Judge, just some thoughts in response. Bear in mind that I am approaching this from a point of view of the Criminal Bar, I am aware that different standards are held for the varying practice areas. (I’m also aware my terminology is out of date - BPTC and Pupillage Portal etc, but it’s all longer than the old stuff so I’ll use them as they were when I did them!)
1) Chambers have to drop their stupid idea that there are only 2 universities.
This will come with time, it is natural in such a relatively small profession to stick with what you know and Oxbridge turns out good graduates. As the growing numbers of tenants without Cantab or Oxon on their business cards get onto Pupillage committees we will see some change. However, have you considered the possibility that maybe that Oxbridge grad is just a bit better than the competition? The whole point of those two institutions is that they recognise and develop the best talent surely?
2) Interviews should be offered to all students via a mix of interviews at Inns and Chambers. Chambers cannot do it all.
I disagree entirely given that it is your colleagues in Chambers who have to work with you day to day, not the staff or volunteers at the Inn.
3) The Inns HAVE to become involved not only in interviews but in education and training. This years BVC fees were around 15K and in many instances if students got 7K worth of education I am surprised.The BVC is a cash cow and standards have dropped.
Quite possibly so, and you’re right the Inns should stand up for the quality of service of their newest members. However, the Bar’s governing and regulatory bodies surely bear more responsibility here. In addition, the quality, or lack thereof, of teaching on the BVC will not be what stops one getting pupillage.
4) The Inns should run a 1 year apprenticeship sending pupils to courts up and down the land to get into a real court system. scrap the BVC schools get hands on experience before foisting pupils on Chambers. I have had students tell me they have learned more in 1 month sitting in a court as a marshal than a year doing the BVC.
This is a point which I think should be taken up by the individual pupillage-seeker. I started going to courts to observe at the age of 16, I knew I wanted to be a criminal barrister, I put in the effort. There are compulsory court visits as part of the BVC - I do agree though that the BVC should focus less on flashy High Court process and give a grounding in Mags’ Court work. However, again this is practice specific, if you’re in Tax chambers you might not see much of a courtroom…
5) The entrance to law schools and Barristers training should be restricted via an entrance exam NOT taken at University but at an Inns.. Unfair, not equal opportunity- Yes get used to it Life is not fair. Every dog and his uncle wants to be a barrister there are no enough places in the UK.
This would most likely prejudice the entry system to those who could afford external cramming tutors etc. Also, Oxbridge would undoubtedly come out on top - it seems to be at odds with your point 3 since fewer people at Bar School (whoever runs it) would mean an increased cost per student in order to maintain good teaching quality, the Govt. is broke so the legal training establishments need to be self-sufficient which means making a profit out of your education. Also, this would restrict the overseas BVC candidates who pour much needed cash into the system.
6) Internships should be arranged by Inns all over the world not just the UK.
Not quite sure what you mean by internships - but there is likely to be a difficulty here with matters of jurisdiction and protectionism, nobody would want to see the opportunities in Country A being taken by a bunch of students coming over from Countries B & C. Although I may have misunderstood your point, in which case, please put me right!
7)Dedicated students need the interviews. This is easy to see from CVs
This is already the single biggest factor in most pupillage applications, if you can get over your dedication then you might deserve an interview. Remember, you not only have to excel yourself, but beat everyone else who applied to that set. The whole point here is that it is not easy to see from a badly written CV - your Inn will help you, Lincoln’s runs a Pupillage Foundation Scheme which really helped.
8) Barristers should have an opportunity to see all students who should have at least an LLB or GDL and LLM. Degrees in knitting from Oxford do not count. This is a serious career for serious law students.
This sounds so much like sour grapes that I’m almost tempted not to address it, but that would be childish, so here goes.
I don’t like “non-lawyers” converting in a year and sneaking in to steal our pupillages with their jazzy double firsts in ancient runes from Cambridge either. However, if you’re bright enough to get a double first in a subject and change your mind it shows a breadth of understanding and a flexibility of learning which is attractive to Chambers. Sorry, but forcing people to do law degrees will just push the competition to UCAS as much as OLPAS.
