Tips for pupillage applications and interviews – Anushka Chakravarty
Even if you know for certain that you want to apply for pupillage during the GDL, with such a hectic schedule, preparing for Pupillage Portal in advance can easily be overlooked. However it is never too soon to start planning ahead! In fact, it can be a huge advantage. To help in the process, here are a few ideas that might be worth considering:
Preparing for the application process
Start off by thinking about the areas of practice you would be interested in. Most of you will already know; but if not, many begin by asking whether they want to be part of the criminal bar or not. This not only narrows the sets to trawl through, but will probably also alter your priorities for the forthcoming year. For example, those applying for ‘crime’ are generally under a higher expectation than their civil counterparts to have experience in mooting, understanding of the features of the criminal system and a particular interest in the Criminal Law module of the course. It is of course entirely possible that you will want to have a mixed criminal and civil practice, but even then the above requirements would probably still stand.
What should I expect of Pupillage? – Chris Bond
There are two very important things to know about pupillage.
The first is that – whatever horror stories you may hear – it’s not as bad as it sounds.
The second is that – although you will presumably be wanting to stay in Chambers at the end – it’s as much about learning as it is about be tested.
Pupillage is undeniably a difficult, tiring and often stressful year. But forget tales of pupils forced to act as impromptu sun-screens by rude and dictatorial supervisors. My own experience – and that of the majority of my fellow City alumni – is that most barristers in most Chambers do remember that pupillage can be tough, and so do their best to help.
This may mean (and should mean) careful and constructive feedback on your written work or advocacy from your supervisor. Or it may simply be a passing chat and words of advice and encouragement from a QC in the photocopy room. At some sets it extends to nights at the pub with the junior tenants. Of course there are occasional problems and personality clashes. But always remember: by and large people will be rooting for you to succeed.
The City Law School: Catalyst – Rachael Williams
Rachael Williams gives us gives an insight to combining motherhood, family life and criminal practice at the Bar.
As I leave the house early in the morning, in the dark, again, leaving my three young children sleeping in the house with Daddy on the Monday just after Christmas weekend, then I do wonder whether choosing to go back into full time practice at the Bar was a sensible one. My situation is a deserted train and my destination is one of the many Magistrates’ Courts covered by my Chambers. My client will be in custody having been arrested over the holiday weekend. I hope that there may be some degree of appreciation for my turning up to represent him/her and to apply for bail. I trust that the District Judge and the Court staff will be just as eager to get through the list as I am.
Reflection provides me with answers. As a qualified lawyer, on whichever side of the profession, I have experienced a variety of work-family life combinations. The truth is that no-one can tell any other person which is the best way to be a mum and a working individual. There may be no ‘correct way’. All one can do is speak from one’s own experiences.
Training to be a barrister in the Royal Marines – Rhys Hopkins
Lt Kaffee: ‘Did you order the Code Red?’
Col. Jessop: ‘You’re Goddamned right I did!’
One year before commencing the GDL at City, I was working in Baghdad as a Royal Marine Captain. I was based at an Iraqi Military Training base, 15 minutes by helicopter outside the so-called ‘heavily fortified Green Zone’. Here I was part of a small group of Brits that lived with and trained Iraqi Young Officers in the new Iraqi Army. Cadets at the academy routinely disappeared; rocket attacks and mortar bombs landed in our compound with daily regularity; members of the staff were killed by them; perhaps most alarmingly the Iraqi general in charge of the base was lynched whilst travelling to work.
Our trips to the ranges were fraught with anxiety at the ever present menace of the road side bomb. Helicopter trips into the Green Zone resembled a fair ground ride as the pilots did their best to avoid being hit – or being locked on by a missile – as the night sky around us was lit up by flares fired as decoys from the helicopter.
All of this, however pales into insignificance when compared to the feelings of discomfort and unease that I experienced as Dr Herling icily exposed the limitations of our knowledge of contract law in the early tutorials of the course!
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