Have a laugh

The other day my mother suggested I send my CV to a legal recruitment agency, “surely they’ll be able to set you up with a pup…whatever it’s called.”

I initially thought she was kidding, I’ve only been talking non-stop about PUPILLAGE for over 3 years now, she’s heard the word everyday, she’s heard me moan, cry, and rejoice at the smallest battles.

I was annoyed at her for the longest time, yet today I realised, it’s funny. Had myself a little chuckle while stressing about understanding triple derivative actions.

In her weird motherly way she made me feel better. Needless to say I stopped laughing when she proceeded to send me an email with the largest law firms in London…

The Wait

I’m sitting on my chaise munching on an omelet a la Julia Child, watching Casablanca. Because it’s too early to be outside yet too late to be asleep. I’ve had countless pupillage nightmares in the past couple of days, and woken up far too many times with a backache (maybe I am getting old after all). It doesn’t help that the Bar course seems to have slowed down to snail’s pace. I, to fill up the time, have turned to half-marathon training.

When I had started the training, I had thought the best part would be the ‘off-days’, the days when you don’t need to run. Strangely enough those are the days when I feel the impact of the running on the other days the most. When it hits running-o’clock and it’s a non-running day I feel a little lost. Yet, if I go and run anyways, I won’t be as good tomorrow.

The same applies to pupillage. If you’re anything like me, you stress, worry, and care a lot. But those off-days, those days when you just sit around doing nothing, they too are part of the training. But, if you find that most of your program consists of off-days, then perhaps you should go for a run. Because in the end, you only get out what you put in.

Crivil

If you’re like me, you have slept very little in the past weeks, gorged on unhealthy food, coffee and sweets, and spent endless hours seated with your computer or books!

Well exams are *nearly* over, they suitably end at the same time as OLPAS. See you soon for interviews!

Silk

If you were anywhere near Temple today you probably saw the scurry of soon-to-be or fresh QCs. Family following quickly behind them, all smiles. Children pulling at their gowns and making fun of their wigs. Tourists quickly snapping pictures. Parents following them behind, some too old to keep up. No doubt a lot of work, the application form itself is daunting, let alone the effort that went into getting that far.

On such a joyous, sunny day I couldn’t help but also think of those who applied and didn’t get silk this year. There’s always next year, or the year after that. And those of us receiving pupillage rejections certainly know how it feels.

But, in the end, I think the more you struggle, the harder the climb is to the top, the more rewarding it will be. So as I sit here with a glass of red wine, and my OLPAS application, I say cheers to the climb! I’ll see you at the top fellow applicants.

Briefcase

Big day today: I used a briefcase I purchased in 2008, but never brought myself to wear. I felt I could not carry the weight of the thing. After all, the briefcase is not just any other handbag. It’s a statement in and of itself. I’m important. I’m busy. I have a direction in life (perhaps less so those briefcases you see with disorganised papers and looking a mess in general). I’m on my way to do something meaningful. I believe in myself.

I happily threw everything in it this morning and waddled to court for some marshalling. I spent the entire day critiquing its lack of a compartment for pens and highlighters, only to come home to find I had somehow missed an entire section of the briefcase. I had been oblivious to an entire level of organisation!

In that moment I was thankful for not having a pupillage commencing in 2011 in a criminal set. For a number of reasons. Firstly, I had applied to criminal sets without spending enough time analysing whether I really wanted to go into crime. Secondly, I want to do some other things before I dedicate my life to the Bar. Thirdly, when I interview for pupillage this year I know I am ready, I know I will do great, and I know what I want to do and why (or at least I am getting there…)

Rejections

I opened my mailbox this weekend to find a rejection letter (I have gotten so many I can now tell if it’s a rejection letter without opening it) and a card from a friend. The juxtaposition made me realise that life goes on, rejection or offer.

So the next time you get a rejection look at it in the bigger picture of life, and just have a laugh. Move on and do better next time.

Dress the Part

Well, it was a no to the non-OLPAS pre-season this year. Instead from now until the 30th of April it is submission of OLPAS form time! This time it feels different, a good different.

I recently got to thinking what the essential elements of a good interview are and decided it is quite simple.

1. Presentation: Crisp shirt, black suit, hair pulled back tightly.

2. Structured answers with clear reasoning (I think x because of a, b, c and whereas I see d weakness, because of e strength I think x). You want to show your work in interviews just as much as in paper applications, so lay it out for the panel clearly.

3. Confidence: you have come so far, put in so much work. So leave the textbook at home, you don’t need it. Instead, walk in there with the comfort of the education you have received and the work you have put into the interview.

4. When you answer a question, answer it honestly. If you do not know, tell the panel, but tell them that if they offer you some context you can answer the question.

5. If you are going in to do a problem beforehand, read the papers you are given carefully with an eye to detail.

6. Show some personality, try to get a joke in or to make them laugh somehow. At the end of the day, they are looking not just for someone intellectual but also someone that they can see themselves working with.

Think of it as a performance, you dress the part then play the part. By the time you reach the interview, you know what the play is about, and you are going to give a flawless delivery.

Rock Bottom

It’s been a rough couple of days on my end. Monday, the result of the second interview was meant to come out. Nothing. No call, no email, no letter. So for some bizarre reason I decided to check TSR and there it was: someone had been offered a pupillage already. Honestly? Don’t work yourself into the despair, frenzy or dread of looking at TSR. If you really want to know what is going on, pick up the phone and call.

And if you decide that you do not want to call, then put it out of your mind. Shift your energy on to something else. By the time you have reached that stage there is really nothing that you can do to change the result. All of my tears, stress and anxiety were a waste. Rather, I should have put on my sneakers, gone for a run or even found another project to divert my attention to.

If you’re going through the process, I can guarantee what most people say to you will not help. Very little did. The hugs helped a great deal, but words were ineffective. Rather, I would suggest taking a step back and thinking what would I like someone to tell me in that moment of a rejection or even just of silence? Write it down. It could be encouraging phrases or even plans of action, a checklist of sorts. And when it’s time, go through it. Put your best efforts into something then once it’s over redirect that energy into something else.

And in case you’re wondering, I still have not heard anything.

Silence

It’s one of those weekends, no applications to do, no interviews to prep for, no news arriving over the weekend. I have to say it is rather relaxing, and I imagine once you have pupillage this is what it feels like.

The pre-OLPAS season is quickly coming to an end. At the max, I have another two weeks of applying to places and interviewing before I have to move on to OLPAS forms: the thought is daunting to say the least. But I’ve been there, done that before so let’s so hope this time it will be better.

Deuxième étape

You spent hours perfecting you application form, even more time preparing for the first interview, and now here you are with a second interview to go.

The number of panel members triple, as does preparation time, and the length of the interview. And suddenly you’re standing in a room with six barristers, dodging questions from left and right. The emotional risk increases, yet you’re one step closer.

At my last second round interview, I felt like I was at a tennis match: a very involved supporter on the sidelines who confidently cheered on their favourite player. In hindsight, at one point a tennis ball hit me in the head; I didn’t wake up to the message that was being thrown at me. Rather, I continued onwards as the ball kept hitting me over and over again. This made me realise that the second you walk through the door, the most important thing is to be alert and to listen to everything that is being said, listen to the hints and react to them.