interesting.

I have now managed to watch all 4 episodes of The Barristers. On balance I think the overall series was much better than the initial direness promised by episode one. Viewers not connected to the Bar should have a better understanding of what barristers are and do, and I think that was the point of the programme. However the pro-government, political broadcast like dealing with the changes to the criminal fee scheme was a bit much for me.

Hope you all have happy holidays.

PB

The Barristers

I think it best to reserve full judgement on this until the series is complete, but so far I'm not impressed. I am not convinced the fly on the wall doc will do the profession any favours. The chap in Birmingham , I thought, came across as too aware of the cameras to give a normal account of what goes on, and resembled to some extent a wanna be on Britain's Got Talent. I also thought the students came across as a bit dense, I mean how hard can anyone find a disposable bbq to master? My understanding is that the aim of this series is to help in the understanding of the Bar, and dispel beliefs that its a profession still stuck in the dark ages and full of fat cats making lots of money. I'm not entirely sure that this can ever be achieved with extended footage of an Inn of Court, complete with lots of banging of sticks, eating lavish dinners, standing up and toasting of the Queen and Domas. The write up on the telly page of this mornings Metro summarised tonight's programme as following students in their quest for a "training contract"! I think this in itself illustrates how the point may have been missed.

In all fairness those who took part in the programme were very brave to put themselves on the line, and be opened up for the likes of me to criticise. I know I would never have done it. I will be interested to see how things pan out in the remaining episodes, and who succeeds.

PB

The Honeymoon is Over

I have now completed 4 weeks, and am really enjoying it. So far my days have consisted of pitching up at whichever court promises to be the most interesting that day, finding the barrister I'm to follow and taking notes during conferences and court. After the court day ends I head back to Chambers in order to make myself available to whoever wants me to read through stuff and note down the main points, type up work or carry out some photocopying. All in all it has not been particularly demanding, and has been a gentle introduction to life at the Bar. This however is all set to change -my Pupilmistress has now fully taken me under her wing!

My PM is lovely [if a little demanding], and I have no doubt that she will teach me very well. She is extremely thorough and very knowledgeable. Also, it makes such a difference for me to be able to read the papers and get a clear picture of what the case is about. This weekend, for the first time, I have been set some research homework, which I better go and do.

One thing that has struck me very clearly since starting is the concern all independent practitioners have about the future of the Bar, particularly within the field of crime. We are all aware of the changes in the pay scheme for such work, but I for one was unaware of the gravity of the situation. Most criminal matters I have watched have had at least one Higher Court Advocate conducting it, rather than instructed counsel. It appears to me that the reality is a fused profession, even if, allegedly, that was never the intention. This is causing a severe lack of work at the most junior end of the bar, and it seems that this dismal state of affairs will continue for the foreseeable future. It is not the best time to be joining the profession, and I fear this will count against me when the time comes for my tenancy application to be considered. My plan though, if at all possible, is to develop a truly mixed practice and hope luck is on my side.

No doubt most of you will be aware that the documentary entitled "The Barristers" starts at 9pm on Friday on BBC2. I am looking forward to it.

PB

Everything's ok

I have now completed 2 weeks, and on the whole, it's going well. My Pupil Mistress is away at the moment, so I have been following lots of different Tenants around. I think until my PM returns, it will feel a bit mini-pupillage like and I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in properly. Everyone at Chambers seems really friendly and easy to get on with, and although the whole experience is effectively a year long job interview, I think its going to be an enjoyable and fulfilling year.

Also I am pleased to report that I am absolutely loving London. The place is so vibrant and interesting. I thought I'd be overawed by the vastness, but I find it fascinating. The other evening I went to the theatre after work. It's so nice to just wonder round to Covent Garden, instead of the 4 or 5 hour bus or train journey I would normally have to contend with. The only problem I have had is finding the Courts from the tube!

I know this post is pitifully short, I will post again as soon as I can.
PB