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

Nerves and Concerns

Apologies for the gap between posts. I have been busying myself with the “To do” list below, and have just returned from the most enjoyable holiday. I am now just about sorted, save for a bit of catch-up reading and packing. However the nerves and paranoia are setting in.

For the last 14 months I have wallowed in the blissful feeling of relief at having secured pupillage. I have been living an idyllic existence deep in the countryside, back with the ‘rents. My time has been spent saving money for the afore mentioned holiday, as well as the move to London. I've had an eclectic range of part-time jobs, which included riding horses, data admin and bar work. Spending a year without having to think constantly about applications, CV enhancing and my own self-worth has done me the world of good. However, I feel this may be the calm before the storm, and the lack of anything to worry about has afforded me much time to consider what lies ahead. Here are a few of the concerns I have thought of so far...

I turn up to the place I had my interview, only to find it completely empty. Enquiries reveal no Chambers ever existed at that spot - and the whole interview process was just an elaborate joke.

I turn up on my first day, only to be greeted by those that interviewed me with a surprised look and an, “oh, we made the offer to you - I think there must have been a mix up.”

I make a total idiot of myself by doing any or all of the following… fall over, spill coffee, laugh at an inappropriate time, not be able to answer the simplest of questions.

That I will not be able to recall any legal knowledge whatsoever.

That I get taken out for a welcome drink, manage to get absolutely hammered on half a shandy and vomit over my Pupil Master.

That my Pupil Master and I don’t get along.

That I am totally crap for the whole year, resulting in me being thrown out on my ear, and the mere thought of offering me tenancy is a standard joke within Chambers.

I am also slightly overwhelmed at the prospect of living in London. I went to university in a large city, but somehow I doubt it will be the same. Having spent the last year and most of my life living in the middle of nowhere, a place where seeing anything remotely urban, such as car, is worthy of note and newcomers remain so for about 30 years, the contrast will be stark. I fear dealing with the daily rush hour alone may cause me to have a stroke.

I realise that I am starting to sound rather feeble. This I am not, and despite the above I am looking forward to all the change and challenges. Next time I post it will be as a pupil, however if you’ve not heard from me by the end of October it may be because one of the above has befallen me!

Finally I was saddened to find Lawminx has disappeared. I very much enjoyed her posts, and wish her good luck. Best wishes too to all those battling again with Olpas and others about to commence Pupillage.

PB

Counting Down to "P" Day

I have roughly two months before the start of pupillage, and quite a lot to do before then. The slight urgency of the situation is added to by the fact I am on holiday for most of September. As a good old procrastination tactic I thought I’d write a “To Do” list, and put it on here for any pointers. So, in no particular order I must -

• Get my hair cut
• Buy a new suit
• Find somewhere to live in London [any thoughts on where’s cheap, and in reasonable proximity to the centre would be gratefully received]
• Call Chambers, ask if they remember me and exactly what date I start
• Register my pupillage
• Re-learn all I’m meant to know about Criminal, Family and Civil law [this may not take as long as it ought]
• Read the book “Eats, shoots and leaves"
• Buy a new pencil case
  

That list looks shorter in writing than it does in my head. No doubt more things will occur to me in due course. If anyone can think of anything I’ve forgotten, please let me know!

PB

So Far, So Good (just)

Here is the briefest of summaries of how I got to this stage. My strap line of being lucky and slipping through the net is not meant to be self-depreciating or modest, but is simply true. Most are familiar with the stereotypical pupil – early to mid 20’s, straight A student, Oxbridge (or other top uni) graduate, scholarship awards, mooting prizes, amazing pro-bono experience – the list goes on. I think everyone is agreed that those with such CV’s get more of a look in when it comes to interviews, and quite rightly so. Such credentials do not come easily, and the Bar needs bright and hard working types if it is to remain. However there are candidates who are not able to tick all the above boxes, but nevertheless would be just as good, or better. It seems these candidates, of which I am one, need more luck to get through the door simply for an interview.

Now in my mid 20’s, I was never top of the class at school, leaving with mediocre (at best) A-levels. I attended an ex-poly in the Midlands where I managed to get the regulation 2.1 to go onto Bar School (I realise that a 2.1 is not a requirement, but I wouldn’t have bothered with a 2.2). I did the BVC in the provinces and got a VC, after having to retake civil lit. I am not a holder of an Inn scholarship. As for extra-curricula stuff, I did do a fair bit of mooting, and have hands on experience having worked as a Legal Assistant in a high street firm for a year.

Over an 18 month period, I completed three rounds of Olpas, and made independent applications to any chambers offering pupillage, as well as some that weren’t. I don’t have a record of how many applications I made, but a guess would be well in excess of 100. This yielded a total of 2 interviews. Fortunately one was successful, at a common law set in London. Why did those two chambers decide to interview me when so many others had not? I can only put it down to luck, as nothing else had changed. In my opinion (not that I’ve yet asked anyone on a pupillage committee) once you get to an interview you’re 90% there, as the slate is wiped clean and CV’s thrown out the window, leaving a reasonably level battleground for those still standing.

So, for anyone interested, that’s how it happened for me. I shall keep you posted as to what happens from here.
PB

Well here goes!

Over the last year or so I have been endlessly fascinated by the numerous blogs concerning BVC and pupillage. As someone about to start pupillage I hope to tentatively dip my toe into this somewhat strange world and create a blog of my own. I note from other more learned bloggers that there is perhaps an opening within the "being a pupil" subject. Although aware of the demise of others like me and their blogs, my aim is to try and post regularly and give a true and balanced account of my route to this stage, and beyond.

I need to get the hang of this blogging and posting business, so I shall post again soon.
PBx