Yesterday I returned (potentially) triumphant from an interview & assessment at a city law firm. Today I submitted my first mini-pupillage application.
I need to go into detail about just how confused I am about my career direction. Having for a long time thought that I would enjoy being a commercial solicitor, I am now thinking otherwise. It seems to me that most of the things that I enjoy about the law are things that I would have more opportunities to experience as a barrister. Previously, I believe, i have been over-stretching my imagination of the nature of a solicitor's work in an attempt to accomodate the things that I want as part of my career.
A lot of my current C.V. is geared towards the solicitor route but hopefully the ammendments that I have made to draw attention to my public-speaking activities and participation in the university mooting competition etc will be of some help. In addition, I spent a while thinking about the wording of my covering letter so that I was not completely ignorant of the aforementioned deficiency but also had valid reasons for wanting to complete a mini-pupillage. I sincerely hope it does the trick.
I still don't know for sure though that I want to be a barrister. If I am successful in obtaining a mini-pupillage hopefully that will be of assistance to me. I think the opportunity to shadow a barrister for a week and really understand how they go about their work will be a useful experience for me. At the moment, all I know is what I have read and although much of it appeals to me it still seems incomplete.
Now, I think I will research other opportunities at other chambers so as to increase my likelihood of success in obtaining a mini-pupillage too.
I have applied to a chambers which is geographically convenient and whose specialist areas interest me. I have specified the dates in which I hope to complete a mini-pupillage but I have no idea when (or if!) I will hear back.
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3 weeks ago
7 comments:
Don't be disheartened if you get a few rejections at the start. It should get easier after your first one :)
Thank you!
I realise that pursuing a career at the Bar requires energy and commitment but I don't hope to shrink from the battle to easily. I hope!
That was me, by the way :)
Hey, thanks for the comment on my blog and good luck with the mini pupillage and vac scheme applications. It's really interesting reading about your interviews and your thoughts because i'm a fresher who is really confused about whether i'd be more interested in a career at the bar or a city firm and it's helpful hearing about someone else going through the process at the minute.
i'll add your blog to the links on my page because i've read quite a lot of your posts and they're really well written and very interesting.
cbv
Android...
...thanks for clearing that up.
cbv...
...thanks for your kind comment.
Well I'm in my third year of studying law at university and I haven't made my mind up yet either on whether to pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister. Most people I know have decided in the second year of their law degree and hopefully you will be better prepared and informed than I am. Best wishes.
Hey LL, hope you're successful with the mini apps, I haven't started mine yet which is just downright stupid.
You seem to be encountering similar confusion to me as to which you path you want to take. It took me a while to decide on the bar but I know now I've taken the leap of faith in myself and stopped my flirting with firms, I'm a lot happier.
LG
Hi LG,
I have enjoyed reading your blawg and what made you choose the barrister route over the solicitor route.
Its a terrific plunge to take and certainly a frightening one when you consider the success rates of people securing pupillage. I always, admire, therefore people who take the plunge and follow their ambitions rather than people who perhaps settle for less when they know its not what their heart wants.
Re: mini-pupillages. Well, as I mentioned in my most recent post: 'My Week', I have accepted an offer of a mini-pupillage and am now looking to apply for more.
Good luck with everything and I will continue to read about your experiences in your blawg!
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