"I have a low 2:1 in law from Bristol University (mostly low 2:1s and high 2:2s, with a first in my dissertation) and I am unsure as to what level of firm I should be targeting," writes an LPC student. The email, and response, is below...
Category Archives: Advice
George Carman QC’s Grandson: ‘I’m Struggling To Choose Between UCL And Durham To Study Law’
This week we received a cry for help from the wannabe lawyer grandson of the late, great "gorgeous" George Carman QC. Charlie Carman's email is below, followed by advice from Legal Cheek's world-weary elder statesman Alex Aldridge and its bright-eyed rookie Lucy Pether.
Yes, It’s Too Late To Retrain As A Barrister At 40
Over the weekend, The Times published a classic 'Is it too late for me to retrain as a barrister?' letter. Agony aunt Marie O'Riordan reeled off the standard encouraging response, telling the letter's author that "maturity should give you the coping skills" to make the switch from their (unspecified) current career. Having seen various mature students ditch their careers to become lawyers, I couldn't disagree with O'Riordan more...
ADVICE: ‘My Writer Husband Is Demanding That I Do a Justine Thornton’
Dear Auntie Em,
Since the Labour Party conference earlier this month, my husband has been demanding that I "tidy myself up".
He seems to have been heavily influenced by the recent transformation of 39 Essex Street barrister Justine Thornton (Ed Miliband's wife) and is very keen for me to live up to what he terms my "first-lady potential".
Like Ms Thornton, I'm a successful barrister at a leading London chambers and the main breadwinner in my household; my husband is a "writer and artist" who "works" from home.
In the past, when we have gone out in the evenings or at the weekend, my husband has been happy for me to wear casual clothes. But now he is demanding that I don a red dress he's purchased (with my money) of a similar style to which Ms Thornton apparently wore at the Labour Party conference.
In addition, he has made a series of requests in relation to my hair, my weight, my make-up and "the way I hold myself in public".
It doesn't seem fair, somehow.
I'd be grateful for your advice.
Kind regards,
Helen
My advice to Helen, delivered via the Auntie Em alter ego that remains foisted upon me, is below...
ADVICE: ‘How Can I Get a First Class Degree?’
'Mike', who has just begun an undergraduate law degree, wants to know what it takes to get a first. His email is below...
How To Face Down Dirty Tactics During a Vac Scheme
Over the weekend, 'The Budding Lawyer' wrote of the dirty tactics he had fallen victim to during his recent vac scheme. Here’s the gist of what happened:
The Budding Lawyer tells a fellow vac-schemer that he finds the trainee he has been assigned to "boring".
Later, during a schmooze and drinks session, The Budding Lawyer tells another trainee that he’s had "a really good time" with the "boring" trainee.
The previously confided-in fellow vac-schemer over hears this, wanders over, and says: "That's a lie. He said she was boring!".
My advice, delivered through the alter ego of 'Auntie Em' which has been foisted upon me, is below...
‘Does Grindr Count As An Extra-Curricular Activity?’
The other day, desperate for something memorable to put in the gaping 'outside interests' section of his training contract application form, law student @MoykeG tweeted: "Does Grindr count as an extra-curricular activity?"
With the TC application deadline upon us today, Auntie Em (aka Emily Jupp) advises:
Dear Moyke,
I have asked some friends about this Grindr thing, and, as I understand it, it's an application that allows wallflowers like yourself to meet other retiring types without the awkwardness of having to go through pub mating rituals...