A journey through the sorrow and the joy of the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)
First comes the self doubt.
#BPTC scholarship application is now finished but I cant send it because I’ve convinced myself it will be totally inferior to others. Arrgh
— Liz Marshall (@LizMarshall89) October 14, 2013
Next, a momentary high as your acceptance offer arrives.
Received my full offer for the BPTC
— Christopher Anand (@chris_noah12) July 17, 2013
But pretty soon reality intrudes…
Some interesting statistics on pupillage by the bar standards board: http://t.co/qizXTTp2yD -AH
— doortothelaw (@doortothelaw) September 18, 2013
Receiving your new textbooks…all at once!
Carrying this amount of books, in a suitcase, on London’s public transport wasn’t a very nice experience #BPTC pic.twitter.com/Y8g7X255dR
— Joanna Morgan (@joannaleemorgan) September 22, 2013
Luckily there’s a must-have roller suitcase awaiting them.
Re last tweet: I might have some trouble making new friends with this bag on the #BPTC pic.twitter.com/gODi2vTqXL
— Jay Gajjar (@Jay_LLM) August 21, 2013
The work begins…
Having a fever and not being able to rest/ take meds because there is so much work to do #bptc
— Christopher Anand (@chris_noah12) October 2, 2013
Even worse than Freshers’ Flu: the excruciating pain of watching your first advocacy exercise on video.
Filmed our first Mock Trial at the weekend, I think it will be a cringe worthy moment when I watch that back #BPTC
— Shreena Patel (@ShreenaPatel4) October 15, 2013
For those who remain unbroken, there’s a chance to put into action what they’ve learned on the mooting circuit.
Just had my first taste of mooting; looks like my cup of tea!
— Renaud von Wielligh (@RenaudVW) October 16, 2013
Hating it indicates that you may be pursuing the wrong career.
Mooting is boring as fuck
— $₵ (@sc0tt_c) October 16, 2013
Now, if you find mooting boring you’re going to love drafting!
Double drafting coming up! Time to refuel and get myself ready! #BPTC
— snigskitchen (@snigskitchen) October 23, 2013
By this stage BPTC students have become reliant on caffeine to function.
Sleepless nights during #BPTC & then having coffee the other day. ThankGod we have Starbucks next to @CityLawSchool pic.twitter.com/GC786fdc5L
— Musavir Gajani (@musavirg) October 15, 2013
Fortunately, their hard lives are given meaning by occasional brushes with royalty.
William + Kate arriving for @univofstandrews dinner at Middle Temple Hall. Kate wearing Alice Temperley #royal pic.twitter.com/WGHLQbP2
— David Wilkinson (@DWilkinsonCNN) November 8, 2012
As the course continues, things become increasingly mystifying
We actually just got played a clip of the Jungle Book in a drafting lecture. Bonus points if you can guess why. #bptc
— George Miller (@GM1ller) February 21, 2012
It doesn’t help that the tutors gave up months ago.
No civil advocacy seminar for mmeeeee! Yayyyy! Best tutor eveerrrr! #bptc
— Nat Simpson (@NatMSimpson) October 16, 2013
Just around the corner: exams you haven’t found time to revise for
Can just keep head above water on the BPTC. Apparently I also have to revise for exams, too.Honestly have no idea when I'm meant to do this.
— Matt Sellwood (@MattSellwood) January 9, 2013
Still, at least the excellent-value course fees mean there’s plenty of cash left over to lavish on wild celebrations.
Treating myself after finishing Civil and Criminal Litigation exams #BPTC #exams pic.twitter.com/pWuLQQR2XM
— Jade (@JSJ_x) April 5, 2013
Finally, just enough time to impress your friends by taking them for an Inns of Court dinner…
Harry Potter, eat your heart our. Having dinner with the knights Templar. @ Middle Temple http://t.co/PWSwta9lJ5
— ajwhelan (@ajwhelan) June 20, 2013
…before panic strikes.
The overwhelming panic of realising you only have a week left of the BPTC and you have no job.
— BPTC Survivor (@BPTCconfessions) October 16, 2013
Several months later and your 115th job application yields a paralegal position on a zero-hour contract at a struggling law firm in Grimsby.
