Advice from junior barristers from Cornerstone, Hardwicke, Radcliffe Chambers and Serjeants’ Inn, alongside application tips from ULaw and advocacy experience insight from LPC Law
Becoming a barrister is tough, but for those with intellect, talent and grit a career at the bar is a realistic aim that is worth fighting for.
The difference between success and failure during the pupillage application process can be very small, with successful candidates often making tens — and sometimes even hundreds — of applications before they secure a place in chambers.
Lots of learning occurs along the way, as rejection forces bar hopefuls to reappraise their strengths and weaknesses — before going again. On Thursday 14 June we’ll be hearing from four junior barristers who successfully made their way through this hyper-competitive selection. The quartet — from public law set Cornerstone, commercial outfits Hardwicke and Radcliffe Chambers, and medical, police and regulatory law specialist Serjeants’ Inn — will share their experiences and take questions from an audience of 80 students. They will consider, too, some of the key commercial awareness themes that arise for pupil and junior barristers.
Also on hand to provide advice will be the national director of The University of Law’s (ULaw) Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), Jacqueline Cheltenham. As one of the key figures behind the aptitude test that ULaw requires students to take before gaining entry onto its BPTC, which has the highest pupillage success rate in the country, Cheltenham has a better knowledge than most about the qualities future barristers need to show at an early stage.
Completing the speaker roster will be LPC Law advocate David Earl, who will shortly be commencing pupillage with a leading crime and common law chambers. Like many new entrants to the bar, Earl missed out on pupillage during the BPTC but went on to secure it after gaining practical advocacy experience after graduating. He will speak about this well-trodden path.
The session takes place at ULaw’s Bloomsbury campus in central London from 6-8:30pm on Thursday 14 June. After the Question Time-style panel discussion, there will be an opportunity to chat informally with the speakers over drinks and nibbles.
Apply to attend here. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and two questions for the panel.
