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Am I being too optimistic?
asheen (3 Posts) - New User
Posted: 25 August 2010 02:06 PM

I have just graduated with a high 2:1 BA Hons degree in History, and plan to begin the GDL at the College of Law in Birmingham this September.
I was lucky enough to get into a very good university with what are, quite simply, terrible A-levels, but I am now incredibly worried that these results will come back to haunt me as I try to establish a career at the Bar.
My plan is to accentuate my degree result (incidentally 2% off a First), as well as obtain as much law experience as I possibly can, so as to lower the importance of my A-levels. I worked incredibly hard at my degree, and I would like to think that my degree result is a more accurate representation of my abilities than exams I took 4 years ago (I took a gap year).
Am I being too optimistic with this career choice, seeing as competition to the Bar is fierce to say the least, or do I still have a chance at succeeding?

I have actually posted this in the Non-Law section as well, but thought I would post it here to cover a wider ground!

Beth (68 Posts) - Power User
Posted: 25 August 2010 02:34 PM

It’s hard to say what barristers’ chambers are looking for in a pupil. Certainly all the application forms *ask* for your A-Level results. But whether some sets are willing to disregard them for otherwise exceptional applicants is not entirely clear. I would say it’s a risk, but the world of pupillage applications is murky enough that it’s hard to say how much of a risk it really is.

The bar is ridiculously competitive at the best of times. (One chambers I applied to this year said in its letter rejecting me that they’d had 350 applicants—for 2 pupillages.) I would think hard before going down that route with poor A-Level results. Given the large number of applicants, chambers don’t need much of an excuse to reject you.

It may also depend on what area of law you are interested in. Criminal chambers are generally thought to be less concentrated on academics (and more on things like extra curriculars) than commercial/public law chambers.

asheen (3 Posts) - New User
Posted: 25 August 2010 07:36 PM

Thanks for your reply, it has really helped!
Naturally, I am aware of the fact that there are perhaps thousands of other people in exactly the same position as myself, who are using the same excuses to forge a career at the bar (i.e. degree being a “more accurate representation” of dedication), but I was lucky to obtain lots of extra curricular skills during my time at uni, so I will emphasise those as well.
Obviously, this is all assuming that I get impressive results in the GDL and BPTC!
Thanks again, and best of luck with finding a pupillage (if you’re still looking!)

Beth (68 Posts) - Power User
Posted: 26 August 2010 08:23 AM

Still looking, alas. This was my first year applying and I think I learned a lot from the interviews I did get (and got past the first round everywhere that would interview me) to make my application package better next year.

charliefarley (8 Posts) - New User
Posted: 26 August 2010 08:58 AM

hi, must tell you i think your A level results will be a huge barrier in your ambition to be a barrister.
i think you need to do some quite intense research into what it takes to establish a career in law and set your sights accordingly.

asheen (3 Posts) - New User
Posted: 26 August 2010 11:22 AM

I must say that I have never been interested in becoming a barrister, say, for a top chambers in London (although I know you have to be beyond exceptional for those); it has always been the smaller firms which have interested me the most!
I have no doubt at all that my A-levels will cause some repercussions in my attempts to gain pupillage and tenancy, but seeing as my aspiration lies in a smaller chambers, would my chances not be better just the same?

charliefarley (8 Posts) - New User
Posted: 27 August 2010 01:46 PM

I dont think it would affect your tenancy chances too badly, because if a chambers is willing to offer pupillage they tend to see the potential of you becoming a tenant.

However its still quite competative even outside of the london sets, so I think you would need to compensate with minis and other extra cirricular stuff. Its also a touch risky, because unlike the solicitor firms (who will fund the LPC), most chambers wont fund your BVC (if im not mistaken) so you will be in alot of debt without a guaranteed job at the end of it.

The bar tends to be old fashioned (at least in the london sets) so a prestigious university degree could see you through (if it was say oxbridge or one of the better london unis, or even say the likes of durham etc). The problem will be getting your foot in the door. Youll need to write an very strong covering letter as well.

alot of chambers have UCAS points minimums as well (i think its like 300 from 3 A levels) so just watch out for that. If you did manage to get into a set, you A levels wont matter from there, because your career progession will simply depend on how good at being a barrister you are.

Beth (68 Posts) - Power User
Posted: 27 August 2010 03:05 PM

I agree with Charlie. Your big concern with A-Levels will be getting a first round interview. After that, it’s up to you to impress them.

I would start applying for mini-pupillages now. They are more competitive than you think and if you can’t get any on the basis of your CV/application package, you won’t have much luck getting first interviews for pupillage.

Because of my situation (husband with career based in London) I haven’t really explored pupillage outside London, but I know pupillage is competitive anywhere: if it were easy to get outside London, everyone would apply, which would bring the level of competition back up again.

Most chambers recruit through OLPAS/pupillage portal, which is an online system that many people compare to UCAS. It’s possible to stand out even with mediocre A-Levels, but sets can sift applications automatically to weed out whatever traits they think are undesirable (2.2 degree results or certain universities or whatever).

I have spoken to many barristers why say that if they had been applying for pupillage now, they would never get it because you have to be so exceptional to stand a chance.

   
 
 
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