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Pretty concerned at the "advice" being dished out by barristers to some pupillage applicants and wanted to set the record straight:
i. If you have experienced something or overcome an adversity which has fuelled your passion to be at the bar that is a positive NOT a negative.
i. If you have experienced something or overcome an adversity which has fuelled your passion to be at the bar that is a positive NOT a negative.
ii. If you didn't reach your full potential at school/university due to extentuating circumstances do explain this on the form. You are human, so too is the person marking the form so it's important they understand.
Sometimes people get sick or have bereavements or have difficult home lives that affect their grades - it's far better to explain this and show how when the situation resolved you did reach your full academic ability than for the marker to have no explanation for the blip
iii. Ignore anyone who says you'll never get an interview at a certain set. This usually comes from their own ignorance or negative experience. Someone has to get interviews at top tier sets, why not you? Aim high.
iv. Ditto ignore suggestions you won't "fit in" at a particular set. Yes a lot of chambers are overwhelmingly white & male. But many have made strides in recent years to be more inclusive and someone has to break the mould. Look at recent recruits & equality statements
v. Do not be intimidated by the profiles displayed on websites - remember this is counsel selling themselves to prospective clients. With the right drafting your profile will look equally impressive!
The DMs I’m getting show just how common these myths are so I’m glad I can debunk them and offer some positivity. Good luck to everyone applying - it’s a slog but I promise it’s worth it. The forms and interviews are all good practise - I didn’t get an offer first time round but
Learned from the experience, improved my forms the next year and got offers. Keep trying, keep going!
