Bar hopeful seeks honest views
In the latest submission to our popular career conundrums series, an aspiring barrister asks whether their 2:2 will stand in the way of their dream.
“I would like to remain anonymous. I obtained a 2:2 in my undergraduate law degree due to extenuating circumstances that significantly affected my studies at the time. Since then, I have achieved a Distinction in the Bar Course, which I feel better reflects my academic ability. I am hoping to obtain some honest views on my prospects of securing pupillage. I have completed more than six mini-pupillages, participated in advocacy sessions and training through my Inn, undertaken pro bono welfare work, volunteered with various organisations, and currently work in the compliance and legal sector and being an county court advocate part time.”
“Given my academic profile and experience, do I still have a realistic chance of obtaining pupillage? How much weight are chambers likely to place on the 2:2 compared with the Distinction in the Bar Course, legal experience, advocacy exposure, and the extenuating circumstances that contributed to my undergraduate result? I would be grateful for any insights, particularly from those who have secured pupillage after graduating with a 2:2.”
If you have a career conundrum, email us at tips@legalcheek.com.
yes.
Maybe.
Seeing as you’ve already spent money on the bar course, you have nothing to lose but time by having a few goes at getting pupillage. And pivoting to any other career (e.g. training contracts/ solicitor route) will also take time and be challenging with a 2:2, so you might as well have a punt. The bar course isn’t an academic course, though, so I doubt it would counterbalance a disappointing undergraduate degree result.
Getting one with a 2:2 will be difficult, I imagine you will have to demonstrate extraordinary aptitude under other required competencies e.g. some really impressive mooting wins, for example.
I think you’ve got as good a chance as anyone. Whilst the bar is academic, it’s also very practical and what they look for in pupillage interviews more so is that you have a commitment to the bar, and want to be an advocate. Your practical experience demonstrates that clearly. I think in most pupillage applications, there is a section for any other information and you can put in there any reasoning as to why you got a 2:2 (if it was a difficult time in your life for example – if you didn’t put the effort in then I wouldn’t say that). Even so, I think the distinction in the bar course will help balance out the 2:2.
There’s no harm in trying.
getting pupillage is highly unlikely but not impossible
In the pupillage report of 2024/5 people with 2:2s for the first time had recorded offers, which shows how unlikely it is
furthermore, those with 2:2s made up only 1% of offers.
That said – it is possible but its probably best to look at alternatives when faced with the reality of the report
The report: https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/static/36eb6661-50de-4a3b-8b7fbb73885a40c7/Pupillage-Gateway-2024-25.pdf